Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-19
By Rex Beach
Copyright BY Horpsr q Brothers

| well, lrOU having US loiioWeu'
Alaire inquired.
Nothing" Dave told her.
As they climbed the bank and rode
onward into the night she said: mo
matter what happens, dear. l shall be
happy, for at last one of my dreams
has come true" He reached out and
patted her. "You've no idea what a
coward was until you came. But the
moment l saw you all my fears van
ished. l was like lost child who sud-
denly sees its father; In your arms I
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 time in
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 few hours.
Won't people talk?"
Dave caught at the suggestion. Il
see. Then let's keep 1t secret for the
present"
With little reckless laugh she con-
fessed, 'I-rm afraid I'll find it diff
cult to be conventional"
my Wife" he cried in sharp agony.
| T u;r ko,r Nut ha apntrr1ad her with
his arm; then, half lifting her from
her saddle, he crushed his lips to hers.
1t 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
lateness 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 We'll get into trouble. Besides,
these women mustibe getting hungry"
II fear there is something feminine
about me-" confessed the little man.
''Tm 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 or
two farther along they met 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 sun
was we'll up and the world had fully
awakened, they deserted a mounted
man, evidently a cowboy, riding
through the chaparral. He saw them,
too, and came toward the road, but
after brief scrutiny he whirled his
horse and galloped off through the cac-
tus shouting something over his shoul-
der.
"This won't do" O'Malley declared,
uneasily. II don't like the actions OF
these people. Let me appeal to the
next person we meet. l can't believe
they all hate u.s."
Soon they came to 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 grove. The rancheria was perhaps
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 short distance back
from the road, he said: WED better
try yonder. If they turn US down we'll
| have to take to the brush"
OMalley agreed. "Yes, and we have
no time to lose. That horseman Is go
ing to rouse the town. I'm afraid
we're-in for It."
Dave nodded silently.
Leaving the beaten path, the refu-
gees threaded their way through cac-
tus and sage to gate, entering which
they approached the straw-thatched
iacal they had seen. A naked boy baby
watched them draw near. then scuttled
for shelter, piping an alarm. A man
appeared from somewhere, at sight Of
whom the priest rode forward with a
pleasant greeting. But the fellow was
unfriendly. His wife, too, emerged from
the dwelling and joined her husband in
| warning Father O'Malley away.
LET me try" Alaire begged, and
spurred her horse up to the group. She
smiled down at the country people.
saying: I'VE have Travelled long
| way, and we're tired and hungry.
Won't you give us something to eat2
Wen pay you well for your trouble"
The man demurred sullenly. and be-
gan refusal; but his wife, after a
wondering scrutiny. interrupted him
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