Evening star., 1921-06-19

IT had grown suddenly cold. and the
i wind. sweeping awn from the fam
tastic peaks of the Christmas. howled
mournfully as it passed over the rim
of the canyon. The stars tlickered out;
the watchful nationalist kicked the
embers OF the little STe a,s: auddled
in his poncho. The .SaA~~S who
guarded the trail-was erased by the
shadows; there was no longer even
the glow OF ris cigarette.
I'll dare" Rita thought. I'll try"
The nationalist, with a grunt, lifted
his hands from the rife and felt In his
pockets for the making of a cigarette.
Now Rita said aloud
She snatched the rife. threw It down
between Pug and Gonelli. and with a
single. violent shove pushed the ma
tionalist forward into the fire.
Madness followed. The guard at the
head Of the trail woke from trou-
bled sleep and with a howl fired in
the wrong direction. The other. lay
| in the embers and prayed. Pug. catch
ing the rifle. turned 1t expertly upon
the astounded nationalists. WHO were
| between this surprise and the edge Of
eternal space. They groaned and lift
ed their hands heavenward, while
Gonelli. flying through the darkness
, like the disembodied spirit of revenge.
came into violent contact with the
guardian OF the trail. and not only
| deprived him of his gun. but Of every
ounce OF breath in his body. They fell.
| clasped in each others arms, and ROLL
ed down the stony path. Presently
.Gonelli came back a crestfallen ban
| dit stumbling before him.
! All OF these things happened stimuli
! taneously. For an instant the world
was full Of oaths. thumps. groans and
excitement. Then Signor Pug kicked
one OF the enemy out Of the fire and
mad" oration to the others:
''Hombres. you have been outwitted
/ by woman. You call yourselves SOL
! diers! The liberator is dead. There is
no room in the country for enemies OF
peace and prosperity. Por Dios. senores.
you will be the joke Of Mageila. Now.
come here-one by one,and give me
! Benissimo! Damn fine. Now head on
! down the trail and keep walking until
tell you to stop. Gonelli, will YOU and
Mr. Blanchard bring that string OF
horses? I'm hurrying on I've got best
! a shave Well go straight up the river
bed and through the Indian trail. soldati.
/ Avanti.'
The disgruntIed natonalists disap-
peared into the blackness Of the CANYON
with faint rattle or spurs and the ciat-
ter OF small pebbles that bounced De-
(: fore them down the trail: MI Blanch,
ard suddenly galvanized into violent
action, started after the horses.
Gonelli and Rita had disappeared.
! Somewhere in that smothering darkness
F.; they stood heart to heart. Gonelli was
saying "Your heart beats in tune to
/ mine, amore''
And Rita whispered. I've heard the
music Of the world at last"
When dawn came she was riding bE
/ Gonelli's side. Before them Signor Pug
sat upon a brisk pony and drove the
twenty nationalistS toward Magella.
| Gonelli leaned over and caught Rita's
| hand He pointed, and in the deepening
+ glow of that amazing light she saw tn
! trail that led toward the future ana
! reality.
'.Fade out" she said, and smiled into
! Gonellis eyes.
Mr.. Blanchard was bringing up TIE
rear. He looked. rubbed his fingers
! across his unshaven chin. grinned, and
thought Happy at last Amen.
Copyright, 1921