The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-17
FREE YET CAPTIVE
BY MAckIE.

1t had been a miserable dinner-the
fricassee had been ov%erpeppered, the
sweet potatoes had been burned in the
baking and the dessert had been a
grotesque a~ssemblage of half-stewed
fruits.
Mr.. Amory pushed aside his plate
in disgust and touched his lips to
the coffee.
Mud" he muttered, t~ragically.
II am afraid that Marta is obsessed
by the general uneasiness," fluttered
his gentle little wife. when Pedro
brought the mail he announced that
a company of rebels was on the way
to attack the mines, and the woman
Is terrified"
well for my part, I'd rather take
good advice and leave San Vados
while there is time to do 1t grace
fully. Mr.. Ritch says when the crit
ical moment comes we must drop
everything and fly in the motor that
he will send from town. How l hate
this Mexico!" Mrs. Amory arose and
clumsy-footed Marta came in to re
move the cloth.
In the veranda of the adobe house
the three sat and watched the stars
pricking out in the deep blue sky.
They were very silent; perhaps each
one was weighing the gravity of the
situation that confronted them after
many months of false alarms.
Suddenly out of the silence there
came the distant purr of a motor
coming over the Ledrc bridge.
Amory tossed his cigar over the
railing and rose to his tall height.
81 rather think that's Ritch's auto
mobile" he said.
you won't go, Uncle DAM" asked
Barbara eagerly.
"Of course, we will go, Bobs," in
terrupted her aunt's voice sharply
You should be thankful that Mr.
Ritch has provided a means for u
to reach the coast and take a ship t.
San Diego. I'm going to get m!
things-I've had them packed TO
three weeks-and you had better ge
together anything you especial,
treasure. We shall never see Mexic
again, If | have my wayl"
Are you really going, Uncle Dan?
urged Barbara. "Of course. l knoy
that you've had everything closed u
at the mines and-ob, here h
comesl" she sighed impatiently. "Hi
lights are out, too"
Something black doomed out of tn
darkness of the drive and a larg
motor car halted at the steps. A ma
alighted and came onto the veranda.
"Mr. Amory?" he asked in a crisl
authoritative tone.
yes"
"Mr. Ritch asked me to take you
people to the coast. The Ritchs hav
barely escaped with their lives an
Mr.. Ritch is slightly wounded. They'1
halfway to the coast now. l thin
we can overtake them If we hurry"
1--WE had about decided to stay an
fight 1t out hesitated Mr.. Amory.
Fight it out with what?" deman
ed the other. How many men ca
you depend on? Ritch thought 1
could depend on 200 and every blame
greaser Joined the rebel forces an
chased him off his own plantation.
believe in going while the going
good"
That's excellent advice, Mr. -
By Jove, l ought to know you, you
voice is familiar" a~pologized Amor
MY name is Campbell. You ma
remember me as your nearest neig
Dor on the south-owner of the Ca
tus mine-and sort of foe, / suppose
he laughed ruefully.
"Campbell-Campbell of the Ca
tus mine-why, we can't be under o
legations to you'll" chortled Amor
with his customary hot temper.
you don't mea to say that you
let the mere matter of a lost LAVISH
stand between you and the lives
your family" asked the other 1
credulously.
Perhaps Mr.. Amory's family wou
prefer to lose their lives than to no
them under obligation to Mr.. GordC
Campbell" in~terpolated BarbaI
warmly. 81 would rather remain her
Uncle DAN" she said firmly.
Mrs. Amory fluttered onto the vera
ia, u6T dTIuS lull Ol' UuuuleS. III Ju
in time she gasped. "Oh, is it M
Ritch's chauffeur-no?" AS the your
man took the bags from her grasp.
1T is Mr.. Gordon Campbell. Of IL
Cactus NINE" said Amory grimly. 81
has come to convey us to the coas
my dear. Bobs and l prefer to I
main here. How about you. Sally?
Mrs. Amory, recollecting the b
terness that had followed Campbell
winning of the long contested la
suit, stifed her fears and lean,
against her husbands protecting ar
"Of course my place is by your sid
Daniel" she whimpered.
Campbell broke the silence tn
followed Mrs. Amory's words.
do you people mean to say tn
you'd stay here and be shot up rath
thar permit me to drive you
safety just because you don't like me
ut seems to be a unanimous q