The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-26
He Kissed Her Openly. III

HYa@L |
sharp explosion. The old man fell
prone upon his back, amid hundred
twinkling fragments Of the Bell.
Wilkes dashed out of the shed.
"A Mauseri" he snapped. Some
greaser trying for last shot smashed
the Bell and killed the old man! Come
on! Let's get out Of here quick!"
Start the motor!" called Kynaston.
''Ill be with you in jitfy."
He stopped to gather up the frag-
ments of the Bell-the precious frag-
ments which would substantiate his
story at the coming investigation and
which would clear him Of the charge |
of having stolen the relic.
A moment later, as he ran around
to the front of the house again, the
machine was ready, purring, painting,
and iarring under its engine.
Throw in your clutch!" cried
Wilkes. Were all here and we're all
ready"
Kynaston leaped to his place, showed
down the pedal, threw his clutch into
the low and pulled it back to second.
The machine took the curve below the
house, shooting forward like projec-
tile on the trail that showed steel
brown in the dusk.
IT'S touch and CO." muttered the old
man. Nolan, keep the ladies down"
His gray beard blew back over his
shoulder; in the wind his eyes mar
rowed to pin-points.
Throw her wide open, son!" he
commanded
Kynaston's foot pressed the gasoline
control and the car shot forward faster
and faster. Past the first line Of scat.
tered fires they went, greeted by yells
and an occasional shot. Past the lines
where the troops were forming, toward
the house whittier Kynaston had been
taken, prisoner; the house in which
Upton had been murdered.
Keep her goin' and throw her al
wide open as you can!" said Wilkes.
81 can hardly hold her as It isl
painted Kynaston. She's pulling like
a runaway locomotive on a dowr
grade"
It was true. They had left the trail
and were heading northwest across
8 the unfenced mesa, certain OF five
mile fiat with nothing worse than
prairie-dog mound, bunch of grease
wood. a sage-bush between them ant
the much-desired line. Behind then
they heard the hammer of pursuini
4 hoofbeats; apparently every mounte'
man left in camp was after them.
A storm of shots swept over an
about them, one impinging on the irol
that old Upton had so wisely place
! above the engine. Wilkes reache
back without looking and forced Dort
thy, who was about to rise, again t
her knees.
Ill Keep DOWN." he growled in kindl
voice. I'VE can't take chance now
we're too near the line"
Rock and bush and stunted tire
stood out in silhouette as IL drawn !
India ink against silver background
Behind them they heard yells an
shouts and shots.
And then, coming toward them on
run. they saw a number of mounte
4 men For moment Kynaston believe
they we're caught, but it was for M
ment only. A shout from a doze
lusty troopers told him it was Amer
. oan eavalrvmen in Mexico-across tn
. line at last.
ul The pursuing Mexicans turned an
II fed into the darkening night. But tn
H car continued on, though at lessee
ing mace. and in a few minutes the
shot mast a great stone monumen
vb;tewashed, four-square, that marke
the limits of anarchy and murder. ,
"Irs like American cavalry IL
world over-on hand in the nick
II time!" said Kynaston.
They ran up the hill and over 1t ar
halted on the farther slope below u
crest It was then that Kynaston, &c
ting down from the car, helped Dor
tbv first of all from the tonneau, an
catching her in his arms, kissed n
openly before them all
AN that" said Wilkes, to who
arm Mrs. Fame was clinging, is VIII
7 call the proper endin'. Of course
amt really the endin!'
Take the ladies back to my camp
;rtariected Kynaston, land then NAL
al the necessary arrangements for
ouick wedding"
And Dorothy did not contradict BIZ
Ill THE END.