The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-03

II was dusk when we started. As
Worst babe the lady good-by, she
took his hand and expressed her graft.
tude tearfully but with warmth. As
he waved his hand towards me with
the words; This is your guide and
my friend. He is brave and a gentle
man. she drew up h%aughtily and gave
me simply a cold, formal bow. 1t
rather nettled me. but | said simply
I will lead the pack horse. You had
better follow at, say, twenty feet"
h viewed me with a challenging
stare, as though wondering at the ar
rangement.
Yes, 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 it
was.
There was a clear half-moon. and
the road was broad and even the first
part of the journey. l noticed my
companion SILVER as we diverged into
o obscure bride paths.
Twice she urged up her horse and
kept close to mine. | saw that the
weird loneliness of u environment
affrighted.
You must fall back" l spoke def
nitely, but pleasantly.
"But-but fear-I am afraid" she
demurred.
1T must be as l say" l insisted.
1T is necessary to your safety. You
Will appreciate what l 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 came upon
friendly encampments. My creden-
tials passed us IN. At the last place
the c-ommandant read the safe con-
duct: Zone Walworth Doty and wife.
Madam, l salute you"
She directed a flashing glance at
me, as if arraigning me for an affront.
met her glance steadily. That beau.
tiful face enchanted me, but l tried
to act the guide under strict disci-
pine.
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 a cliff.
l had been advised by Worst that the
enemy were likely to be prowling
about. I thought of that-and of the
load the pack horse carried. l 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"
made out an armed officer. He was
of the enemy. Beyond him, so feet
in a ravine, was a temporary camp.
He kept a revolver and leveled at me
as he grabbed out to seize the bride
of the pack horse.
The animal swerved, threw up its
head, curvetted past him and broke
into quite a trot. The officer turned
and leveled his weapon, intent on halt
ing the fight with a shot.
Stop! Stop" l shouted.
Too late! The well-aimed bullet
struck one of the packages on the
back of the horse, bored into it and
there was a frightful defamation.
l saw the officer, struck by a huge
fragment of rock, fail prone and life
less. l saw the pack horse, blown to
atoms, go over the ledge into the
midst Of the camp below. l heard a
shrek and ran back to my charge.
You are hurt?" l cried solicitously.
mo! No! But you" and l felt
the warm blood trickling from my fore
head, where a flying piece of rock had
struck me. Then l hurried on her
horse and my own past the motionless
officer, away from the camp.
What was it," she shuddered, as
we deviated to a broader road.
Dynamite"
She started and paled. Then she
insisted IN binding up my wound with
a lace scarf. She kept close beside
me.
And it was to shield me that you
took all the risk" she murmured.
Within the hour we were safe in
friendly hands. All her disdain and
GOODNESS was gone now. She seemed
to look to me for help. l placed her
in kindly hands.
Within two days l located her ia
Their and mother. She insisted on my
taking her to them. Then that l be-
come their guest.
And thus it was that out of a great
war ! won a bride-no longer, how
ever, my dear Lady Disdain!
Copyright, 1915. by W. C. Chapman.)
His Reasoning.
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