The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-02
SHIFTING GSANDS
 BY ELEANOR M. INGRAM

dye. anad fixed his grave eyes on the east. After a few moments Mar tinez spoke, the sharp command of his voice muffled:
 "Take aim"
 There was a sound of leveled wea- pons. Carril held his unfaltering gaze on the horizon. where a long ray of gold had shot up, r1bbonlike. Mariners lips parted for the last command.
 With a crash of splintering boughs, a horse plunged out of the forest and down into the little hollow.
 'tStop!" a girls clear voice rang out desperately. '-Stop!"
 Between the prisoner and the lev eled rifles a rider dashed, and halt ed, leaning from the saddle toward the stunned officer in command.
 "He is innocent" she cried. He was with me that night-with me! You will not shoot him; he has done no wrong.''
 Miss Ardent" Carri1 protested, tin, was not. Take her away, for Gods sake! She does not know what she Is saying
 Beatrice lifted her head. Her hat was gone, her trim riding suit was soiled and torn, but her singularly vivid beauty glowed like a flame, and she fixed fearless eyes on Mar tinez,
 'Senor, that night he left his post to save my life You will not kill him before we can prove him inno- cent. MT. Graeme is with your com mander now. You will waft?" k "Senorita, I have no choice" de- murred the officer, drops of perspira- ton on his pale face. My orders pe9nlit no delay.''
 "You will not wait?"
 "Senorita, I cannot! am not free''
 .0Then shoot through me- she de- fled.
 Miss Arden. g&~ Carril urged. catching her bridle. "Go, T. beg. You cannot save me; leave me such hon. or as can keep. You are mistaken. This is not because I went with you; it was another night
 The general lie failed. As the sun rolled into view and sent its first level rays across the hollow, she look ed down into his eyes and smiled ex- quisite, tender comprehension. All the memories of the long night spent in his care, awe at the sacrifice made for her, wonder at his courage and pity for the thing she had not un- derstood, met in that regard
 Thank you," she said. and held her position. "Senorita, you dishonor me!' vehemently exclaimed Martinez Must I use force?" "Senor, he is innocent" Martinez glanced from her to Car Til and bowed. ''I do not doubt it. senorita," he said very sadly. Allow me to lead you from here" 'rNo."
 Miss Arden,'' Carril said, com. polling his voice to calmness, "yol torture us both. What happen
 here is no fault of yours. Take m. undying gratitude, and go'' She turned toward the soldiers ana l sat motionless. The resolution carved I upon the rose-tinted ivory of he, | girls face was as inflexible as tha I of the men.
 1 > Very respectfully Martinez graspet l the bridle, taking its control from her. But as the horse followed him I the girl slipped from her saddle ant | still stood before Carril. "Senorita," he dmplored. She did not answer. From tn direction of the camp came tn, | thudding rush of a galloping horse | Very willing the officer faced tha | way, to meet a soldier who dashed into the hollow "A reprieve," he gasped, refining III | to salute. The prisoner is to b, l brought in for re-axanaination." l The court. hastily reassembled, sa l around the table in the little hut | when the party reached it. Bill, | Graeme, hol1ow-eyed with fatigue travel-stained. bearing purpl
 bruise over one temple where a low | swinging tree branch had struck him
 had told his story and was sittin, l on camp-stoo1 in a state borderin, l on collapse. No one had expected the repriev, l to arrive in time to prevent Carrir | execution. The exclamation tha greeted the arriving party was les | of relief than of utter wonder l Martinez made his report succinct | 1y and accurately. A chair wa placed for Beatrice. "Senorita," Colonel Zunfga opene, | courteously, you have brought u
 some account of Lieutenant Carrir
 movements on the night of the fiji i teenth?''
 l "Yes," she made simple reply. ..H
 was with me all night" Carril looked across the room a
 Billy Graeme. and the eyes of tn | two men met, CarriPs bitter with re l proach, Billy's defiant
  Will you tell the circum
 stances. senorita?' Zuniga request ed
 T have come here for that" sh, l asserted.
 The room was silently attentive a.
 she told the story; her soft, clear | g1rfs voice giving the recital with {,
 truth not to be doubted, her candi<
 eyes fixed on the judges Whel | she ended, there was a pause Bill
 mad already confirmed her evidenc as far as that night was known t,
 him.
 Lieutenant Carri1, is this accoun
 true? Zuniga demanded. It 1s." Carril reluctantly admitted
 You went nowhere that night ex
 cept 10 put this lady. In safety an,
 to reJoin your regiment?'' Nowhere, sir."
 ou had no reason for refusin
 10 answer certain questions on you
 trlal, except for consideration fo
 her?"
 "No, sir"