Williams news., 1915-01-14

 sworn to protect and conduct across { the border to her fiance. Again came the desire to claim her. but there was not only Phil to be thought of but the fitness of himself to be the mate of this woman.
 .'Is 1t something have done!" she asked at last. ''Is that why you never tfhed me? Now. Mir Hooker, please .peak to me! And why do you always sit 90 far away-are you afraid of me? Rut look."-she moved closer to him There we are alone, and am not afraid of you!"
 "Of course not" answered Bud. look ing across at her boldly. Why should vou be-you ain't afraid of noth- ing!" .Is that a compliment? = she demand cd eagerly. "Oh, then I'm so happy it's the first you ever paid me! But have I been brave" she beamed. so far? Have I been brave. like mani"
 Sure have!" remarked Hooker i'm nersonally, but we ain't there yet | Only thing I don't like about you is YOU don't eat enough. Say, don't pick mn them crumbs-let me pare of some more of this jerked beef for you Can't nobody be brave when they're hun gry, you know, and want to bring you In safe"
 "Why?" she inquired. as she accept ed the handful of meat. "Is Is on Phil's account" she ventured. as he sat gazing stoically at the horses. You were such friends, weren't you?" she went on innocently. "Oh. that is why I admire the Americans so much they are so true to each other!"
 "Yes." observed Hooker, rolling his eyes on her. we're fine that way!" Well, mean it!" she insisted. as she read the irony in his glance.
 Sure! So do T." answered Hooker, :. and Gracia continued her meal in si- lence.
 8 "My!" she said at last; "this meat Is | good! Tell me. how did you happen to have 1t on your saddle? We left so suddenly. you know!" She gazed up at him demurely, curl g ous to see how he would evade this evi- dence that he had prepared in advance e for their ride. But once more, as he had always done. Hooker eluded the cunningly laid snare.
 @ "I was figuring on pulling out my @ self" he replied ingenuously.
 What? And not take me?" she D cried. "Oh. I thought-but dear me- d what is the use?"
 ]. She sighed and dropped her head r. wearily.
 @. "I am so tired!" she murmured de spondently; shall we be going or n soon?"
 ! Not unless somebody jumps us.' Id returned Bud. Here, let me make O. you a bed in the shade. There now 'n as he spread out the saddle-blanket at temptingly-"you lay down and ge ,y some sleep and I'll kinder keep ; 10 watch"
 Ill "Ah, you are so kind" she breathed ou as she sank down on the bed. Don ed you know" she added, looking up a ao him with sleepy eyes that half COT u! cealed a smile, 'I believe you like me at after all" 7. "Sure," confessed Bud, returnin iy' her smile as honestly; don't you wo oe " none about mel like you fine. u" He slipped away at this. grinning
 himself, and sat down to watch tn eu plain. All about him lay the wavin ne grass land, tracked up by the hoofs
 cattle that had vanished in the trac eo of war. In the distance he could SC Ae the line of a fence and the ruins of
 house. The trail which he had fo . lowed led on and on to the north. B' N all the landscape was vacant. exec
 for his grazing horses. Above u
 mountains the midday thunder-cal
 were beginning to form; the air VI
 very soft and warm, and He vol
 up suddenly to find his head on |
 knees.
 "Ump-um-m," he muttered, rising
 and shaking himself resolutely. "tf
 won't do-that sun Is making I
 sleepy"
 He paced back and forth. smoki
 nercely at brown-paper cigarettes. a
 still the sleep eame back. The tn'
 der-clouds over the mountains rc
 higher and turned to black; they
 down skirts and fringes and sudd
 stabs of lightning. while the VI
 sucked in from the south. And tn
 with . slash of rain. the shower v
 upon them.
 At the first big drops Gracia stirl
 uneasily in her sleep. She started
 as the storm burst over them; then.
 Bud picked up the saddie-blankets
 spread them over her. she drew
 down beside her and they sat out
 storm together. But it was moro
 them than . sharing of cover. patti
 enduring of tho clements. and
 sweep of wind and rain. WAea [
 rose up there was . bond betw
 them and they thrust and parried
 more.
 They were friends. there in the r
 >S %~Ny,0 uofov and tha craa ah of M