The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-08-14

/ horse on. Gracla Kept her roam be
side him, but he took no notice. ex
cept as he scanned the line with his
| bloodshot eyes. He was a handbook
| ing man now, with a rough stubble Of
| beard on his face and sullen set tc
his jaw. AS two horsemen rode gu,
! from distant Aqua Negra he turned
| and glanced at Gracia.
Seems like we been on the run
ever since we left Fortuna" he said
with a rueful smile. Are you good
| for just one more?"
What is it now" she inquired
pulling herself together with an effort
Are those two men coming out to
meet US? Do you think they'd stop
u.s."
That's about our luck" returned
Hooker. But when we dip out Of sight
in this swale here we'll turn north and
hit for the line"
"All right" she agreed MY horse
is tired. but I'll do whatever you say.
Bud"
She tried to catch his eyes at this,
but he seemed lost in contemplation OF
the horsemen.
'Them's rurales." he said at last,
land heading straight for us-but
we've come too far to get caught now.
Come on" he added bEVskly. and went
galloping up the swa1a
For two miles they rode up the
wash. their heads below the level Of the
plain. but as Bud emerged at the mouth
Of the gulch and looked warily over
the cut bank he suddenly reached for
his rife and measured the distance to
the line.
They was too foxy for me-" he NUT
tered, as Gracia looked over at the
approaching rurales. But can stand
EN- off, he added so you go ahead"
Mo-" she cried, coming out in open
rebellion. We'll, | won't leave you
that's all,' she declared. as he turned
TO command her. oh, come along.
Bud She laid an impulsive hand
on his arm and he thrust his gun back
into the sling with thud
"All right" he said. Cant stop to
talk about it. Go ahead-and fay the
hide of Of that ROAM"
They were less than a mile from the
line. but the rurales had foreseen their
ruse in dropping into the gulch and
had turned at the same time to inter-
cept them. They we're pushing their
fresh horses to the utmost now across
the open prairie, and as the roam
Jagged and faltered In his stride Bud
could see that the race was lost.
Head for that monument" he
called to Gracia. pointing toward one
Of the international markers as he
faced their pursuers. You'll make it
they won't shoot a woman!"
He reached for his gun as he spoke.
mo. no." she cried. Don't you
stop! If you do will. Come on"
she entreated, checking her horse to
wait for him. You ride behind me-
they won't dare shoot at us them"
Bud laughed shortly and wheeled in
behind her, returning his gun to its
sling.
All right" he said. well ride 1t out
together them"
He laid the quirt to the roam. In the
whirl of racing bushes a white monu-
ment flashed up suddenly before them.
The rurales we're within pistolshot
and whipping like mad to head them.
Another figure came flying along the
line, a horseman. waving his hands
and motioning. Then, riding side by
side, they broke across the boundary
with the baffled rurales yelling savage
ly at their heels.
Keep a going!" prompted Hooker,
as Gracia leaned back to check her
horse; down into the gulch there
them rurales are liable to shoot yeti"
The final dash brought them to
cover, but as Bud leaped down and
took Gracia in his arms the roam
spread his feet, trembled, and dropped
heavily to the ground.
He'll be all right" soothed Bud, as
Gracia still chung to his arm Then,
as he saw her gaze fixed beyond him.
uo tuIucu dAu USuciu IMP hc Adu-
cey.
It was the same Phil, the same man
Bud had called pardner, and yet
when Hooker saw him there he stiff
fened and his face grew hard.
"Well?" he said, slowly detaching
Gracia's fingers and putting her hand
away.
As Phil ran forward to greet them
he stepped sullenly of to one side.
What they said he did not know. for
his mind was suddenly blank; but
when Phil rushed over and wrung his
hand he came back to earth with a
start.
Bud" cried De Lancey ecstatical-