The Benson signal., 1916-07-15

that you and Mrs. Fame can have a
comfortable place to sleep until your
messenger returns. Send my horse
up at once, trumpeter." And Kynas.
ton, with last long look at the beau
| tiful picture that Miss Upton present
ed as she stood in the shadow of the
| tent fly, went out to inspect the for.
nation of his detachment.
1t had happened so often that it had
become a habit-that receiving reports
that called for the despatching of a
detachment at once to investigate
some utterly baseless rumor. Fifty
miles east and west ran the line, which
was set off at every mile by great rec.
tangular monuments of stone or metal
standing grim and gray against the
! hill rims, each monument marked on
the north side with the arms of Mexj.
CO, and on the opposite face with the
arms Of the United States-mute
warning that thus far and no farther
could rebellion and anarchy be toler.
ated
And the warning that those monu.
ments gave was backed up, not by the
serried ranks of untold thousands, but
by thirty young cavalrymen. Just now
the little squad Of line riders were
lOlling in the shade Of their tents
where they watched Corporal Welsh
as he superintended the saddling-a
painstaking job indeed, for to a cav.
| a lrxyY hn c1i 1ivh irly IN,
die blanket is a serious matter, as it
! may well put him afoot with lame
horse in the course Of days march.
Kynaston mounted and, leaving his
little squad to move slowly out along
the rocky trail, rode quickly back to
the tent where the two women sat.
Here he swung out of saddle and,
tossing his reins to the trumpeter,
called out cheerily enough:
Il say, Miss Upton, I hope I will
find you and Mrs. Fame here when I
return. 1t has just occurred to me
that I ought to give you the warning
that is contained in the note l re.
ceived.
''It will not be safe for you to cross
the line here inside of the next TWEEN.
ty-fOur hours. You know this road
leads directly south and connects with
the main road to Ojinaga, and there is
fighting going on there. It will be
extremely unwise for you to leave
here, at least until I return. I shall
be back by daylight, think. I can't
tell you any more just now. / know
Mr.. Upton would wish you to act on
my advice"
Certainly, Mr.. Kynaston; we will
take your advice and profit by your
courtesy until our chauffeur comes
back, or until you return. Good luck!"
And Miss Upton waved her white
hand cheerily to the youngster as he
took the slope at a gallop to join the
little squad, which was already well
on its way toward the rocky little trail
that led eastward to the mesa.
Mrs. Fame watched them till she
saw the last man of the little rear.
guard pass over the ridge. Then she
turned to Dorothy.
He seems nice mana really nice
young man." she commented, stand
ing with her hands on her hips, look
ing down at the younger woman. Il
am not at all sure that I have ever
seen better looking man in years"
She eyed Dorothy speculatively. "And
he'd make a mighty good match for
young girl like you,' she concluded.
"You speak like Methuselah,"
laughed Dorothy. Teach me out of
the book of your experience"
"My DEAR" laughed Mrs. Fame, do
you know that widow of twenty-five
is as old"
LAS she wants to be? Yes, just
that; and not day older"
do you want him, Dorothy? IL you
do will keep my hands Off; but /
think if you do not that l shall Jake
advantage Of the open game laws of
this state"
Fearing lest she should betray q
touch of jealousy, Dorothy hastily
turned the subject. ooh, for sleep!"
she yawned. I'm going to lie down
until the car is repaired. I wonder
when we can expect that good-for-noth-
ing chauffeur back with that gear?"
She passed into the tent, where she
stood for moment looking at the
crude efforts that Kynaston had made
during his month Of occupancy to
make himself comfortable. Dorothy
gave the place a deft touch or two,
which seemed to transform it; then,
with little sigh of utter content, she
threw herself down upon the narrow
canvas cot, pulled the mosquito bar
over her pretty head to keep away the
ubiquitous New Mexico flies, which
stick closer than brother, and passed
away into dreamland.
Drawing her pink veil about her
face, Mrs. Fame settled herself at full
length in the long canvas reclining
chair which Kynaston had placed be-
meath Chinaberry tree near his tent.
In few minutes the little camp lay
quiet under the stars.