Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The hand Broke By DAN CO Auth ?The Fighting Fool," "Hld Illustrations b (Previously sald~~you gu?TBsed"you'd hijv? to kill him for me, you know, and-oh, lt waa too awful! I must bo getting foolish, I'm so tired out, but-what did you tell tba. Indian?" j Bud glancod at her sharply for a moment and then decided to humor \ her. Perhaps, if he could get her, quieted, she would 6top talking and j begin to eat. j "He asked mo who was after us," ho ? oald, "and I told bim lt was Del Rey." \ "Yes, and what did ho nay then?" i "Ho didn't say nothing-Jest lined1 .out for tho pass." "And didn't you soy you wanted him-killed?" j "No!" burst out Bud, half nngrlly. "Haven't I told >'?u once? I did notl j That lndlnn had reasons of his town. 1 believe me-ho's got a scar along his . ribs wi, r" - 1 \"-c>' "hot him with a: Blx-shoi/.ci ! And,\ furthermore," ho added, ns lier face 'cleared at this ex planation of tho mystery, "you'd bettor try to take me at my word for the rest of this trip! LookB to me Uko you'vo beep associating with these Mexicans too much!" "Why, what do you mean?" sho de manded curtly. \ \ "I mean this," answered Hooker, "be ing da we're on 'the subject again. Ever since I've knowed you you'vo boen talking about bravo mon and eil that; and more'n onco you'vo hinted that I wasn't brave becauso I wouldn't fight "I'd Just like to tell you. to put : Tour mind at rest, that my father waa \ . ' a sergeant In the Texas rangers and no hundred Mexicans was eyer able to mako him crawl. He served for ten years on the Texas border and never turned hlu back to no man-let alone a Mex. I was brought up by him to be peaceable and quiet, but don't you '. never think, becauso I run away from Manuel'dcl Rey, that I waa afraid to ' face him." . He paused and regarded hor Intent ly, and her eyes fell before his. "You must excuso me," sho said, looking wistfully away. "I did not-I did not understand. And so the poor Yaqui was only avenging an injury?" she went on, reaching out one slender '.hand toward the food. "Ah, I can un- ' dorBtand lt now-ha looked so savage and fierce. But"-sho paused again,, Bet back by a sudden thought-"didn't, you know he Would kill him?" "Yes, ma'am," answered Hooker quietly, "I did." "Then-then why didn't you-" 1 That was between them two," ? he! replied; doggedly. "Del Rey shot him . once when he waa wounded and left .him for dead. He must .have killed I some of his people, too; bia wife meb be, for all I know. He never would talk about lt, but he come back to get 'his revenge. I don't shoot no man from cover myself, but that ain't it lt was between them two." "And you?" she-suggested. "If you had fought Del Rey?" . "I would have met him In tho open," ;aaid Hooker, i. "And- yet "Ii didn't want to," he ended bluntly. "Didn't want to fight him and didn't ?want to kill'him. Hud no call to. And j then-well," there was you." "Ah!" she breathed, and * fnfchj .mounted her pale cheeks. She emileo! Ins she reached out once, more for the; food and Hooker resolved to .do bis best at gallantry, lt seemed tb make !her so happy. "So you were , thinking of me," she challenged sweetly, "ali the whilo? I thought perhaps I wan a nuisance and tn the way. I thought perhaps you did ? not like -me because-?weil, because ,1'm a Mex, as you say." "No, ma'am," denied Hooker gazing 'upon her admiringly. "Nothing like ?that! When.I say Mex I mean these How, pelado Mexicans-Don Juan tells ,mo you're puro Spanish;" "With perhaps n. little Yaqui." shs i suggested shyiyi "Well, m ebbe he did say that too." ! confessed Bud. "Bat lt's jest at. good 'as Span?ah-they say all the big mob in Sonora b>,ve got some'Yaqui blood I-Morral, that was Vice-president; the I Tornea brothers, governors-" , "And Aragon!" she added playfully, but at af look in bia eyes ehe stopped. Bud could'not look pleasant and think ?of Aragon. "Ah, yee," she rattled'Oh. "I know. [You like tho Yaquis better than th? ; Spanish-I saw yon shaking hands ?with that Indian. And what waa lt ?you called 'faim-^Amlgo?" "That's right," smiled Hooker; "him ?and me h&vo been friends for months . ?now out at the mine. I'd do anything ?tor that feliorV* r- ;? - ? j "Oh, now you mako me Joaloua," she 1 pouted. "If I Avere only a Yaqui-and j big and b!acto-K*.< - .' j "Never ^nd.? defended Bud. "lie ?Was a true friend, ali right, and true friends, bellovo rae, uro scarce/." There Avas & shade of bitterness In bis volco thai dla'not' escapo her, and aho was caroful not to allude lo Phil. His name; Uko ihd nttmo of her father, always drove this ehy man to silence, end she wanted to make him tailer ' , m*tjhejl you eu.ght lp bo friends with of ; n Promises OLIDGK or nt den Waters," "Thc TexU-an," cte jr DON /. LAVIN Continued) m?\""H??e~clilid?J."after""?~?m?.r?cc." "1 have always wanted to be your friend -why will you never allow lt? No, but really! Haven't I always shown lt? I remember now tho first time that I saw you-I was looking through my hole nraong tho passion-flowers and you saw me with your keen eyes. Phil did not-but he was there. And you Just looked at mo once-and looked away. Why did you never respond when I como there to look, for you? You wou!d Just ride by and look at mo once?, and even Phil never knew." "No," agreed Hud, smiling quietly. "He wns crazy to seo you, but he rode right by, looking at the windows nnd such." "The first timo I mot him," mused Ornela, "1 asked about you. Did he ever tell you?" \ Hud hung his head and grinned sheepishly. It was not difficult to make out a case against him. And so Oracla had not wanted Del Rey killed aa be thought she did. Bho was not the vicious woman ho had thought her for-a time. She waa Just tho gent?o, noble girl be had sworn to protect und conduct across the border to her fiance. Again came the desire to claim her, but there was not only Phil to be thought of hut tho fitness of himself to be*tho mate of this woman. "Is lt something I have done?" she neked nt last. "Ia that why you never ' liked me?'i Now, Mr. Hocker, please spank to me! And why do you always sit so far away-a'.. vou afraid of mo? TJUt look."-sha n &:. ed closer to him "here we are alone, and I am not afraid of you!" "Of course not," answered Bud, look ing across ct her boldly. "Why should you be-you ain't afraid of noth ing!" j "IB that a compliment?" she demand ed eagerly. "Oh. then I'm so happy- ' it's the first you ever paid me! But havo I been brave," she beamed, "so far? Have I been bravo, like a man?" "Sure have!" remarked Hooker Im personally, "but wo ain't there yet. Only thing I don't Ilka about you ls you don't eat enough. Say, don't pick up them crumbs-let me pare off somo more of this jerked beef for you. Can't nobody he brave when they're hun gry, you know, and I want to bring you j in safo." "Why*" sho inquired, she accept ed the handful of meat. "Is ia on Phil's account?" ?ab o ventured, as be sat gazing stoically at the horses. "You were such friends, weren't you?" she went on Innocently. "Oh. that ta why I admire the Americans so mud: -they are so true to each other!" j "Yes." observed Hooker, rolling hie eyeB on her, "we're One that way!" "Well, I mean lt!" she insisted, as ehe read the irony In his 'glance. "Sure! So do I!" answered Hookor, and Oracla continued her meal In al ienee, j "My!" she said at last; "this meat ls good! Tell me, how did you happen to havo lt on your saddle? Wo left so suddenly, you know I" 8ka gazed up at him demurely, curi ous to seo how he would evade this evi dence that he had prepared in advance for their -ride. But once more, as he had always done. Hooker eluded the cunningly {laid snare. 1*1 w?e figuring on pulling ou^ my self."he replied ingenuously. "What?' And. not take met* She cried. "Oh, I thought-but dear me, what la the use?'' She nighed .and dropped her head wearily. "I am BO tired!" she murmured de spondently; ' "shall we be going on soon?" tts ' "Not unless somebody jumps ua," returned Bud. '"Here, let rae mike you a bed in -the - shade. There now" -as ho spread out the saddlo-blankotn temptingly-"yan lay down and' got some sloop and lil kinder keep a watch." :- ? :. t '??'? .' ?v "Ah, you'-ara so kind," abe breathed, as she sank de-wn on tho bed. "Don't you know," she added, looking up at him with sleepy " eyes that half con cealed a smile. '1 believe you like me, after all." . "Sure," confessed Bud, returning her smile as honestly; "don't you wor ry nono about mc-I like you fine.4* He Blipped away at this, grinning to himself, and eat' down to watch the plain. - Ali about' him lay the waving grass land, tracked up by the hoofs of cattle that had vanished in the track of war. In tho distance he could see the line or a fence and the ruins of a house? The trail which ho bad fol-, lowed le? on anti on to the north. Pdt ntl the landscape wes - vacant,'' except fdr his grazing horses. Abovo the mountains the midday thunder-caps were beginning to form; the air waa very Soft and warm, and-- He-woke np soddenly to find his head on hit knees. - . . j . . Usnp-um-m." ho me tered, rising np and--shftking himself resolutely, "this won't do-that aun Sa making me sleepy." ile -paced back and forth, a?mktat ' fiercely nt brown-paper cigarettes, and still tho sleep carno back. The thun $5?r,9i?^vty^??*? thc. . mountains ros? lugln-r"'??d turned tb ?KacTil They Iel' down skirts and fringes and midden stabs of lightning, whllo tlie wind suekod In from tho south. And then, j .with a ?lash of ralp, the shower waa j upon them. At the first big drops Ornela stirred uneasily in h<-r sleep. She started up as the storm hurst over them; then, at Hud picked up the. saddle-blankets and rpread them over lier, she drew him down beside her and they sat out the ' storm together. Hut lt was more to them than a sharing of cover, a patient enduring of tho elements, and th?; sweep of wind and rain. When they 4 They Thrust and Parried No More. \ i i roso up there was a bond between them and they thrust aud parried no more. ; They were friends, there In the rush of fulling water and the crash of light ning overhead. When tin; storm waa over and tho sun came out they smiled at each other contentedly without fear of what such smiles may menu. CHAPTER XXVII. AB the sun, after a passing storm,, comen forth all the more gloriously, so ' the Joy of their new-found friendship changed the world for Bud and U/a ela. The rainbow that glowed against thu retreating clouds held forth muro than a promise of sunshine for them, and they conversed only of pleasant i things as they rode on up the trail. The dangers that still lay between ' them and the border seemed very re- ' mote now, and neither gave them a j thought. There was no one in all tho < yrt?Q world but juat these two, thia j man and woman who had found them-1 solves. Twenty miles ahead lay tho northern pass, and from there it was ton more ! to Gadsden, but tboy spoke neither of the pass nor of Gadsden nor of who ' would be awaiting them there. Their talk was ilka that of children, incon- ' Sequential and nappy. They told of the times when they had seen each other, and what they had thought; of the days of their childhood, before they had met at Fortuna; of hopes and fears and thwarted ambitions and j all the young dreams of life. Bud told of his battle-scarred father , and their ranch In Arizona; of his mother and horse-breaking brothers, I and his wanderings through the West: ? Gracia of her mother, with nothing of, her father, and how she had flirted In order to be sent to Behool where sho , could gas" upon the upstanding Amer leann. Only Bud thought of the trail j and scanned the horizon fer rebels, nat he seemed more l. seek her eyes ; than to watch for enemies and death. ! Thoy rode on until the sun sank low : and strange tracks ) struck their trail from the east. Bud ob- rved that tho horses wore shod, and...nore tracks of mounted men came ia beyond. He tamed sharply towrvd the west and followed a rocky lr<>ge to the hills, without leaving a 1 of-prlnt to mark the way of their re' ? at. Those hoof prlr ' - brought Bud hack from the land . <> ' dreams in which he had been wr.j ering to a realiza tion of the danr* >n that lurked about them. BUt a lit i a way ahead was the pass they mu. '. cross, and he sud denly realised that they could not safely do so In the broad light of day. He mu* t not take such chances of Mosing hi J - new found happiness. By the signe the land ahead was full of bandits and ladrones, men to whom human life was nothing and a woman no more sacred than a brute. At the pass all ? trails converged, from- the north and from the south. Not by any i chance could a man pass over lt in the daytime without meeting some ope on ? the way, and^ if the base revoltosos one? eot eyes ; on Gracia it would take ; more than a nod to restrain them. ! So, In a sheltered ravine they sought j cover until it was dark, and while j Gracia slept, the heavy-headed Bud ? watched the plain from the heights ! above. As he watched he dreamed of a ' home in which'this woman'now sleep j lng besldo bim was the queen. Ka ! dreamed of years to como with un I bounded happiness throughout all pl j thom.- Thoughts of Phil and duty to his pardneT were far away. Nothing on tho -plain bolow served to distract him from thia dream ot happiness. AB far as ho could see there was nothing that savored ot danger for the woman In bia keeping. There were no sounds or signs of cither federal or revolutionary troops, from both of which they were fleeing, and from botb of wbj?fc ?e muai .guard herT" Again TJiey w?To In"a worl?TTEai waa All their own, nn Eden with but one m',<in and oao woman. ? For an hour and moro he watched and iii'enroed, and with the dream? came tho desire for ?loop, tho cry of nature for rest, gracia stirreTl, then spoke BOftly to him, calling him by name, and her voice was as music far away. When she awoke and found him nod ding Gracia Insisted upon taking bis place. Now that she hnd been re frcBhed her dark eyes were bright and aparkllng. but Bud could hardly see. The Jong watching by night and by day had left his eyeB bloodshot and swol len, with lids that drooped In spit, of him. If he did not ?!eep now ho might doze In the laddie later, or ride blindly into some rebel camp; so he made her promise to call him and lay down to rest until dark. ; : The Btars were all out when he awoke, startled by her hand on bia hair, but sho reassured him with a word and led him up the hill to their lookout. It was then that he under stood her silence. In the brief hours dur?ng which he had slept the da? eerted country seemed suddenly to have come to life. ny daylight there had bee? nothing to suggest th 3 presence ot men. But now as tho velvet night set tled down upon thc land it brought out the glimmering ppocko o? a hun dred camp-fires to tho east ano to tho north. But the fires to which Gracia pointed were Bet fairly in tholr trail, and they barred] tho way to Gadsden. "Look!" she laid. "I did not want to wake you, but the fires have sprung up everywhere. These last onea ar? right la the pass." "When did you seo them?" asked Hooker, his head still heavy' with sleep. "Have they been there long?' "No; only a few minutes." she an swered. "At sundown I saw those ovci to the cast-they are along the base of that big black mountain -but thes? flashed up JuBt now; a..- see, there arc more, and more!" "Some outfit coming in from thc north," Bald Bud. "They've crosset over the pus? and camped at tho ilrsi water thlB Bide." "Who do you think they are?" asket Gracia In an awed voice. "Insurrec toa?" "Like as not," muttered Bud, gasta] from encampment to encampment "But whoever they are," he added "they'ro no friends of ours. We've go to go around them." "And If wo can't?" suggested Gra ela. i iii'll? "I reckon we'll have to go through then," answered Hooker grimly. "W< don't won- to get caught here in th? morning." "Ride right through their_ camp?' gasped Gracia, i "Let the sentries get to sleep," hi wJent on, half to hlm?elf. "Then, Jua before the moon cornea up, weil try U edge around them,'and' if lt comes ti a showdown, weil ride for lt!. Ar? you game?" He turned to'read the answer, am she drew herself up proudly. "Try me!" she challenged, drawini nearer to him in the darkness. And BI they stood, aide by side, while the! hands clasped in promise. Then, a the night grew darker and no nev fires appeared, Mooker saddled up th well-fed horses and1 they picked th el way down to tho trail. I] The first fires were far ahead, bu they proceeded at a walk, their horaei feet falling silently upon the sodde; ground. Not a word was spoken an< they halted often to listen, for othen too, might be abroad. The distan .fires were dying now, except a foi where men rose to feed thom. The braying of burros carno in froi tho flute to the right and as the fug tires drew near the first encampmex they could hear tho voices of the nigh guards ns they rode about the hore herd. Then, SB they whited Impution ly, the watchbrea died down, th guards so longer sang their high fa setto, and even the burros were still. This waB their opportunity. If tho were to got through that line of alee] lng men Itj must be done by s teal 11 Should thoy be discovered It woul mean one man against an army t protect the woman, and the odds, gres as they were, must be' taken if nee be. It was approaching the hour of mt night, and as their horses twitched rd tlvely at the bits they gave them th rein and rode ahead at a venture. At their left the last embers of tl fires revealed the sleeping forms < men; to their-right, somewhere ip, O darkne?e, was the night herd add fl herders. They lay lowen their boree necks, 'not to cast a silhouette again: the sky, and let Copper Bottom plc the trail; ; * . With ears that pricked sind eWivel? ard delicate nostrils snuffing the Me lean taint, ho plodded along throng tho grease wood, dlvlniug by som? 1 Btlnct his master's need of caro. Tl camp was almost behind them, at Bad had straightened np in the sa die, when suddenly tho watchful Co par Bottom Jumped and a man rose ,1 from the ground. . . "Who goes. there ?" r he J mumble swaying sleepily above- his - gun, ai Hooker reined his horse away beta he ?ave bim an answer?? *;./,.* , "None ot your business." ho (jrowl impatiently. "I am going to the past And aa' the sentry Btared stupidly aft trim he rode on through . tho bush? neither hurrying nor halting until 1 gained tho trail. ?Good luck!" he observed to'Grao when' tho jcamp was far behind.. "? took me for an officer ead nover ot you at all." " M.V * "No, I flattened myself on my poa: answered Gracia with a laugh. Nl thought yoi> wera i lygdlaf ?v I** "Good," chuckled Hooker; "you did i line! Now. don't nuy another word ' because they'll notice a woman's volco 1 -and if wo don't run Into some moro of them we'll soon bo climbing tho ! pasB." They had passed through some per ! UOUB moments, but Gracia had hardly I realized the danger because of the as I aurance of Hooker, who was careful not to frighten her unnecessarily. Hut I it was an assurance which hu bad not . felt himself, and he was not yet cer tain of their safety. . The waning moon came out as they j left tho wide valley .behind them, a'jd then it disappeared a^aln as they rodo Into the gloomy shudow3.of tho can yon. For Un hour or two; they plodded i Blowly Upward,. passing -through ?i?r ; row dollies and Into moonlit spaces, i and et lil they did not mount the sum; ! mit. ... ? In the east'the dawn bogan to break and they spurred on in almost a panic. Tho Mexican paisanos ?. count them - selves late If they do not take the trail i Ut sunup-what if they should meet some straggling party before they j ranched the pass? \ j Hud jumped Copper Bottom up a ? series of cat steps? Gracia's roan came scrambling behind: and then. Just as i the boxed wails ended and they gained ? n level spot, they suddenly found them. ! selves In the midst of a camp of Mex? ! leans-men, saddles, packs, and rifles, j nil scattered at their feet. I "Buenos diaa!" saluted Bud, as the j blinking men rose up from theil I blankets. "Excuse me, amigos, I ?rn j In a hurry!" j "A donde va? A donde va?" chal lenged a bearded man G3 he sprang ujp I from his brush shelter. "To tho paBB, senor." answered Hook er, still politely, but motioning foi Gracia to rido cn ahead. "Adios!" "Who 1B that man?" bellowed the bearded leader, turning furiously upon his followers. "Where ls my senti nel? Stop him!" But lt was too late to stop him. Bud laid his quirt across the rump of thc roan and spurred forward in a dash foi cover. They whisked around the point of a bill as the drat scattered ahoti rang out; and, aa a frightened sentinel jumped up in their path Bud rode hin down. The man dropped his gun tc escape the fury of the charge and it a mad clatter they flung themselves at a rock-slide and scrambled to 'tin bench above. The path was rocky but they pressed forward at a gallo] until, as the sun came up, they beheU the summit of the pass. "We win!" cried Bud, as he spurret up tho last incline. As he looked over the top he ex ploded in an oath and Jerked Coppe: Bottom back on his haunches. Thi leader of a long line of horsemen wai Just coming up the other Bide-then was no escape-and then beck at th? frightened girl. ", "Keep behind me." he command?e! "and don't shoot. I'm going to, hob 'em up!'| He jumped hla horse out to one sldi and landed squarely on the rim of th I ridge. Gracia drew her horse in bc ; bind him and reached for the plBtol ii j her holster; then both together the; j drew their guns and Bud threw dowi I on the first man. "Go on!" he ordered, motioning hil j forward with his head; "pr-r-ronto! j He Jerked out his rifle with bis lei ! band and laid lit across his lap. , "Hurry up now." he raged, SB th j startled Mexican halted. "Go on an j keep a going, and the first man thu j makes a break I'll shoot him full c I holes!" , I He sat Uko a statue on bia shinin 1 horse, his six-shooter balanced to shoo I and something in hiB very presence " the hulk of his body, the forwar j thrust of his head, and the burnin '. hate of his eyee-quelled the spirit i of the rebels. They wera a rag-ta j onay, mounted on horses and donkey I and mules and with arms of ever ; known make. It was -Just such an;army as wo overrunning all northam Mciicc, sue nn army as had been levying tribut on the land for a cemtury. They, sprea terror throughout all that great com try south of the American border. The flory glances of the America made them'cringe ns ftey had alwaj cringed before their ...asters, and Tl curses turned their blood to water. K towered above them like a giant, pou l?g forth a torrent of oaths and bec onlng them on their way, and the lea er wa? the first to yield. With hand half-raised and Jaw c his breast he struck spurs To his Mf$ ened. Jaula and went dashing over tl ridge. The others followed by twos ar I threes," soma shrinking, some prot?t lng, aome- gaiting forth villainous, .from beneath their broad bato. Aa th? looked bade he wkirled upon thom at swore he would kill ?Ahe first man thi -. dared to turn his head. , Alter .all, ?they were a Generation-? slaves, thoso-low-browed, unthlnkli ' peens, and war had ?ot wade the brave. They poseed-on, tba vw?a line cf bewildered soldiery, looking . vain for the m ea that mb Heftlilrt M Ainert can, staring blankly at Uta bia .ital Woman who sat -so courageous "hydride. ". SW*-* therua h*?'frnB:&-fr Picked up his rifle and .waicheS.!;! around thb^pplpt. - *t%i?^M grimly at Gracia, w?u,s? oy<* w?5?o 1 round - with trondea, *ud 'lo4 -?fl downie trail. - . ?? ? jj?**'? CHANTER XXVllf. ! . -i: . '. _...,'?": Ths hlr/n poss and vtho ?n?u>8a<jt ; wera jbc^^.*^ rfffY"' of Agua Negra wero cat tty ' feat To the northeast tho smoko b? A GCJE OJ fte Gadsden *m*Um W V ; '? ' ; - ? \ .. '/? . ? ? -'?????- 7yv> . rTUFona nero's! XiP^'SSST, ?ii?TTli? line wau not far away. \ Yot, au they came down from the i mountains, Bud and Gracia fell silent ! and slackened their slushing pace. The I time for parting \va3 near, and part ings ure always sad. But ten milco across the plain lay I Gadsden and Phil-Phil to whom Gm I cia was promised. There had been np ; thoughts of him from the timo they ! sat together under tho horse-blankets i waiting for tho rain t-j pass until now 1 that tlie dangers were virtually over, j and but u short time more would place I them beyond the reach 0l" either ru . rules or rebels. Bud thought of the ? duty he owod'his pnrduer, even thous'* I tiiftt pardocr hud played him falso, i Great as v.c.:? his longing for Gracia, j ho could not forget that duty. Their } coioppnionshlp had boen but a-thing j to forget if he could, .or at best ho ; could only remember the sweetness i of lt, and must forget tho dreams he had dreamed as he watched beside Gracia In the hills. He was taking her to Phil, and all else must be sacrificed for duty. Bud looked far out across the valley to where a train puffed in from the south, nnd the sight of it made him un easy. He watched still as it lay at the station and, after a prolonged stare in the direction of Agua Negra, he reined sharply to tho north. "What Ia It?" asked Gracia, comlni out of her reverie. ' "Oh, nothing." answered Bud, slump ing down in his saddle. "I seo tho rail road is open again-they might bo somebody up there looking for us." "You mean-" "Well, say a bunch of rurales." He turned still farther to the north as he spoke and spurred his Jaded horse on. Gracia kept her roan be side him, but he took no notice, ex cept aa he scanned the lin? with his bloodshot eyes. He wns a hard-look ipg mar. now, with a rough stubble ol beard on bis face and a sullen set to his jaw. AB two horsemen rode oui I from distant Agua Negra he turned and chanced at Gracia. \ ' Seems like we been on the ruc evex Finco we left Fortuna," he said with a rueful smile. "Are you goo?! for just one more?" "What ia it now?" she inquired I pulling herself together with an effort i "Are those two men coming -out tc j meet UB? Do you think they'd s toi : usSl* TThat'B about our luck," returned ' Hooker. "But when we dip out of sigh in this swale here we'll tum north anc nit for the line." "AH right," she agreed. "My hors* is tired, but I'll do whatever you say Bud." She tried to catch nls eyes at thia but ho seemed lost in contemplation o the horsemen. .? ? "Thom's rurales." he said at last "und heading straight for- ns-hu we've como too far to get caught nov, Como on! "'he added bruskly, and wen galloping up the swale. I For two miles they rode up tb ' wash, th tir heads ti low the level of th plain, but UB Bud emerged at the mont of the gulch and looked warily oye the cut bank he suddenly reached fe his rifle and measured the distance * ? the line. i "They WBB too foxy fdr me," he mu tered, as Gracia looked over at th : approaching rurales. "Eut I can-stan j 'em off," he added, "so you go ahead "No!" she cried, coming out In ope ; rebellion. "Well, I won't leave you thafs all!" she declared, aa he turne to command her. "Oh, come alon Bud!" Sha laid an Impulsive har j on his arm and he thrust his'gun boc : into the sting with a thud, j "All right!" he paid. "Can't stop 1 I talk about lt. Go!ahead-and flay tl hide off of that roan!" j They were less than a mlle from tl line, but the rurales bad foreseen the ruse in dropping into the gulch at had turned at the ssnne time to int? j cept them. They were pushing the j fresh horses to tho utmost now aero tho open prairie, and aa the' 'roi lagged and faltered in bis stride Bx could Bee that the race WP- lost. "Hoad for that monument!". 1 called to Gracia, pointing toward oi of the International markers aa I laced their pursuers" "You'll ranko .--they won't shoot a woman!"' He reached for his gun .as ho spok ."f?o, ho!" she1 cried. U "Don't yi . Stop! If you do I will! Como on she: entreated,, checking ber horse wart for bim, "Ybu ride behind me .they won't dare abort-ot us ?J?en!" 1 Bad laughed shortly and wheeled .behind ber, returning bis gan to i sling. ' "All right," he said, "we'll rido lt O together then!" Ha laid the Quint to the roan., jo tl whirl of ? sacing bushes a -white mor mont flashed up suddenly before the Tho rumlea we're within pistol-Bb and .whipping like mad' to bead the Another figure <?me flying along t lino,. a horseman, waving his h?n , and motioning. Then, rldmg ?ide elds, they broke acxpss.ihe boanda i w|th ?he baffled rurales yelling savei ly at their heels. -' ^Koop a going!" prompted Hook : sin ^Gracia leaned back tc cheek. Jh boree; "down into the gulch then ' ^heiP' rurales are liable to-ehoot yel ; ^e' 'Anal '.doab brought thom " '.&e*r, ?but aa Bad leaped down a . Uflfe'Greeta in rbis'arma dh? ;?J his feet V^Wcd. and dtY.pp Gnm&'stmxbia^to h^arm-^hi OB he saw uer gate fixed beyond bl ho < aruert and oehcid Philip Be ?i , -.3?waa the isaifliii, tho reamo-rn Bad bad ^i?^g^?H?hf -and j v?hen Hooker saw him there he si feofid aad ?ia face grew hard. o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o SIX AND TWENTY o o o ooooooooooooo Pendlton, August 25.-Several f/L our young people from this section attended 'the singing at Mountain Springs lajU. Sunday afternoon. All report a nico time and some good, f-insing. MKSOT D?-wey and Beatrice Smith. (.r Anderson are span Mng the week with their sister Mrs R h. Timmi. Wl3s Sophronia Richey is spending tlie wool; with Per sister, Mrs. L. A. CN OTMI o? liiherty. Mr .mill] Fowler of the Trinity coc tion was visiting in our section one dar last weel:. Mr. and Mr-. J->hn Moore- sp<-nt last Thursdav night with tho former's un edle, Mr. Tom Kelly of WfP.iamyton . Mr. Rufus LnljV and Andrew Mulll kln. two of our fine young men, nando a- business trip to "My Town" Inst Saturday. Mr. J R. niehoy. Jr., and brother, Preston,.\m'ad? a business trip to Pel 7,e>* Ins* Saturday. Mr. Walter Mu? Ukin'and brother McDowell attended the singing last Sunday iifternoon nt Mountain SrnlnK.; The* report a nico time and tonie ..'oed rdr-^lne. 0"r ctoRip-z ^school wht?hi ls being I carriedo pu t rh's "bice under tli^ su pervision of Prof Milford is In a flou rlF'?lnR condition. The watermelon crop rame very near bein* a failure, but we were blessed w'th a bumper neac.h croo. Messrs. Tem and Willie liosrers. W. ! M Dickson and Jake Owen of Rta-wt-t I tnwn were visiting in this section last Frldav for a short whl'e. A garden! Um ph! What's that? A niece for erowing vegetables, etc., If so it. hasn't appeared in this sec tion this vear. The order for the day this week is pulling fodder off the March planted corn. i Tho writer noticed thronh the col umns ?f the Dally Intelligencer of tho candidates being- greatly disappointed at Townvitle one day last week That's no disappointment to the candidates ! at all to what it will be on the morn ing of the 26th of August. A good rain right now would re lieve the suffering croea. Six and Twenty and Piercetown ball teams are to play a game of ball next'Saturday afternoon on the local, diamond. i ? Keep an account of how many of the candidates will meefr-you with a. brilliant smile and hearty handahake after the election. BAG CANTEI.OTTFS AND CHEAT WORM?, Melon Worm IB Here nnd Terribly Hungry- How* to:Forestall Hld Ravages. j Clemson College, 'Aug. |-.Kfc~-'"tho pickle worm,*' says A. F. Conrad!, en ' .moiogist of Clemson College, in ad vising what to do about his pest, "like the corn bllP-bug. is a late riser, but when he start? -his ?apetite acts like a hurricane spreading devastation on all sides. In many gardens - this peat han probably begun to appear. Bag the canteloupes at once." < Describing in detail, what to do. Prof. Conrad! paid: "Bag-the contelnupes with 6-pOund lieavv paper bags. Tho ordinary sugar bag is too frail. We usn a bag like that In whian? hardware stores-put nails. When you bay, give the (f?rth a little loss with your, foot so oe to form a . little hill und on thi* lay the bagged fruit. It koepr, the bug dry and pre vents rolling. "'Proncbin' Bill'- says: - 'Every bound har. Iti weak point." Sd has' ev ery bug, and nomo have more than. others. A weak point bf pickleand' melon worm" is- their appetite. ^Flielr favorite food consists of the buds and blooms of summer pouftah. and," where this food "i's-present it will attract great cumbers of them. "It would, however, be no'stratccy ?uroly to plant .-ouaah niants ratelli '?eni?y fi?i? HT?P ibero. The hugB of course,-'-would appreciate lt ' areatly. The favorito food would soon be gone and would leave a larger tm mtv I- 0f moro ucarty bugs to deatxoy tho can ie?out>ei. S<wash-axo not trap'plants unl?*^ you inako them so bv- anray Ima: .or dusting them with arsenato of lead, so that when tho worms attack -themV' ?hey will ret n doso-of poison that wIV. check their voracious appetites. It 1s lute for these squash tran plants this season, but hot too late Cor next sea son. Therefore, cut ont atad save the foMowlnV for nea n<#^> .nelson : "1. Plant. In a timely - and: intelli gent way. a few summer squash -plants among the can tel on nos and melons and keen them poisoned. ;>--f;v *? ^. ^he? tfce c.antelouofea :ha.vo reached the ?tte. of a cbild'a-tbasebaii, bag them, resting the bagged fruit on a littlo mound of earth. - ,,v,\i . ."The squash niants must havo buds And blooms itr.-Jnly, when th? warm a apocar' For spraying i?raonato ot toyl, see <JironIar ' 25 or Clemson, College. Yon can duct it with a little chees* cloth bag or ? tin can with small .holes JA the bottom. Bu y arsenFi w of lead powder, got paste. Auy one grow ing cantelouoea on a ?arare seale for ???rwtret ahouM write us if this wo?, le troublesome." , Mt bop* Tou^on't^ind tur asktng." rfa'd a woman diffwentrj. "but Should I *>*i\ yo? prpfessor Arcoota**'* <?p?altyT- th? l&y*?f?ul??a, wtih iWMI innocence. "But thea, - they ggt** ipwmle who ^eV-y^ ^U . : . t'awrf\ uAa. v?\?vii*. ??. \ '^** ** I*?* ??ifrerehee ? bfc?w>^ [1Tffi|b4 ?old f* ??ne<expatfde,~*hc ?th?r ??ntractftr "Q1,ve au example." '? . ? . .JWJB^JA?R? ?Q anmsier aiid the