Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Land Broke By BAN CC A ut li "The Fighting Fool.** "HM Illustration? li (Previously "Bhe la iiiliic," and no man euell come between us!" It would be hard now if tho rurales should prove too many for him-li a bullet should check him in their flight and sho be left alone. Hut how to wake her! Ile tramped near us hc| Jed up tho unwilling mounta; then, U8( limn pressed, ho spoke to her, and nt last ho knelt at har side, t "Say!" ho called, and when that did not servo ho laid his hand on her shoulder. - "Wake up!" he said, shaking ber, gently. "Wnko up. lt's almuBt day!"j Even ns ho Bpoko ho wont back to. the phrano of tho cow-camp-whoroj mon riso before it 1B light. Hut Oracle woko up wondering and ntarnd about ! her iitrungely, unabio to understand. I "Why-"/h"? ?n it?" Bho cried. Then,1 OB lin rt ' < and backed away, j sho remembered him with a smllo. | "Oh," clio said, "ls lt tlrao to got up? [Where aro we, anyway?" "About ten miles from Fortunn." an swered Hooker soberly. "Too close we ought to he over that divide." He pointed ahead to where the val ley narrowed and passed betwoen two How to Waken Her, Even That Wai a Question. bills, and Gracia sat up, binding back her hair that had fallen from its place. "Yes, yes!" sha said resolutely. "Wo Snust go on-but why do you look at me so strangely?" "Don't know," mumbled Bud. "Didn't know I was,, Say, let me get them sad dle-blankets, will you?" He went about his work with em barrassed swiftness, slapping on sad dles and bridles, colling vp ropes, and offorlng her his hnnd io mount When he looked at her again it was no? strangely. "Hope you can rido." ho said. "Wo got to get over that pass before any body else makes lt-after that we can take a rest." "As fast na you please." she an swered steadily. "Don't think about me. But what will happen if-they ?ot there first?" Sho was looking at him now as he Boarched.out the trail-ahead, but he pretended not to hoar. One man in that pass was as good as a hundred, and there wero only two things ha could do-shoot hfs wey through, or turn back. Ho believed Bho would not want to turn back. . CHAPTER XXV. Though the times had turned to war, all nature that morning was at peace, and they-rodo through a vallo y of flow .ors like knight and lady in a pageant The rich grass rose knee-deep along the, hillsides, the desert" treas were filigreed with tho tenderest groan, and twined with morning-glories, and in ?open glades the popples anf sand vorbenna spread forth masses, of blue and gold.- ... - ..<?? . Already on the mesouit-trees the j mocking-birds wero singing, and bright I flashes of tropical color showed \ where .cardinal and . yellow-throat, passed, Thc dew was still untouchedi upon- the graus, nnd yet 'thor hurried .on,, for some premonition whispered to them of evil, nnd they thought only to gain the far, pass. ? . v Beyond that lay compara tl vo safety, but iio man know what dangars lurked between thom and jthat cleft, in tho , mountains. Dil Roy and his-rurales or Dravo and ht. rebels might bo there. -, In fact, ono o;- t?.:oi other prob ably was thors, .md if so there would bo a fight, ?,-fight against heavy odds' if h^iit^^px^;?^^ would he greatly Increased because ho must protect Gracia. , To the weet and north rose tho high and impassable mountain which, bad .barred their way tn tho night; across tte valley tho flaMopped Fortunas; threw their bulwark against tho dawn;' and all behind was, brokja lillis pad \n Promises 'OLIUUK i?r ot Iden Waters." "The Toxican," eic. tv DUN J. LAVIN Continued) gulches, any ono of which might give up armed men Par ahead, like a knife-gash between tho ridges, lay the pass to tim northern plains, and as their trail awung out Into tho open they put spurs to their horses and galloped. Once through that gap, tho upper country would Ile bet?re them and they could pick and choose.. Mow they must depend upon ?peed and tho chance that their way was not blocked. Somewhere In thosn hills to thc east Bernardo llruvo and his men were hidden. Or pcrhnps they wero Beut tered, turned by their ono defeat Into roving bandits or vengeful partisans, laying wuBto tho SonorUn ranches as they fought their way back to Chihua hua. There were a hundred evil chances that might befall tho fugitives, and wolla Hud scanned tho country ahead Gracia cast anxious glances be hind. "They aro coming!" she cried at last, as a moving Bpot appeared In tho rear. "Oh, there they are!" "Good!" wreathed Hooker, as he rose In hlfl ; tir rup? and looked. "Why, goo?'?" sha demanded, cu riously. "They's only three of 'em," answered nud. "I wan afraid they might ba in front," ha explained, as shu gazed at him with a puzzled smile. "Yes," sho said; "but what will you do If they catch dst" "They won't catch UB," replied Hook er confidently. "Not whlla I've got my rl'flp. Aha!" ho exclaimed, still look ing back, "now wo know all about lt j that sorrel ls Manuel del Rey's!" I "And will you kill him?" challenged Gracia, rousing suddenty at the name, i Hooker pre- ended not to hear. In stead, he cocked bis eyo up at the eastern mountain, whonce from time to timo come muffled rifle-shots, nnd turned his horse to go. Thora was troubla over there to tho east some where-Alvarez and his YaqulB. still (harrying tho retreating rob?is-and some of lt might come their way. With Rel Rey behind them, even j thougl m Bight, he WUB tho least of j their troubles, and could bo easily i cared for with a rifle shot if they ! could not distance him. Hooker knew that the two rurales with him would not continue the pursuit if their lead er was out of tho way, so that lt would not ba necessary to Injure more than one man. >,. "Ah, how I hate that mani" raged Gracia, spurring her horse x?B u,sho scowled back at the galloping Del Rey oed his men who wero riding on ward rapidly. "All right," observed Bud with o quizzical smile, "I'll have to kill him for you then!" She gazed nt him a moment with eyes that were big with questioning but tho ezproBBion on his rugged face baffled ber. ' "I would not forget it," Bho cried Im pulsively. ".No. after all I have suf fered, I think. 1 could love the man who would meet him face to foco! But why do you-ah! " she orled, with a sudden tragic bitterness. "You smile! You have no thought for me-you care nothing that I am afraid of him! Ab, Doos, for a man who is brave-to rid me of this devil!" "Never mind!" returned Bud. hil voice thick with rising anger. "If 1 kill him it won't bo for you!" He. jumped Copper Bottom ahead to avoid her, for In that moment she bad touched bis pride. ? Yes,-she had done more than that-?ho had do etroyed a dream ho bsd. a dream c' o beautiful -woman, always gentle, al' ways noble, whom he hud sworn .tc protect with - h IB Ufo. Did ahe think he was a pelado Mexican? a hot-coun try ;lover, to be Inflamed by a glance and a smile? Thon Phil could have her, and welcome Her tirade .had lessened his, burden. Now. his fight was but a duty to his pardnor in.the Performance of which he would-be na lesa -careful,, but to turn her over to Phil would not now be painful. "Ah. Bud!'-' she appealed; spurring up bAsido him. "you dtd not under stand! I knov you aro bravo-and ll he comes"-,she. struck her . pistol fiercely-?"I will kill him myself |J%$ . "Never .mind," j answered Bud In. s kinder voice. "Ill .toko caro of you . Jest keep your h o rs o in 'tho trail.", he added.-.as .she rode on through the brush, "and I'll tako caro of Del Roy." Ile beckoned her .back with a Jerk of tho head and resumed Ma place in ?tho;lead./.'Herd whs no placo to-talk o bou t men and motivas. Tho moun tain above was swarming With rebels, there wero rurales spurring bohiud yes, even now. .far up (Jt tho eastern 'hillside, ho could ooo armed men-and now ono/was. running, to intercept utftnt' fRad reached for his rino. Jerked ur a cartridge, and j sat c rosa wiso* Jn bit Baddie. He rodo warily, watching the distant runner, until suddenly ho pulled In his horse and throw-ap a welcom ing'hand. Tho man WOP Amigo--na ?ther could como down a hllL'do ec swiftly-and ho was signaling him lc iwaifc- . . . kJ."?jWho le thai man?" asked Gracia fig abe. retied In at?his side. "Do you know him?" "Sum do!" responded Hooker Jovi ally. "Ho's tho .best friend I got in Mexico! "Kal, Amigo!!' ho hulled, as the Yaqui carno quartering down tho hill, and, apparently obflvloua of the on coming pursuers, he rode out of the trail to meet him. Thoy shook nanda und Amigo flashed his familiar smile, glancing shyly over tho horne's back ut the daughter of the Arugons. "I knew the horse," ho explained, with a gent?o caresa for Copper Bot tom. "My people-up-there-kill Mex ioana! Where you go?" "North-to the lino," answered Bud, pointing up the pasB. "Muy mnlo!" frowned the Yaqui, glancing onco moro at the woman bo hind. "Muchos revoltosos!" "Whero?" asked Bud. "Everywhere!" replied Amigo wlthi a comprehensivo wave ot tho hand "But no matter." he added simply. "1 will go with you. Who aro these horsemen behind?" "Huraleo!" responded Hooker, ant the Yaqui's black eyes dilated. "Yes," nodded Bud ns ho read th< swift question In their glance. "Ho ii there, too-Del Rey!" "Que bueuo!" exclaimed the indian fixing his oaglo glance upon tho riders Ho showed his whlto teeth In a emile lu an instant ho aaw bia opportunity ho saw als enemy riding into a truj and turned bis faco to the pass. What Amigo hod waited lor, the op portunlty ho had watched for, wo; at hand. Del Rey should pay thi price of that ecar the Yaqui carried Not again would tho bullet go aBtray and his peoplo should have one lost Mexican to fight after that day. Th? hatred of generations lay behlrd th< thoughts of the Indian. Ile caret nothing for tho grievance of the girl and he would not kill Del Rey fo: that, but for his own reaBonB. "Come!" ho said, laying hold of i l?tigo strap, and as Hooker loped ot up tho Bteady Inclino ho ran along a his Btirrup. In his right bond ho stll carried tho heavy Mauser, but hi sandaled feet bore him iorv.-ard wit' tireless ntrldo3 nnd orf!.' tho henvln of his ii-ighty chest told tho story c tho pace. , "Let me talco your gun," BUggcste Hooker, as tbey set off on th&lr rac? but Amigo In his warrior's pride onl ! shook his head and motioned him o and on. So at last they, gained th ! nigged summit, whero tho granite r?t of the mountain crop up through th ! sands of the wash and tho valle Flopea away to tho north. To tho ao?t was Del Rey, still riding after then but Amigo beckoned Bud beyond th , reef and looked out to thc north. "Revoltosos!" he exclaimed, poln lng a sun-blackened baud at .a distal ridge. "Revoltosos!" he Bri ld agali waving his hand to the east. "Here waving toward.the west, "no!" "Do you know that country?" ii quired Hooker, nodding nt the grei plain with its chainB of parallel Sie , ras. but the Indian shook his head. "No," he said; "but the best way j straight for that pass." .He pointed at a distant wedge ci down between the blue of two-ridge ai\d scanned the eastern hills intent! "Men!"' he cried, suddenly indica lng-.tho sky-line cf the topmost rldg "I think they are revoltosos," he addc gravely. "They will soon cross ym ! traill _ "No difference," anrwered Bud wit a smile. "I am not afraid-not wit [ you here. Amigo." j "No, but the woman!" suggest? . Amigo, who read no Jest la his word "It is better, that you should ride c I -and leave me here." . , He smiled encouragingly, but a wi light was creeping into his eyes.ai ? Hooker knew what,he-meant Ho C sired to be lett alon", to deal wit . Dei Rey ofter the B?ro manner, ot tl Yakuts. And yet, why not? Hook gasen ' thoughtfully, at the cn comb . rurales ond walked swiftly back .Gracia. . .. v . . ! "This Indian ls a f 'end of mia? he Bald, "and I can trust him. .! says lt will be bett r for ua to ri 1 on-and bo will. ti, ke caro 0* 43 ? rurales." * ; ."Ifeke care?" questioned Grad \ turning pale ut a. peculiar mattery j fact tone rn his v .Ico. i ., ... , , "Sure." said Hooker; "ho says the are':revoltosos i ..ead. It will bo b ; ter ifor.rou, he BOM, to ride oa.u . 'j .."Madre d? l ?os!" breathed Gr?e i clutching at her saddle; and then a , ^nodded her hoad,.weakly..,. ?? ? "You better get down for a m i nu ti , suggested Hookor, helping her Qu h > ly to the ground. "Hero, drink soi f water-you're kinder faint 1.11. ? rigb? bnc*i-jest want to eay goo?M? i w.Ho e tro da ovor to. where. Amigo h i pealed himself behind a rock and Ii \ a bond on his arm. . ? , ., i "Adios. Amigo!" ne said, but t ' Yaqui only glanced nt him strange "Anything In. my: .camp, you're w i come to lt," added Hooker, but; Ami : did-not respond. Hin black eyes, f ? Seeing os ? hawk's, woro Axed inion , fcoforo him, where pel .Rey came g ' loping In tho lead. ?t.,."You go nowtr ho said, speak! I w ! t h en. effort*, and Hooker uadersto : Thero was no love, no hato loft ?ii tl mighty carcassrrhe waa all warri ?. all, ?Taqul, and ne .wanted Del. Rey i .Qlmsolf.. . ? ; ...... ? > "We*!, bo going," Hooker sahl 1 Ornela, rc turning Bwl?tly,, au d bia. w ted' tones mode her ?tort 8he.fi one feels at a funeral, tho hover! . winga of death, yet she vaulted. Si ? .her. eaddlo and Wt her thoughts ?ld. .'' : .v .'...Vi^^ \ They rod? on down the valley, as 1 ring yet holding back, and then wit! ^>nr tnat ,mad)o-t^em ^tnpl|t^|iei Mauger spoke but-ont* uhotl And no more There was a hush, a long wait, and Amigo roso slowly from behind his rock. "God!" exclaimed Hooker, os he The Heavy Mauser Spoke Out-One Shot! ??>.: ; . s ' ' ' ' ' . j cjiught tho peso, on 1 his voice sound ed a requiem for Manuel del Rey. Then, as Ornela crossed herself and fell to sobbing, lin leaned forward in his saddle and th: y galloped away. CHAPTER XXVI. Though men mcy nicko a;Jest of It In books, it ia a solemn thing to kill a man, even to bo near when one is 1 killed. If Gracia bad si i i Del Roy ? horseir In a. passion her hot blood might hove buoyed her up, but now I her wholo nature waB convulsed with I the horror, of it and she wilted Uko a i flower. I An hour befcro she had burned with * hatred of- him, sha had wlshod him ! dead and Bought the man who would j kill him. Now that lila Ufo had been j snipped off between two heart-beats oho remembered' him with pity and ! mustered a. prayer for his noni. For Hooker, for De Lancer sho had no thought, but only for tho dashing young captain who had followed her i to his death. j Of this I hid had no knowledge. Ho realized only that she was growing weaker, and that he must, call ? halt, and at last, wbjbn tho wall* of their pass had widened and they rodo out Into the open piala, he turned aside from the trail und /drew rein by a dump of mesqult. w5j /'Here. Jet.me take you," he Bald, as she swayed uncertainly In thc sad dle. Sho slid down.into his arms and he laid her gently in tho shade. - "Poor girl," he muttered, "it's been too much for you. I'll get some water, end pretty soon'iyou can. eat."., He unslung tho canteen from his saddle-flap., ga ve her a drink, and left her to. herself, glancing swiftly along the horizon as he tied out their momita to graze, nut for her iuintneus he would have pushed on farther, for,he had seen, men off to the east; but hun ger and excitement had told upon her even moro than th? day-nnd-ulght ride. For a woman, and. sitting a>.side-sad dle, abo had done better than he. had hoped; and yet-well, lt was a long way. ? to .the border and ho doubted. If she ?OUld make it. She lay Billi in tho abado of the mesqult. Just na bo had placed?ior, and when ho brought th? sack of food sha . did, not raise her .hoa.^>f .".. ^letter eat something," ho oug gested, lipreading out some bread and dried beef. . "Hero's some oranges: I got from Don Junn- I'll Junt put them over "nero for you." ^Orael? shuddered, sighing wearily: Tben, aa If hts words bad hurt her, sb* covered her face and wopt What dfd you tell that man?" she| asked at last. - ?i? r .?iW'y-:>?hat man ?" inquired ;-Hodk? cr. astonished. VAirit you: going to eg%r .'; . ... >ku "No!" sho cried, gazing out at him through hor tours, "not, until 1 know what you said. Did you tell that in dian to-to kill himr; She broke down suddenly in a flt of J sobbing, and Hooker Wiped his brow; .?W/y, no!" ho pj^testcdC, , What toads yon think tKat?":-~ A ^'Why-you.fode over and spoke- to bim~nnd ho looked nt mo--and thun-r ho-killed bimi" 8he gave way to a paroxysm Of grief at. this, abd Dud looked around, him, .wondering. . That,sho waa weak'and hungry he know, hut what wis this she .was Baying? ?? ?ii . ?-???j?? ,; "I reckon I don't understand what you're driving at," hp said at last "Wish you'd oat something-you'll feel "No, I won't oatT" sme'decmre'd, s?ti ting up and frowning, "Mry<Kankool sho went ob very miserably, "what dld yoiu mean, this morning ?when- you laughed! I said I .baton poor Manuel -rand you raldrtrwfiU;. what you did and you laui.bed! Did you think-oh, yon couldn't htwe-that I really want. ,0d him killed?" ?" "W'y, sure no?* cried Hooke* heartily. , "I knowed yon waa fooilngi pidnt I laugh av you ? day, whiilh?d of ,a feller do you think. \ am, anywt?l Jrye think I'd ?et an indian to do my -.gilling?" , ...j . . .:i|..f| ;,;.?Ob, then didn't you?" she cried, sudd?plxvbTlghte?lng;up. "You know, you iaVii ?a rough sometimes-sisd ? naree do know wjist you mean i, lc? (To bo ConUueed.) . . :.r*?viPv',i?v < ' Sweet Cupid and Grim Death, in the form of a rose and a placing card, play tag with each other ?r?jira Law, hero of Lo?i? Joseph V?nc?'? n?lfcr coin bination Motion Picture novel. If you like to read-if you enjoy seeing some thing really worth while-don't Sate* miss . H**'? i..-~-T^r ?!T~wi>Kv K-i?t?t ?.?-*.._.. -?i . ... '.A.' a?_' py Louis Joseph Vance Author o? The Fortune Hunter-The Black Bag-The Lone Wolf-Et?. Read the Story in :... > ??? .: .. i I Mierson iBteUigencer j ? v. ? *??.'-???*?. - g ? > , ., "j;,; i . ? ?i., ', v 1 ? ? _? ? " ; ~ ' " WIFEY SCORER ^ }W]jr^^ i^*on&?<h>t aale by all Scalers, j , t. , _>"..?'