Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-15


| 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. The buzz, the
roar of wheels, of heavy body in fight,
increased to a continuous droning
hum. The wind became an insupport-
| 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, gullies 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
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 ditching the machine. One of
the planks split, sagged little, but
Link made the crossing without slip.
At length a mile of clean, brown
slope, ridged and grooved like wash
board, led gently down to meet the
floor of the valley, where the scant
grama-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 it, and kept on down the
line Of the wash. 1t was a deep cut in
red earth, worn straight down by
swift water in the rainy season. 1t
narrowed When Link reached the
narrowest points he got out OF the car
and walked from place to place. Once
with a little jump he cleared the wash.
Then Madeline noted that the farther
rim was somewhat lower. In a flash
she OWNED Links intention. He was
hunting 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 a spring like 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
jolting Roadway of the car gave place
to gliding rush. This was broken
by slight jar, and then above the
hum and roar rose a cowboy yell
Madeline waited with strained nerves
for the expected crash. 1t did moi
come. Opening her eyes, she saw the
level valley floor without break. She
had not even noticed the instant when
the car had shot over the wash.
A strange breathlessness attacked
her, and she attributed 1t to the celer-
ity 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 be 0
world-filling sound. There was long
blank period from which she awakened
to feel an arm supporting her. Their
she rallied. The velocity of the cal
had been cut to the speed to which she
was accustomed. Throwing back the
hood, she breathed freely again, recov
cred fully.
The car was bowling along wid'
road upon the outskirts Of a city
Madeline asked what pace it could be
douglas" replied Link. San jes
around is Aqua Prieta !"
. That last name seemed to stu
Madeline. She heard no more an,
saw little until the car stopped. Mel
II spoke to some one. Then sight o
r klraki-clad soldiers Guickened Made
!" lines faculties. She was on the boun
; dary-line between the United State
II and Mexico, and Aqua Prieta, with 1t
o white and blue-walled houses, 1t
d brown-tiled roofs, lay before her.
g cavalry officer approached the car
stared, and removed his sombrero.
:. "Can you tell me anything abou
Il Stewart. the American cowboy VIII
h was captured by rebels a few day
r ago? asked Madeline.
Eyes," replied the officer. "Stewar
il is reported to have done reckless f1ght
n ing and was captured. He got a Mex