Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-06-14

Mexicans who were binding them. Lo-
PEE and Alvira stood looking on in grim
delight. -
Then Lopez directed his men to put
Liberty and Therese on the horses
which had been brought up for them,
as he and Alvira prepared to mount
their own steeds. Seeing that the rest
of the men We're ready to start, the
party rode some distance away from
the hacienda and stopped while Lopez
gave directions to the man at the
detonator.
"When the gringos are we'll within
the hacienda push the handle down"
he said.
Now it happened that Liberty's horse
had stopped right beside the man, who
stood with his hand on the handle of
the detonator. Her courage rose She
summoned all her reserve strength, and
with one mighty effort threw herself
from the saddle and landed on the
Mexican. The impact forced the mans
body down on the handles of the de
tonator and an instant later a terrible
report was heard, followed by a ire
mendous crash.
Lopez and his men turned and
looked. A great cloud of thick, black
smoke arose before them to a height of
hundred feet, followed by blast after
blast as the dynamite exploded, send
ing the debris high into the air.
The explosion wrecked the hacienda
and some of the other buildings near
by, but it did not hurt the Americans
as they had not yet entered the danger
zone.
The leader was Infatuated as he real
He snatched his gun from his holster
and leveled it at the girls head. Then
he changed his mind, but as he showed
it back again in his belt, he shouted:
you'll pay dearly for this, damn you! !"
They had no time to lose now, for
the Americans could be seen descend
ing the hill towards them, and after
Liberty was thrown back into the sad
die they retreated post haste.
After riding hard for some time Lo-
PEI and his men arrived at a deserted
hut at the edge of the desert, where he
commanded the party to halt. Dis
mounting, the leader went inside, di-
recting Manuel to follow.
Bring the American girl and Their
csc herei'' he said to Manuel.
The officer left him and returned
little later with Liberty.
"Therese is exhausted" said Manuel.
''She has fallen from her horse and is
lying outside
Good" replied Lopez. 'Now Well
see If those Americans can follow Lo-
PEE. / want to make your wife write
note stating we are taking her to
Las Alomas. If they attempt to follow
us they'll never reach there alive-not
a one of them ~ Then he went out.
Manuel and Liberty were now left in
the hut alone. He stood staring at her
for a moment. Then, as he slowly
walked towards her he said: Nov
you see what comes of your not loving
your husband. If you cared for me,
Just a little. could save you-now !"
81 would prefer death to your she
exclaimed. You have spoiled my life.
and nothing you could do would sur
prise me now"
every well them he continued,
write that note then" And he hand
ed her a pencil and paper.
She hesitated.
Quick, we have no time to lose -
he shouted as he covered her with his
gum
Liberty looked up at him with ap-
pealing eyes. But they failed to move
the heart of Manuel, who stood wait
ing, his finger on the trigger. She lift
ed the pencil with trembling fingers
and wrote as he dictated. When she
had finished he Snatched the note from
her hand and taking it outside placed it
in Therese's clenched fingers.
The men had already mounted their
horses. Lopez was at the head of the col
umn, and as Liberty noted their horses
were headed in the opposite direction
to Los Alamos, she sank to the ground
and made an arrow on the sand. Then
she reached in her corsage and drew
out a small American flag and dropped
it beside the arrow.
In the meantime, Rutledge and the
Major had reached the hacienda and
found it in ruins.
After a thorough search of the other
buildings, Rutledge returned to where
the major was standing with some of
the rangers.
ledge.
AT that moment, Pancho, who had
been injured as he hurried out of the
hacienda when the explosion occurred,
came staggering up to the party. He
told them everything, and how the plot
of Lopez had failed.
(which way have they gomez asked
the captain as he supported the wound
ed man.
bout-Las-Alamos," he answered.