Evening star., 1928-04-06

speak Who are yco< caiieo out
9 VOICE.
"Ei-ll" fairly souealed Gerane, Don't
YOU know me9 What do you mean, stop
pins 3onlfer'S daughter on the road IKE
tl1iSe"
A moment Of speeches. astonishment
ard then a cultural voice beloved:
*It'S-Sts Geranet"
AVE. SO it is. good Julius" she cried.
This was serious. julius BroaaaAe was
not 8 man to be trifle6 With, II would
be lust Ike him TO flv into rage-a
virtuoyS rage. She was bound 10 admit
ana force her 10 remain where she Was
IN charge Of several Of his men
until
But il would never do 10 reveal the
slightest Sisn Of ihls inward perJurba-
ton Sitting up very erect in the saddle
she exclaimed in her loftlest manner;
Come. come, What business have you
To be dalyllg along the road at q nnle
like this. julius BroadaNe9 We are vast
1ng time Don't you know that you
should be az an appointed spot AT an ap-
pointed time9 Where are your horses?
Ha! I see! see it all. You have mutt
MED. You have deserted my father
A roar of laughter sflenced her.
1T IS no laughing matter" she began.
and suddenly put her hand to her
mouth. II was laughing matter, and
no one knew it better than she. The
idea of julius BroadaNe turning traitor!
II am sorry I said that, julius" she
cried pontT1tely.
ave" broke in BroadaNe. but. you
are right. il Is net q laughing matter.
Gerane. And would have you know.
young lady. that I. for one, did not
laugh. Fetch me \ lantern. Boaz. Let
me make sure that she Is real and that
] am not a-dreaming or oewitcheo.
He removed his mask. the better 10
suasnt and frown in his perpiexity. TWO
men were holding Setlm.
~Eow did yoa manage 70 get past tne
Dlgmans?" demanded Broadaxe, his
brain beginning 10 clear.
'soh. that was quite simple" said
ahe gliblv. II am not sure. but have
an idea they thought I was witch
astride a black horse that--But We
waste time. Julius Let as proceed.
wiz explain as We ride aiong. II
you
Proceed. eh? Well. now, that is just
what We cannot CO. Was ever 3 man
r. a worse FIX than am in?" He pom
oered long. What 10 %. know not"
Bless your heart. Julius" said she,
leaning down to stroke his shoulder:
why this distress2 MY father is ex-
pecFing me told him vas coming"
What is this?" gasped the black
smith. blinking.
The truth" said she. Il told him
q Dozen times over that Was coming
and that nohtng should stop me. Well?
TsnT that enough? Here am. 50 COM
pose yourself. my friend Al this very
moment. l am wiling 20 wager, my
father is woEsdngiug why have been
50 lang u catching up 70 hin"
Heaven defend My SOUL"
More than likely he Is terribly wor-
red fearing that some evil may have
befallen me-sueh as being lost in the
forest or deroured BY bears, or set upon
by nogues Who"
She was interrupted By Broadaxe's
sudden command 20 advance.
Keep . tight grip on the bit" he
cautioned the head man. we viii de-
eide what to DO when we've joined the
Others. vzut time 70 think. Be silent.
al Of YOU"
The party hurried forward. the huge
BroGoaKe stalking al Gerane'S knee. The
latter. feeling very much like a child
caught in an act OF mischief and In con-
Siderable doubt as 10 the consequences,
was nevertheless triumphant Much rs
she wished 70 talk and 70 ask questions,
she wisely refrained from doing so. She
decided that it was best 10 let poor old
Broadaxe think
Suddenly she began TO feel very tired
and Hnherfoc She wished she could
see her father a. once and have II all
ever with.
Ten or fifteen minutes later they
came up with the rest OF the party.
ustting-as the roadside The news
had been carried forward by two or
three members OF the squad that had
he'd her Up, 50 that. when she arrived
with Julius, there was no sign OF sur
prise. On the contrary, the Rioomiest
facfturnity prevailed Broadaxe called
the group into conference First, ne
sent Gerane a short distance down the
road, IL charge Of the men who were
exhorted 70 keep tight grip on 6elims
bride.
The conference vas brief. In q very
few minutes, Julius and the others
rode up.
We'll" began Gerane. with well-as~
El1TSeo impat1ence. haven't We wasted
enough time? ! should think"
"Oerane," 4" said Broadaxs. as II he had
not heard her; we have decided 10 take
you With as and turn you over To your
father There is no other way out Of
st. But II is the opinion of all Of us,
without q single voice 70 the contrary,
that you ought TO be whipped within an
inch of your life for the foolish thing
you've dome"
Her sharp ears caught the sound Of
suppressed cfluckles among the horse
men. She qlggled.
Very 1eli, julius" she said. But.
before We 90 step farther. / wish 10
ssy gflst ! wsg 50 glad 70 see you all that
! could have kissed every last man Of
you. However. now that YOU would
have ne whipped, ] shall not kiss 4
single, one of you Come. We're late.
Wnss Is the hour"
The moon, long since risen, threw
mellow light into the open glen GeTane
esf straight and eager la the center of
tie fantastic group Al about her were
Mashed sD6 cioake6 r1en on stamping.
tafoTt1nR horses. A. her side lowered
julius Egoadaxe she smiled I'D a. him
e. me asked The question.
"It1sst ne ill.," began the miserable
captain u the troop He checked ths
4orcss c2lle1 for a lantern. and drew
from b folc IN hts saEig massive gold
NsNtl f0ElGe the property of q hspiess
merchant o! ODESSA and announced
t1sl is Wa6 Well past midnight.
Forward" he ordered
They ST 0ff nj q smart pare down
ff3f foso EFozGazs riding At Cerane'g
Slcs After = long silence. he conde-
sefnneo - inform her tBat the various
cetaeilmente were ezpectad 10 oonGoii-
cate ~ given point by 2 O'clock and
there ~ )Hl0 camp ~ await the dawn
The dawn u my birthday" ssid
are, ng6Ig!y
"E4c u A4lBk thzt Ne intended that
y should b. GIs most glorious birthday
that any girl ever had" +" is8ented he.
You ~ spoiled II sti by"
Don't De . g0oAe, Julius" she inter-
Fggte1 i never wsk 10 naDDy sn my