Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-12-01

NenIuTeu u whistle. Inorne nedru
1t, for he turned, whistled a low reply,
and went IN. Not for some distance
beyond, where the street ended In
open country, did they halt to wait.
Then he came up with the fugitives.
"Dick! Are you-all rightT' painted
Thorne, grasping Gale.
"I'm-out of breath-but-O. K.,"
replied Gale.
"Goodi Good" choked Thorne. ~
was scared-helpless. Dick,
1t worked splendidly. We had no
trouble. What on earth did you dor"
81 made the row, all right" said
Dick. "While l was rushing Rojas
a couple of cowboys shot out the
lamplights. A Mexican who pulled a
knife on me got hurt, I guess. Then
l think there was some shooting from
the rebels after the room was dark"
Mercedes pressed close to him,
touched his hands. looked up into his
face with wonderful eyes. He thought
he would not soo forget their beauty
the shadow of pain that had been.
the hope dawning so fugitively.
Dear lady," said Gale. with voice
not wholly steady. "Rojas himself
will hound you no more tonight, nor
for many nights"
She seemed to shake, Il thrill, to
rise with the intelligence. She pressed
his hand close over her heaving breast.
Gale felt the quick throb of her heart.
"Senor! Senior Dick! !" she cried.
Then her voice failed. But her
hands flew up; quick as a flash she
raised her face-kissed him. Then
she turned and with a sob fell into
Thorne's arms.
There ensued a silence broken only
by Mercedes sobbing. Gale walked
SOM PAGES away. If he were not
stunned, he certainly was agitated.
The strange, sweet fire of that girls
lips remained with him. On the spur
of the moment he imagined he had a
jealousy Of Thorne. But presently
this passed. What remained with him
was the splendid glow of gladness
that he had been of service to Thorne.
"Dick, Dick, come here!" called
Thorne softly. Lets pull ourselves
together now. We've got a problem
yet. What to do? Where t o go? How
to get any place? We're on good old
U. S. ground this minute, but we're
not out of danger"
AS he paused, evidently hoping for
a suggestion from Gale, the silence
was broken by the clear, ringing peal
of a bugle. Thorne gave a violent
start.
Its a call, DickI It's a CALI" he
cried.
Gale had no answer to make. Mer-
cedes stood as if stricken. The bugle
call ended. From a distance another
family pealed. There were other
sounds too remote to recognize. Then
scattering shots ratified out.
"Dick, the rebels are fighting some
body" burst out Thorne excitedly. |
"The little federal garrison still holds
its stand. Perhaps it is attacked
again. Anyway, there's something do
ing over the line. Maybe the crazy
Greasers are firing on our camp.
We've feared tin the dark. . i
And here 1 am, away without leave
practically a deserter!"
go back! Go back, before you're
too late !" cried Mercedes.
Better make tracks, Thorne,"
added Gale. ut can't help our pre-
dicament for you to be arrested. I'll
take care Of Mercedes"
HN0 M nAO roDJ;0a nho.-1 at
a get away-avoid arrest"
Mercedes embraced her lover,
begged him to go. Thorne wavered.
"Dick, I'm up against it." he said.
you're right. If only / can run back
in time. But, oh, l hate to leave her 1.
Old fellow, you've saved herl 1 al
ready owe you everlasting gratitude.
Keep out Of Casita, Dick. The U. S.
side might be safe, but I'm afraid to
trust it at night. Go out in the des-
ert, up in the mountains, in some safe
place. Then come to me In camp.
Well plan. I'll have to conide in
Colonel Weede. Maybe he'll help us.
Hide her from the rebels-that's ALL"
He wrung Dicks hand. clasped Mer-
cedes tightly in his arms, kissed her,
and murmured low over her, then re-
leased her to rush off into the dark
ness. He disappeared in the gloom.
The sound of his duh footballs gradu-
ally died away.
Gale realized that he was between
the edge of an unknown desert and
the edge of a hostile town. He had
to choose the desert, because. though
he had no doubt that III Casita there
were many Americans who might be-
friend him, he could not chance the
risks of seeking them at night.
He felt a slight touch on his arm.
felt it move down. felt Mercedes slip a
trembling cold little hand into his.
Dick looked at her. If the loneliness.
the silence, the desert, the unknown
dangers of the night affected him.
what must they he TO this hunted