The Ely miner., 1923-09-28

that one of his captors wanted him
shot. This guerrilla intercepted the
| orders, and then was instrumental in
taking Stewart 20 Mezquital. 1t is ex-
ceedingly sad. Why, he should be a
free man this instant. l regret"
"Who did this-this thing?" cried
Madeline, cold and sick. "Who Is the
guerrilla?"
"Senor Don Carlos Martinez. He has
been bandit, man of influence In
Sonora. He is more Of a secret agent
in the affairs of the revolution than an
active participator. But he has seen
guerrilla service"
Don Carlos! Stewart in his power !
Oh, God !" Madeline sank down al
most overcome. Then two great hands,
powerful, thrilling, clasped her shoul-
ders, and Nels bent over her.
Miss Majesty, shore we're wastin'
time here" he said His voice, like his
hands, was uplifting. She, wheeled to
him In trembling importantly. How
cold, bright, blue the flash of his eyes |!
They told Madeline she must not
weaken. But she could not speak her
thought to Nels-could only look at
Link.
ut figgers impossible, but I'll do it ~
said Link Stevens, in answer to her
voiceless query.
"Can 1 get permit to go into the in
terior-to Mezquital" asked Madeline
Of the officer.
you are going on? Madam, it's a
forlorn hope. Mezquital is a hundred
miles away. But there's a chance
the barest chance if your man can
drive this car. The Mexicans are
either murderous or ceremonious in
their executions. The arrangements
for Stewards will be elaborate. But
barring unusual circumstances, It will
take place precisely at the hour desig-
mated. You need no permit Your mes
sages are official papers. But to save
time, perhaps delay, l suggest you take
this Mexican, Senor Monies, with you.
He outranks Don Carlos and knows
the captain of the Mezquital detach-
ment"
81 thank you, sir. I shall not forget
your kindness" concluded Madeline.
The white, narrow road flashed out
of the foreground. slipped with incon-
ceivable rapidity under the car. When
she marked clump of cactus far
ahead 1t seemed to shoot at her, to
speed behind her even the instant she
noticed 1t. Nevertheless, Madeline
kuew Link was not putting the car to
its limit. Swiftly as he was flying, he
held something in reserve. And every
leaf and blade and branch of cactus
bore wicked thorns, any one Of which
would be fatal to tire.
1t came at length, the bursting re-
port. The car lurched, went on like a
crippled thing, and halted, obedient to
the master hand at the wheel. Swift
as Link was in replacing the tire, he
lost time. The red sun, more sullen,
duskier as 1t neared the black, bold
horizon, appeared to mock Madeline,
to eye her in derision.
Link leaped in, and the car sprang
ahead. The road began to wind up; it
turned and twisted In tantalizing, lazy
curves; it was in no hurry to surmount
hill that began to assume proportions
of a mountain; it was leisurely, as
were all things In Mexico except strife.
That was quick. fierce, bloody-it was
Spanish.
The descent from that elevation was
difficult, extremely hazardous, yet Link
Stevens drove fast. Then, in taking
an abrupt curve, grasping spear
ruined another tire. This time the car
rasped across the road into the cac-
tus, bursting the second front-wheel
tire. Like demons indeed Link and
Nels worked. Shuddering, Madeline
felt the declining heat of the sun, saw
with gloomy eyes the shading Of the