The Raymer enterprise., 1923-09-20

'Qhes BY Fses~ and bsofhsrs> - o
stopped before the porch. Link had
tied two long, heavy planks upon the
car, one on each side, and In every
available space he had strapped extra
tires. A huge cask occupied one back
seat, and another seat was full OF tools
and ropes. There was just room In
this rear part of the car for Nels to
squeeze In. Link put Madeline In front
beside him. then bent over the wheel.
Madeline waved her hand at the 81.
lent cowboys on the porch. Not an
audible good.by was spoken.
The car glided out Of the yard,
leaped from level to slope. and started
swiftly down the road, out into the
open valley. Each stronger rush Of
dry wind In ;Madelne's face marked
the Increase Of speed. Tie buzz. the
roar Of wheels, Of heavy body In flight.
increased to q continuous droning
hum. The wind became an lnsupport.
able body moving toward her, crush
ing her breast. making the task Of
breathing most difficult. To Madeline
the time seemed to fly with the speed
OF miles.
Cactus barred the way, rocks barred
the way. gullles barred the way, and
these Nels addressed In the grim
humor with which he was wont to
view tragic things. Again and again
Link used the planks to cross washes
In sand. Presently he came to a
ditch where water had worn deep into
the road. Without hesitation he placed
them. measuring distance carefully.
and then started across. The danger
was In dltching the machine. One OF
the planks split, sagged little, but
Link made the crossing without slip.
At length mile Of clean, brown
slope, rldged and grooved like a wash
board led gently down to meet the
floor OF the valley. where the scant
grnma-grass struggled to give tinge
Of gray. The road appeared to be-
come more clearly defined, and could
be seen striking straight across the
valley.
To MadelIne's dismay, that road
led down to deep, narrow wash. The
crossing would have been laborsome
for horse; for an automobile It was
impossible. Link drove back to the
road, crossed II. and kept on down the
line Of the wash. II was a deep cut In
red earth. worn straight down by
swift water In the rainy season. It
narrowed. When Link reached the
narrowest points he got out Of the car
and walked from pace to place. Once
with little Jump he cleared the wash.
Then Madeline noted that the farther
rim was somewhat lower. In q fash
she OWNED Links intention. He was
hunting a place to Jump the car over
the crack In the ground
Soon he found one that seemed to
suit him, for he tied his red scarf upon
a greasewood-bush. Then. returning
to the car, he clambered In. backed up
the gentle slope and halted just short
OF sleeper ground. launching low over
the wheel. he started. slowly at first,
then faster. and then faster. The great
car gave spring like a huge tiger.
The impact Of suddenly formed wind
almost tore Madeline out Of her seat.
She felt Nels' powerful hands on her
shoulders. She closed her eyes. The
joltlng hendway Of the car gave place
to a gliding rush. This was broken
by slight jar, and then above the
hum and ronr rose cowboy yell.
Madeline waited with strained nerves
for the expected crash. II did not
come Opening her eyes. she saw the
level valley floor without a break. She
had not even noticed the instant when
the car had shot over the wash.
A strange breathlessness attacked
her, and she attributed II to the celer.
lty with which she was being carried
along. Pulling the hood down over her
face. she sank low In the seat. The
whir OF the car now seemed to he a
world.filIIng sound. There was long,
blank period from which she awakened
TO feel nm arm supporting her. Then
she rallied. The velocity OF the car
had been cut to the speed 10 which she
was accustomed. Throwing back the
hood. she breathed freely again. recov-
cred fully.
The car was bowling along a wide
road upon the outskirts Of city.
Madeline asked what place It c,uld be.
douglas" replied Link. "An lest
around Is Aqua Prietal"
That last name seemed to stun
Madeline. She heard no more, and
saw little until the car stopped Nels
spoke to some one. Then sight Of
khnki-clad soldiers quickened Made
lines faculties. She was on the boun.
dary.line between the United States
and Mexico. and Aqua Prieta, with Its
white and blue-walled houses, Its
brown.tiled roofs. lay before her. A
cavalry officer approached the car,
stared, and removed his scmbrero.
"Can you tell me anything about
Stewart. the American cowboy who
was captured by rebels a te~ days
ago?' asked Madeline.
"Yes." replied the officer. Stewart
Is reported to have done reckless fight.
Ing and was captured. He got Mexi-
can sentence. He Ia known here along