Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-09-14

$3.50" WAM $50 @1H 49,
He paused to see the effect Of his
words on Miss Dare. She was too
confused to speak.
II hunt all day. continued Toxic.
"See Adams tonight and follow to rail-
road station. Demand note. He say
not got II and call me fool. / not
know II Adams till I pull black muf-
fer of his face. We fall in river in
another fight. He get away once
more. See7"
Another mufier7 A note to me2
SO you were the man fighting with
Adamsi Why, Toxic, l was the per-
son who fired that shotl" Pearl final
ly blurted out when she could End her
voice.
Light nov dawned OF PEARL "Oh!
That nOte-the note Of warning
against Adams I" she cried rapidly.
IAN army scout found and brought
the note to my father"
Army scout2" quizzsd Toxic, who
appeared to be nonplussed.
Pearl explained, then, how a scout
in the army's employ went in search
Of trace of her, Adams, himself and
Miss Bonn how he found the note
somewhere not distant from the scene
Of Toko's scrap with Adams; how it
was at first misunderstood by both
her father and herself, for its word
ing seemed to apply to Major Brent
and not to Adams; how she discOv-
cred Adams to possess the canal de
Tense plans secreted in Captain
Payne's military belt all the time how
Major Brent captured the document
from Adams and delivered it to her
father, after she escaped by airplane
and told them where she thought Adj
ans might be found.
To ali of which Toxic lent a listen
ing and dumfounded ear, for he knew
that it was of Major Brent the warn
ing had been sent, and that the mes
sage vas justified, for it told the
truth.
He did not tell Miss Dare this, now
ever.
II can't understand why the major
had his face covered with this muf-
fer" ruminated Pearl.
Toxic muttered something unintelli-
gible. 81 say no more about Major
Brent till l know more" he said aloud.
"Toko make sure mex time" And
both fell silent.
Meanwhile Pearl glanced around to
get their bearings. They were miles
distant from the American line, to-
ward which the car was headed. The
hour was well advanced into the night.
Pearl sighed in n pathetic way. AL
though she felt secure with Toxic as
her guide and guard, never before was
she so utterly depressed.
But presently Miss Dare's unhappy
thoughts fled before dangers new and
imminent for out of the night there
loomed across the trail the figure of
Il man on horseback. 1t was BOlero.
jump" cried Toxic, smothering
an oath and clamping on the brakes.
In another moment they were dodg-
ing around bush and dune.
"Sacre!' cried the bandit chief.
THE colOnel's daughter-she has the
military document Z"
"Shoot him, Toxic I" Pearl urged in
their dash toward ~nelghboring hills.
II no got gun !" he groaned.
They ran faster, hearing BOlerO's
mocking laugh. Then came the wild
yells of followers lurking In the shad-
Ows.
Bolero was not altogether sure that
Pearl and her chauffeur were un-
armed, and he kept a cautious dis
lance while from various directions
horsemen galloped up. One more i'm
petuous than the rest plunged straight
at Pearl, caught her by the waist and
pitched her across the pommel of his
saddle and veered with bold challenge
to his rapaciOus comrades.
Now ensued a quarrel for the prize
Shielding Pearl as best he could, her
captor fired his revolver twice, and
two opponents toppled on the sand.
Bolero, who had looked on in amuse-
ment, put an end to the fight. "The
girl is yours! ~ he gustoed Justify. "Tll
take the Jap, WHOM not get away soon
again.
Toxic was thrown on a pony, BolerC
assumed the lead and the whole party
cantered away.
Miss Dare exposed her pale features
to the rufian behind her, observing al
the same time hat his clothes were
damp as from a recent wetting. Their
eyes met. Her fears doubled. Her
captor was II. o. Adams.
Don't bulge and keep quiet,
g-girl," he whispered commandingly,
yet his smile was pleasant. mot a
hair on your heads goln' to be
harmed"
She sat erect, alert, scOrnful.
81 can't git you-all back Ito safe
ty, jes' yit," he continued, in a kindly
way. THAT canal document amt safe
on you. Let me have 1t till l can de
liver you and II b-bOth to the colonel
"T. o. Adams, or whoever you are
the document belongs neither to you
non 90 ~. VNa aw..m L. a. WT.NeaI