The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-07-17
FREE Yet CAPTIVE
BY cLARIssA MAckIE.


baking aud the dessert had been a
grotesque assemblage of half-stewed
fruits.
Mr.. Amory pushed aside his plate
in disgust and touched his lips to
the coffee.
Mud" he muttered, tragically.
81 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"
"As we all are" frankly admitted
their niece, Barbara Dare. Haven't
we been sleeping with one eye open
at least l have-and when l heard
that Villas army was on the way to
San Vados my heart actually turned
completely over!"
Mr.. Amory laughed.
File Bobs, And I've been count
ing on you as my right-hand man If
they attack the mine"
Barbara colored beautifully and her
eyes flashed.
ooh, Uncle Dan, of course If it came
down to actual defense of our lives,
every bit of fear would leave me at
once"
well, for my part, I'd rather take
good advice and leave San Vados
while there Is time to do it 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 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 Ledro bridge.
Amory tossed his cigar over the
railing and rose to his tall height.
II 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 us
to reach the coast and take a ship to
San Diego. I'm going to get my
things-Tve had them packed for
three weeks-and you had better get
together anything you especially
treasure. We shall never see Mexico
again. If l have my way!"
Are you really going, Uncle Dam
urged Barbara. "Of course. know
that you've had everything closed Ut
at the mines and-oh, here he
comes!" she sighed impatiently. 'His
lights are out, too"
Something black doomed out of the
darkness of the drive and large
motor car halted at the steps. A man
alighted and came onto the veranda.
"Mr. Amory?" he asked in crisp
authoritative tone.
YES"
|
people to the coast. The Ritchs have
barely escaped with their lives and
Mr.. Ritch is slightly wounded. They're
halfway to the coast now. / thinl
we can overtake them if we hurry"
I'VE had about decided to stay ant
fight it out" hesitated Mr. Amory.
Flight it out with what?" demand
ed the other. "How many men car
you depend on? Ritch thought hi
could depend on 200 and every blamed
greaser Joined the rebel forces ant
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" apologized Amory
MY name is Campbell You maj
remember me as your nearest neigh
Dor on the south-owner of the Gao
tus mine-and sort of foe. 1 suppose,
he laughed ruefully.
Campbell-Campbell, of the Gao
tus mine-why, we can't be under OBJ
legations to you'll" chortled Amor,
with his customary hot temper.
You don't mean to say that you't
let the mere matter of a lost lawsui
stand between you and the lives o
your family?" asked the other in
credulously.
Perhaps Mr.. Amory's family woult
prefer to lose their lives than to hole
them under obligation to Mr.. Gordon
Campbell" interpolated Barbar,
warmly. Il would rather remain here
Uncle Dan," she said firmly.
: Mrs Amory fiuttered onto the veran
da, her arms full of bundles. I'm jus
in time" she gasped. "Oh, is 1t MI
Ritch's chauffeur-no?" AS the youn,
man took the bags from her grasp.
1T is Mr.. Gordon Campbell, of tn,
Cactus NINE" said Amory grimly "H
has come to convey us to the coast