The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-09-27
CHAPTER XIV.
The Dawn.

Juan Garcia proved to be good
guide, and he saved the refugees many
inllcs on their road to the Rio Grandc.
l',it every farm and every village was
n menace, and at first they were forced
go make numerous dctourS. AS the
night grew older, however, they rode II
ntraightcr course, urging their horses
% the limit, hoping against hope to
rDnch the border before daylight over
took them. This they might have done
had 1t not been for Father O'Mallcy
AMI Dolores, who were unused to the
saddle and unable to maintain the pace
Juan set for them.
About midnight the party stopped on
The crest OF Il ilinty ridge to give their
horses breath and to estimate their
progress. The night was fine and clear;
outlined against the sky were the
stalks Of countless Sotol-plants stand
Ing slim ana bare, like the upright
lanc1S OF IN army at rest; ahead the
road meandrrcd across q mesa, GOV
cred with gramn grass and black, form
less blots of ahrubbcry.
Father ONInllcy gronncd and Shift
"a his weight. Juan tells me wen
never reach Romero by morning, at this
rate" he said; and Dave was forced to
agree. II think you and he and Alairc
had better e, on and leave Dolores and
me to follow us best we can"
Dolores llnlntlvcly seconded this
suggestion. ~ would rather be burned
at the stake shan suffer these ngones,"
she confessed. "My bones are broken.
The devil Is In this horse" She began
10 weep softly. $50, sonora. Save
yourself! It Is my accurscd fat stom-
nch that hnGers me. Tell Bcnito that
perlshcd breathing his name, and see
20 1t, when he rcmarries. that he retains
none of my treasures"
Alnire rcassured her by saying: "We
won't leave you. BE brave and make
she best Of IT,"
Yes. grit your teeth and hold on"
Dave echoed Wen manage to make
It somehow"
hut prOgrt ss was far slower than 1t
Should nave )ccn, and the elder woman
continued tC lag behind, vOiclng her
distress In tsroans ana lamentations.
The priest, who was made Of sterncr
stun. did his best to bear his tortures
cheerfully.
In spite Of their efforts the first ROSY
herald or dawn discovered them still a
long way from the river and just enter.
ing a more thtckly settled country
daylight can swiftly, and Juan flnall,
gave them warning.
we can't go on; the danger Is toe
great" he totd them. "If the soldiers
are still In Romero, what thcn?"
Have you no friends hercabout:
VINO would take us in?" Dave inquired
me Mexicaa shook his head.
Dave considered for q moment "Yo,
snust hide he*e," he told his compnn
iohs' while ride on to Romero ant
see what coo be done. I suspec
Bianco's trooIs have left, and in tha
case everything Will be all right"
Suppose they havcn't?" Alairc IN
Huired. All night she had been in tn,
llghtest Of moo DDS, and had steadily re
fused to take their perils seriously
NOW her smile chased the frown from
her husbands face.
well, perhaps I'll have breakfas
with them," he laughed.
i "Silly. I won't let you CO." she tol,
him, firmly; and, reading the expires
sion In her face, he felt dizzy won
der. "We'll find II nice secluded spot
then We'll sit down and wait for nigh
to come. Wen pretend we'rc having q
,1lcnic."
Dolores sighed at the suggestion