The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-09-20

be surprised II we are not assassinated
before morning"
lie must have meant it." Alaire
spoke with q conviction she did not
entirely feel. "Fnther O'N1alley aroused
the finer side of his nature"
perhaps" agreed the priest. "somc-
where In him there is fcur of God"
But Dave was skeptical. "NIorc like
~ fear of the gringo government"
said he. "Longorlo is n fourflushcr.
When he realized he was licked he
tried to save his facc by Il grandstand
play. He didn't want to let us 60"
"Thcn what is to prevent him from
well, from having us followcd?"
Alaire inquired.
Nothing" Dave told her.
AS they climbed the bank and rode
onward into the night she said: mo
matter what happens, dear, shall be
happy, for at last one of my dreams
has come true" He reached out md
patted her. "YOu've no idea what n
coward was until you came. But the
moment l saw you all my fears van
ished. / was like lost child who sud
denly sees its father; in your arms 7
felt perfectly safe, for the first time in
all my life. think. II couldn't bear
TO go on without you, after this"
Dave found nothing to say; they
rode along side by side for time in
Il great contentment that required no
speech. Then Alaire asked:
Dear. have you considered how wo
are going to explain our marriagc?"
wont the circumstances cxplnin
it?"
Perhaps. And yet 1t seems ages
since learned-what happened to Ed.
but In reality it's only few hours.
Won't people talk?"
Dave caught at the suggestion. "I
see. Then let's keep it secret for the
present"
with little reckless laugh she con
fcssed, "I-I'm afraid I'll find It diff
cult to be conventional"
My wife" he cried in sharp agony.
Leaning far out, he cncirclcd her with
his arm; then, half lifting her from
her saddle. he crushed his lips to hers.
It was his first display OF emotion since
Gather O'NInllcy hnd united them.
There were few villages along the
road they followed. and because Of the
iatcness Of the hour all were dark
hence the party passed through with
out exciting attention except from in
occasional wnkeful dog. But us morn
ing came and the east began to glow
Dave told the priest:
We've got to hide out during the
day or We'll get into trouble. Besides,
these women must I've getting hungry"
81 fear there is something feminine
about me-" confessed the little man.
"I'm furnished, too"
At the next rancho they came to they
applied for shelter. but were denied;
In fnct. the owner cursed them so
roundly for being Americans that they
were glad to ride onward A mile or
two farther along they met cart the
driver Of which refused to answer
their greetings. AS they passed out Of
his sight they saw that he had halted
his lean oxen and was staring after
them curiously. Later, when the sun
was we'll up and the world had fully
awakened, they deserted mounted
man, evidently Il cowboy, riding
through the chapnrral. He saw them,
too, and came toward the road but
after brief scrutiny he whirled his
horse and gallopcd Off through the cac-
tus, shouting something over his shoul-
der.
"Thls won't do" O'N1nllcy declared,
uneasily. 81 don't like the actions Of
these people. Let me appeal to the
next person we meet. / can't believe
they all hate u.s.
Soon they came to rise in the road,
and from the crest Of this elevation be-
held ahead Of them Il small village of
white houses shining from the shelter
of a grove. The ranchcria was perhaps
two miles away, and gallopng toward
1T was the vaqucrO who had challenged
them.
THAT'S the Rio Negro crossing"
Dave announced. Then spying little
house squntting Il short distance back
from the road, he said: "Wc'd better
try yondcr. If they turn us down Wen
have to take to vhc brush"
OMallcy agreed. eyes, and we have
no time to lose. That horscman is GO
Ing to rouse the town. I'm afraid
wc're-in for It,"
Dave nodded silently.
Leaving The beaten path, the rcfu-
gees th%adcd their way through cac-
lns ana sage to gate, entering which
lhey approached tho straw-thatchcd
Jacal they had seen A naked boy baby
watched them draw near, then scuttled
Tor shelter, piping an alarm. A man
appeared from somewhere. ut sight OF
whom the priest rode forward with q
peasant greeting. But thc fellow was
tlhfricndly. His wife. too, emerged from