Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-05-14
NOW co ON WITH STORY.

NOW co ON WITH STORY
Mercedes did not know how long
She had been asleep when she was
awakened by the sound OF some one
creeping stealthi.y up the stairs,
1t was Shorty. He had called scv-
eral tunes and, getting no answer,
had begun searching the house, bent
on picking up whatever trifies he
could find and, at the same time, in
tending to make certain that he had
not lett himself open to Bodine's dis
pleasure.
When Mercedes threw open her
door and faced him. he was tie more
frightened of the two, But Shorty
was truly an evil-lookiDg figure as
she saw him standing in the light
chat s,reamed on him.
what you want herc?" she de-
manded
"You the senorita?" Shorty ques-
toned in turn.
81 am. What is your business?'
Il got letter for you" He
brought it forth from a coat-pocket.
81 been calm for ten minutes. l
didn't think there was any one
home"
Mercedes read the note hastily.
Her heart beat faster as she recog-
nized Basilio's strange letters. He
was alive then!
you are one Of Bodine's men,
huh?" she asked
eyes. ma am. We bin together a
long time" ,9
He is not hurt?"
ooh, l wish you had brought HIM
here" Mercedes gasped.
"Well, lady, Buck was afraid they
wouldn't be anythin' left Of this
Mace | bin hours gittin' here. l
cot a rig to take you in. Well have
70 90 round by the Wlnnemucca
road to make it.
The girl weighed what she was
doing, for all of her excitement as
she followed Shorty downstairs TO
his team. She had good reason TO
fear Bodine; but she had to go to
RasiHo. At least, it would be dawn
when she arrived there.
In answer to a sudden impulse she
snatcbed a pin from her dress, and
as she stepped upon the veranIda ), she me
fastened Bodine's note to the oool
without attracting Shorty's attelA,
ton. Melody would be sure TO hhu
it there. eon che
y. ~ Goat beside Bodine's man.
Pa;no alone with him in the haclen-
da, With its old associations ana ID
miliar objects to give her coulas ~
had been terrible enough; BENG IN
tho open with him in. the dead OIL
nigbt was infinitely more terrifying
As thew went on and the wagon
oo,t;pTad to rock back and forth,
tba oirl became drowsy. Her stf9g-
ole to keen to her end of the seat pc
gu ~ cease. The man beside her
Was no longer the evll-looklng I ;5
he had been. Mercedes felt her hea ft
reetinp on his shoulder. 1t was SOL So
and wonderfully comfortable one
sighed contentedly. -,
Bv the time they came to the nam
road she slept. Shortys arm wa, was
around her to keep her from talilng,
tbe expression on his his lace do
emotionless as ever. In TINS Iashloh
thew travelled to Webster Creek
they had not yet arrived there
whom the note Mercedes had pinned
w. the door of the hacienda caught
Rents attention. His place haq eS-
r nIms and his first thought had been
Of the girl and Basilio.
u The Nh, Destruction of the dam caused
Kont to regret. For all Of his talk
T 111 was a lawless old soul
nU ma had accomplished more IN
. serond than all of his weeks OF
aotiont work. Acklin had got what ne
rpichIv deserved. He might rant, ana
HE legal henchmen tear their hair'
but the dam was gone!
" some one would pay dearly Tor de-
stroying it, if he were caught. eaten,
mo him was something else AGAIN
Tins M in spirit quite accepting the ac-
complished fact, he had ridden 10
Buena Vista. .h+
his attention Immediately. 1t tod
him very little. If Basilio was at Bo-
din's place, where were Mercedes