The Ordway new era., 1915-01-15
ecsvusA. ,si4. y ~ 4 as..suv,
I" CHAPTER xx,v-con.,nu.s.

CHAPTER xxiv-contlnusd.
Up along the hillside and after the
fugitlves they ran with vengeful eager
moss, rncing each other for the higher
ground and the hrst shot at the reb-
els. First Alvarez on his white horse
would be ahead. and then. a. they en-.
countered rocks. the Yaauis would
surge to tho front. II was race and
at the same time It was rout, for.
at the first glimpse Of that oncomiug
body OF warriors. the cowardly follow.
ers OF Bernardo Bravo took TO their
heels and fed.
But over the rocks no Chihuahuan.
no matter how scared. can hope to out
distance YaQui. and the pop. pop OF
rifles told the fate Of the nrst luckless
stragglers. For the Yaquis, after .
hundred and sixty years Of guerrilla
warfare. never waste q shot: and ~
savage yells and the crash OF . sud
den voliey drifted down from the rocky
heights the men who had been be-
alleged In Fortuna knew that death was
abroad in the hills.
Fainter and fainter came the shots
~ the pursuit led on TO the north and.
- Hooker strained his eyes to follow
. huge form that intuition told him
was Amigo. he was wakened suddenly
from his preoccupation BY the touch
Of some unseen hand. He was In the
open with people all about him
Spanish refugees. Americans. trium-
phant miners and their wives-but
that touch made him forget the battle
above him and instantly think Of
Gracia.
He turned and hurried back to the
corral where Copper Bottom was kept.
and there he found her waiting. with
her roam all sAddled. and she chal-
ienEed him with her eyes. The sun
cleaned from 4 piatol that she held
in her hand. and again from her golden
hair. but he saw only her eyes. 90
brave and daring. and the challenge
60 mount and ride.
Only for . moment did he stand be-
fore her ga1e. and then he caught UP
his saddle and spoke soothingly to his
horse They rode out of the corral
together. closing the gates behind
them and passing down = gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
them a. they turned toward the west.
orn pass.
The time had come. Well he knew
the dangers that lay between them
and the American line. Dangers not
hor him but for her. In the hills and
passes and ON the cactus-covered
plain were thousands OF men with
whom she would not be safe for an
instant and Rgainst whom hs must
guard her that she might be delivered
safely to Phil. And he loved her then
las he had not believed Il possible to
love n woman. He loved this woman
that he was attempting to save for
another man. 'pardner" who had
,as the best been reckless Of every
trust. who had been unfAithfui to ev-
CRY promise. And across the border
'this man waa waiting for the woman
bud Hooker loved That he take her
TO him was . more severe test of his
manhood than any to which he had
before been subjected. That he be
untrue to the trust she reposed In
him never entered his mind for q mo-
saent. With strong mans love for
iher he thought only Of how he was TO
conduct her safely out Of the dangers
which surrounded her.
Soldiers. miners. and refugees. men,
women. and children. every soul In
Fortuna was on the hill to see the last
OF the battle. 1t had been Q crude
AFFAIR. but bravely ended. and some
thing In the dramatic suddennsss OF
this victory had held all eyes to the
close Bud and Gracia passed out Of
down unnoticed. and ~ soon ~ they
had rounded the point they spurred ON
till they gained the pass.
Il knew you would come!" said
0racia, smiling radiantiy a. they
paused at the fork.
"Sure." answered Hooker with his
snythine-which way does this trail
80: do you know"
"lt goes west twelve miles toward
Arispe." replied Gracia confidently.
-snd then It comes into the main road
chat leads north to NoEales and Gads.
DEN,
THAT sounds about rtgh, for u.s."
replied bud. "Gadsden's the place we
want to head for. and we want to get
there mighty quick, too. II them reb.
els will let US. an guess that's what
they'll have TO do whether they want
~ or not
They rode on together for some dis.
tAncts, the girl seemingly oolivious OF
tho dangers which surrounded her.
and Hooker watching carefully for ev.
cry align Of diifieulty.
What Is there up here:' Inquired
Rad. pointing at fainte. trail that
lsa or toward the north. This eoun-
0y b new to me. Don't know, eh.
Wsn. II We followed that trail we'd
run into them rebels. anyway. SO We
Hixht ~ well 20 to the west. Is your
s>adls all right, Well hit II up then