Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-06-01


Orderly Adams, Who Has Secured the
Defense Plans and Concealed Them
in His Belt.
''will you answer one question? What
is the secret of the belt you wearf"
She had unconsciously clasped her
arms about his neck and they were
treading water. Before he could frame
an answer a faint light appeared from
a crack following a terrific crash. II
widened and a side Of the wall fell In.
Adams lifted Pearl to his shoulders,
showed her through the aperture, and
she scrambled nimbly to open air and
ground. She helped to extricate him.
They stood dangerously near the
ruins of the hotel, in the midst Of q
battle between the revolutionists Of
Granada under Bolero and a detach-
ment of regulars from Fort Gordon.
The garrison guns were raining shrap-
nel and shell everywhere about them.
1t was never-to-be-forgotten scene.
The hotel and entire town Of Paso del
Norte was on fire. The boom Of cam
non half a mile away, explosions In
midair and almost at their feet, weird
and spasmodic Nominations in the sky,
the crack of the rifle distinguishable
in the rattle and rain Of bullets from
machine guns, swiftly moving platoOns
Of men in Khaki on foot and on horse,
the shrek of flying missiles commin-
Cling in the uproar with human cries,
and above all the cool and deliberate
voices of officers held Adams and Pearl
spellbound.
They might have remained indefinite
ly in that position, forgetful Of Its dam
gers, had not a cavalryman, In the act
Of dashing by, been shot clean out
Of his saddle, his body falling with a
thud. This brought Adams to his
senses. He caught the bride Of the
dead mans mount, lifted Pearl into
the saddle, flung himself behind her,
and galloped away, heading anywhere.
There was nothing thick-headed and
stupid about Adams. Pearl secretly
marveled at his poise, dexter1ty and,
above everything else, his presence Of
mind; and somehow 1t seemed to her
that this was no new experience for
the recruit.
She was chilled through from the
wetting she had received. Clutching
the pommel of the saddle, she stared
straight ahead, leaving her salvation
entirely to the man behind her.
BY curious twist of things they
were being driven away from their
friends into the territory of foes.
Adams, with the Unborn sense of q SOL
der, knew this the moment he sue
ceeded In establishing their exact
whereabouts and the movements Of the
contending forces. Once started, how
ever, he saw the folly of endeavoring
to change their course.
In little while they were some
where in the Granadian foothills.
The crash of guns and the shouting
OF men now ceased. The crack Of the
rifle of some sniper on either side was
heard at longer intervals. The lurid
light began to fade from the sky.
There came upon the two silent fngi-
tives in the Granadian woods the su-
pernatural stiffness that follows q
clash Of arms. Queer sounds arose
and shadows crept toward them.
They had reached the edge Of q
steep precipice down which led q rough
trail to rayine. Pearl came out Of
her reverie.
"Are we followedTs she asked. I'M
easily.
Adams startled her by.leaping to the
ground. He drew from the saddlebag
a revolver and handed 1t to her. Then
he took the troopers carbine In his
own hands. The soft patter Of the
shoeless hoofs of Granadian ponies
was unmistakable.
Were t-trapped," he said, blpntly.
ITS sure trouble for Us ito turn and
go back. You've got to take q chance
on that inclined I'll s-stay here and
shunt 'em Off. If they k-ketch me- all
the better for you" He indicated q
blanket and pup-tent In the troop
er's outfit on the horse. You'll git
good and warm wrapped up In them
things"
She laid small, Icy hand In his
warm one. "The belt?" she interrc,
gated. "Will you give IL to me?"
(END OF FIFTH EpIcOREN