The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-15

well, from having US 1oltOWed!
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 and
patted her. you've no idea what
coward 1 was until you came. But the
moment 1 saw you all my fears van
ished. I was like lost child who sud-
denly sees its father; in your arms
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 a time in
a great contentment that required no
speech. Then Alaire asked:
Dear. have you considered how we
are going to explain our marriage?'
won't the circumstances explain
it?"
Perhaps. And yet 1t seems ages
since learned-what happened to Ed.
| but in reality it's only a few hours.
Won't people talk?'
Dave caught at the suggestion. 81
see. Then let's keep it secret for the
present"
With a little reckless laugh she con-
fessed, Tim afraid I'll find it diff
cult to be conventional"
my wife, !" he cried in sharp agony.
| Leaning far out, he encircled 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
Father O'Malley had united them.
There were few villages along the
road they followed, and because of the
| iatenesS of the hour all were dark.
hence the party passed through with
out exciting attention except from an
occasional wakeful dog. But as morn
ing came and the east began to glow
| Dave told the priest:
We've got to hide out during the
day or Wen get into trouble. Besides
these women must be getting hungry"
ST fear there is something feminine
about me-" confessed the little man.
I'm famished, too"
At the next rancho they came to they
applied for shelter. but were denied
in fact, the owner cursed them SO
roundly for being Americans that they
were glad to ride onward. A mile OF
two farther along they met a 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 SUI
was well up and the world had fully
awakened, they deserted q mounted
man, evidently a cowboy. riding
through the chaparral. He saw them
ttoo, and came toward the road, bu'
after a brief scrutiny he whirled bis
horse and galloped off through the cac
tus, shouting something over his shout
der.
''This won't do" O'hIalley declared
uneasily. ST don't like the actions OF
these people. Let me appeal to the
next person we meet. l can't believe
they all hate US
Soon they came to a rise in the road
and from the crest of this elevation be
held ahead of them a small village OF
white houses shining from the shelter
of a grove. The rancheria was perhap:
two miles away. and galloping toward
it was the vaQuero who had challenged
them.
That's the Rio Negro crossing,
Dave announced. Then spying little
house squatting a short distance bacl
from the road, he said: WED better
try yonder. If they turn US down wei
have to take to the brush"
O'Malley agreed. Eyes. and we have
Ice Is On
ing to rouse the town. I'm afraiC
we're-in for it"
Dave nodded silently.
Leaving the beaten path, the refu
gees threaded their way through cac
tus and sage to a gate, entering which
they approached the straw-thatche'
jacal they had seen. a naked boy bah.
watched them draw near, then scuttlet
for shelter, piping an alarm. A mai
appeared from somewhere, at sight o
whom the priest rode forward with
pleasant greeting. But the fellow wa
unfriendly. His wife, too. emerged from
the dwelling and Joined her husband IL
warning Father O'MalIey away.
Let me try" AIaire begged, an
spurred her horse up to the group. Sh
smiled down at the country people
saying: I'VE have travelled a lon
way. and we're tired and hungry
Won't you give US something to eat
Wen pay you well for your trouble"
The man demurred sullenly, and be
gan a refusal; but his wife. after
wondering scrutiny. interrupted hir
i with cry. Rushing forward. she too
: the edge OF AIaire's skirt In her hand
r and kissed 1T
God be praIsedI miracleI" sh
j exclaimed "Juan. don't you sect It ]
: the beautiful sonora for whom we pra
0 every night OF our lives. On your knee.
t shameless one! 1t is she who delivere
a you from the prison"
a Juan stared unbeIievingiy, then hi
s face changed; his teeth flashed In
t smile, and. sweeping his hat from hl
head, he, too. approached Alaire.
e at isl Sonora, I am Juan Carols
e whom you saved, and this is Inez," b
u declared Heaven bless you and 70
d give me-"
''Now I know you" AIaire laughe'
e and slipped down from her saddl
{ ssThiS Is q haDDv Meeting Sol Yo