The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-08-11

poorest of the lot 1t Jagged. They
who rode beside her were constantly
drawing ahead, and then with curses
refining back. Deceived by her apparent
resignation, they gave her more room.
Ahead of them. when they had rid
den for about twenty minutes. the road
swung round a high-banked bend. Out
of the slope a tree thrust a branch
over the road. Bess saw, and took her
one chance.
A furtive twitch at the reins caused
her horse to lag still more decidedly.
| The others won to full length ahead
as they swept round the curve.
Raising both arms, the girl caught
the Overhanging branch and lifted her
/ self bodily from the sadtlle. The horse
rOcketed on. relieved of its burden. at
somewhat faster pace.
But the efforts she made to swing
up on the limb of the tree and by that
route gain the top of the bank was
hopeless. She had put too great stress
upon her strength in her struggle; it
failed her now. She dangled helpless
ly for moment or two, then dropped
to the roadway.
As soon as that happened. terror
lent her new strength. She turned and
ran wildly back along the road. seek
ing some place where she might find
temporary cover by the roadside.
That refuge was denied her. On the
one hand was open country. destitute
of anything considerable enough to
hide behind; on the other, the concave
wall of the bluff.
And already her escape was dlscov-
cred. She could hear the thunder Of
returning hoofs. Still she held on. run
ming as she had never dreamed she
would be able to run. despite her
straining lungs and aching muscles.
The hoofs were very close behind
her now. She put forth one last en-
deavor-which failed in its inception.
Oeqrtaking her, the Mexicans rode
up on either side. AS she ran, the
riders swung down from their saddles,
caught her arms. lifting her fairly
off her feet aad holding her so while
they wheeled their horses and dashed
back.
Scorching heat helped Bud Morgan's
return to consciousness. He reused
slowly, rolled over to get farther
away from the flames that were de-
. vouring his home. and sat up with a
splitting pain in his head.
The hand that he instinctively lifted
, to his temple came away dripping with
blood. Yet he was not seriously
, wounded. The bullet had cut deep
furrow in the side Of his head, but
, had failed to penetrate the skull. To
the temporary Inconsistencies that
, followed the wound, he owed his pres
, ent liberty and his escape from tor
, tured death somewhere in those hills
to the south.
Yet life was bitter to SAVIOR anew
AS he staggered away from the burn
ing house that entombed his mother
{ he came upon the riddled body of his
{ son.
, What his subsequent actions were
he never knew. 1t was late afternoon
, when he rode up to the Claiming ha'
/; cienda, more mad than sane, on the
) back Of horse without saddle OF
bride.
It was an hour later before he re-
, covered sufficiently TO gasp out his
: tale of horror to Patra and Donald
Parr in the library.
? When he had finished. the man
bowed his head on his folded arms,
and sat racked with dry, convulsive
sobs.
, On either side Of him Patria and
, Donald solght, then avoided, eacn
, others eyes.
!, Ito BE CONTINUED.