The Ordway new era., 1915-01-29
Gopyright. 13lk by Frank A. AunseyJ
CHAPTER xxvII-cont,nued.

BY the signs the land ahead was full
Of bandits and ladrones. men to whom
human life was nothing and a woman
no more sacred than brute. At the
pass all trails conversed. from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could a man pass over 1t In the
daytime without meeting some one on
the way, and II the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia II would take
more than a nod to restrain them.
So. in sheltered ravine they sought
cover until 1t was dark. and while
Gracia slept. the heavy-headed Bud
watched the plain from the heights
above
As he watched he dreamed of a
home In which this woman now sleep
ing beside him was the queen. He
dreamed OF years to come with un-
bounded happiness throughout all OF
them. Thoughts OF Phil and duty to
his pardner were far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him from this dream Of happiness.
As far as he could see there was
nothing that savored Of danger for
the woman in his keeping. There
were no sounds or signs OF either
federal or revolutionary troops. from
both OF which they were fleeing. and
from both Of which he must guard
her Again they were In world that
was all their own, an Eden with but
one man and one woman.
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed, and with the dreams
came the desire for sleep. the cry of
nature for rest. Gracia stirred. then
spoke softly to him. calling him by
name. and her voice was ~ music
far away.
When she nwoke and found him nod.
ding Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re-
freshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling. but Bud could hardly see.
The long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bloodshot and swol-
len. with lids that dropped in spite Of
him. II he did not sleep now he
might doze In the saddle later. or ride
blindly Into some rebel camp: SO he
made her promise to call him and lay
down to rest until dark.
The stars were all out when he
awoke. startled by her hand on his
hair. but she reassured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout. II was then that he under
stood her silence. In the brief hours
curing which he had slept the de
serted country seemed suddenly to
have come to life
BY daylight there had been nothing
to suggest the presence OF men.
But now as the velvet night set.
tied down upon the land 1t brought
out the gllmmering specks OF hun
trcd camp-trcs to the east and to the
north, Bu, the fires to which Gracia
POINTED we're set fairly In their trail,
and they barred the way to Gadsdcn.
Lock" she said II did not want
TO wake yo,.. but the fires have sprung
up evervwhere These last ones are
right IN the pass
"When did you see them?" asked
Hooker. his head still heavy with
ylcep. Have they been there long?"
No; only q fcw minutes" she an
syered. AT sundown saw those over
10 the enst--thcy are along the base
OF that big black mountain--but these
flashed up Just now; and see, there
are more. and more!''
Some outfit coming in from the
north" said Bud. They've crossed
over the pass and camped ut the first
water. this side"
WHO do you think they are?" asked
Gracia In an awed voice. "Insurrec.
tos?"
Like as not" muttcred Bud. gazing
from encampments to encampment
"sut whoever they are he added.
they're no friends OF ours. We've got
TO 70 around them"
'And If we can't?" suggested Ora.
cia.
II reckon we'll have to 80 through,
then" answered Hooker grimly. I'VE
don't want TO get caught here In the
morning -F
Ride right through their camp"
gasped Gracia. 4s
Let the sentries get to Sleep" he
went on. half to himself. Then, Just
before the moon comes up. wen try TO
edge around them and II 1t comes to
q showdown. Well ride for It! Are
you gamer"
He turned to read the answer, and
she drew herself up proudly.
TRY moi" she challenged. drawing
nearer to him in the darkness. And 80
they stood. side by side while their
hands clasped In promise. Then, as
the night grew darker and no new
fres appeared, Hooker saddled up the
wellfed horses and they picked their
way down to the trail.
The brst Hres were far ahead, bu'
sAsy procssdsd at . walk. their horses