The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1920-07-29
TWIN FIRES
Bv GEORGE ELMER COBB


was glad.
/ 1t was in remote part of New Mex
/ leo that he had arrived. tramping II
with a light camping outfit and for
( two days he had not come across half
a dozen human habitatiOns.
He had got his sleeping bag in rcadi-
ness. had small fire of brush and
wood and sat smoking cOntentedly be-
/ fore II when he caught CLEAN from
4 like illumination just beyond a slight
rise COmpanionship was ut once sug-
gested Singing on belt and rifle Dale
moved in the direction of the twin
glow. new interest was added 10
/ the occasion as he made ont a young
girl fitting near the fire. a graceful,
sprightly figure was silhOuetted with
clearnesS. She wore the conventional
short dress and leggings Of the true
border girl and was apparently prepar-
, ing q meal. As he came nearer Dale
observed horse tethered near light
wagon, and lying upon some blankets
in the latter was an old man. As Dale
came tramping through the bushes the
, girl looked startled, and then as the
freight showed him to he a we'll
appearing young man. placed back
against n tree the rifle she had hastily
taken up.
She was Drowned by the sun and her
Carb showed the dust and wear and
tear of n strenuous journey. hut her
eyes told of character and SOulfulneSs.
II am n transient wanderer." Dale
introduced himself. land as have not
met a fellow being for two days. the
glow OF your campfire was lure I
could not resist"
ave noticed your own" said Electra
Raymond. Father, here is q stranger,
visitor"
The old man sat up In the wagon,
scanned Dale with a critical eye. and
certain uncasineSs at first manifest
gradually left his face. As Dale went
into details regarding himself conf
dence seemed inspired with both father
and daughter.
"The fire is no longer necessary"
spoke her father, and she scattered
the dying emberS. I'VE are on the last
stage OF journey to CeritO." added
Adam Raymond. He was anxious 10
get to CeritO. n county seat, as speedily
as possible. he said. and Dale spent
an hour In the company of n young
lady he would not soon forget and left
the twain 10 return 10 his own camp.
There had been something significant
I nj In ha nd mo
of the old man as he directed the eX-
tinguishment OF the fire; he had acted
watchful and startled at times. as II
fearing intruders. and Dale scattered
what was left Of his own fire before
he crept into his sleeping bag.
; He seemed lulled to sleep by the
scent OF some flower or shrub. all IN
aware that the perfume was extended
towards the mouth Of his sleeping bag
by one of two men who had crept mp
: to the spot guided by a few lingering
sparks Of the campfire. A sleeping
> shrub" victim. Chester Dale was as
{ dead to the world as If he had been
7 chloroformed. The two men lifted him
up by shoulders and feet. They car.
, ried him nearly two miles until they
reached a cave in the rocks. Here he
was drawn from his covering and
hands and feet securely tied.
Now, then, you keep watch until
go for Jim and the rest Of the gang
= spoke one of the men. at will take a
full twenty-four hours to reach them
but It will be worth the while jim
will be liberal when he learns we have
run down this Raymond before he go'
to Cerito and filed his papers to that
property Jim covets.
"Why not search him for the docu
men', II that is all Jim is after?" wa,
queried.
"No, that's not orders. We've struci
a streak of money luck. l can tell you
l. All this Dale dimly heard and ther
a relapsed into drugged sleep again. L
was late the next afternoon when h,
Ia was once more aroused. The messen
" ger had returned with Jim and severa
g others. Jim was In a frenzy of disap
pointment and rage.
"You laundering idiotw he shouted
"He isn't Adam Raymond at all
ID You've missed the man | sent yO,
s. after. who is probably safely in Cerit
y, by this time"
Dale was pretty well assured by thi
time that II was Adam Raymond h
had been mistaken for by his two CAP
u tors.
- thousand miles from home. anon
strangers. without cent of money
Chester Dale reached CeritO and tn
" first person he met as he entered II
n one hotel was Adam Raymond. II
found a friend, indeed when he ha
related his story TO him and asked 10
,e pecuniary aid until he had telegraphe
Is home for funds
"All | have is at your command" dc
clared the old man. "COme up to on
a rooms and let my daughter and mysel
In thank you. But for your mistake
capture I would have been the victim
and once those schemers got my paper
m all we had was lost. The document
at were duly recorded yesterday and n
one can rob me of my mining right
now"
bs Electra Raymond encountered DaI
O anew, rOhed In more becoming attir
hAw hA- II