The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-01

Eyes, it is best" spoke the burgo
master, and the approving look In
his eye told that he. appreciated my
desire to run all the risk-for risk 1t
was.
There was clear half-moon. and
the road was broad and even the first
part of the journey. ! noticed my
companion SILVER as we diverged into
more obscure bride paths.
Twice she urged up her horse and
kept close to mine. saw that the
weird loneliness Of our environment
affrighted.
you must fall back.sI spoke def
nitely, but pleasantly.
"But-but l fearI am afraid" she
demurred.
ut must be as l say" insisted.
1T is necessary to your safety You
will appreciate what say when the
journey is completed"
She did not understand, and bridled.
She fell back. but with an offended
look upon her face.
Twice up to midnight we eame upon
friendly encampments. NM creden-
tials passed US on. At the lest place
the commandant read the safe con,
duct: "One Walworth Doty and wife.
Madam, salute you"
She directed a flashing glance at
me, as II arraigning me for an affront.
I met her glance steadily. That beau
tiful face enchanted me, but u tried
to act the guide under strict disci-
pline.
=, 1t must have been three o'clock in
the morning when we reached the
most difficult part of the route. Here
the road ran along the edge Of q clik.
had been advised by Worst that the
enemy were likely to be prowling
about. l thought of that-and Of the
load the pack horse carried. In
creased the space between myself and
my convoy. Her angry, yet anxious
face resented this. l had to speak
| sharply to have her maintain the dis
lance. She received it with a pout
and a toss of her head. Suddenly
turning a curve in the rock-lined road
there came a quick word:
HALT"
Imade out an armed officer. He wal
of the enemy. Beyond him, so fee
in q ravine, was q temporary camp
He kept a revolver and leveled at m,
as he grabbed out to seize the bridl'
Of the pack horse.
The animal swerved. threw up IT
head. curvetted past him and brok
into quite a trot. The oficer turne,
and leveled his weapon, intent on halt
ing the flight with q shot.
stop! Stop!" l shouted.
Too late! The well.aimed bulle
struck one of the packages on tn
back of the horse, bored into 1t an
there was q frightful detonation.
saw the officer, struck by hug
fragment of rock, fall prone and iif'
less. saw the pack horse. blown I
atoms, 60 over the ledge into tn
midst Of the camp below. heard
shrek and ran back to my charge.
you are hurt?" l cried solicitousl.
mo! No! But you" and l fe
the warm blood trucking from my tor
head, where flying piece Of rock ma
struck me. Then l hurried on NJ
horse and my own past the motionlet
officer, away from the camp.
what was it," she shuddered, &
we deviated to q broader road.
Dynamite"
She started and paled. Then 81
insisted on binding up my wound vii
lace scarf. She kept close besit
me.
And 1t was to shield mo that "
took all the risk!" she murmured.
Within the hour we we're safe
friendly hands. All her disdain \al
GOODNESS was gone now. She SCENE
to look to me for help. placed b
in kindly hands.
Within two days I located her
Their and mother. She insisted on n
q taking her to them. Then that I
come their guest.
And thus It was that out OF q gre
]. war I won q bride-no longer, no
1t ever, my dear Lady Disdain!
c. Copyright. 1915. by W. G. Chapman.