Show g the e land lad of broken am F promises bromis es X by DANE A stirring story A author athor of th of the mexican Il lidden Wa the th mexican Tfx Tex ican etc elc revolution illustrations by don juvin blavin X X X copyright 1914 by frank A dwy CHAPTER XV continued who la Is that man mail asked gracia go she rolled coined in at his side eldo do you know him suro sure dot doll responded hooker jovi ally lly iles hes tho the best friend I 1 got in mexico lexical xai kal Ami goll I 1 he hailed balled as the baqui canto camo quartering down the hill nd apparently oblivious of the oncoming pursuers lie ho rodo rode out of the trail to meet him they shook hands handa ind amigo flashed ills familiar smile glancing shyly over the horses back it at tho the daughter of the aragons 1 I knew the horse borse ho he explained with a gentle caress tor for copper bottom my aly people up there kill mex blex canal where you go north to the line answered dud bud pointing up the pass muy bluy madol frowned tho the yaqui slanting cing once morn more at the woman behind where asked hud bud replied amigo with it 6 comprehensive wave of the liand hand but no matter ito ho added simply 1 I will go with you who are those these horsemen behind Ilura loal responded hooker and tho the yaques black eyes dilated yes yea nodded dud bud as he read the swift alft question in their glance ile he Is there too dol del quo bueno exclaimed the indian fixing his eagle glance upon the riders ile ho showed his white teeth in a smile in an instant he saw his opportunity be saw his enemy riding into a trap and turned his fare face to the pass what al bigo had waited for the opportunity port unity ho be had watched for was at band del rey should pay the price of that scar tho the yaqui carried not again would the bullet go astray and his people should have one less lesa mexican to fight after that day the hatred of generations lay behind the thoughts of the indian lie he cared for the grievance of the girl imd ho he would not kill del rey hey tor for that but for his own reasons comet he said laying hold of a latigo strap and as hooker loped on up dp the tha steady incline he ran along at hla his stirrup in ills his right hand lie he still carri carried led the heavy mauser but his sandaled can daled feet bore him forward with tireless strides and only the heaving of hla mighty chest told the story of the tha pace let me take your gun suggested Flo blooker oker as they set oft off on their race but amiga in his warriors pride only book his head bead and motioned him a on n and on so at last they gained the rugged summit where the granite ribs of at the abo mountain crop up through the sands bands of the wash and the valley slopes lopea away to the north to the south raa ma del rey still riding after them trot but amiga beckoned bud beyond the roof reel and looked out to the north ho he exclaimed pointing a sun blackened hand at a distant bridga ho he sald said again waving his hand band to the east here wring toward tho the west no nol do you know that country inquired hooker nodding at the great awn with its chains of parallel ras as but tho the indian shook his head no ho said but tho best way Is straight tor for that pass ile ho pointed at a distant wedge cut down between tho the blue of two ridges and scanned tho the eastern hills intently men ho he cried suddenly indicating tho the sky alno of tho the topmost ridge 1 I think thoy they aro are he be added gravely they will soon boon cross your tran trail no answered bud with a arrille 1 I am not afraid not with you hero here amigo no but tho the woman suggested emigo aho ho road read no jest in his words it it la Is bolter better that you should ride on an and leave mo me hero here ile ho smiled encouragingly but a wild tight light was creeping into his eyes and hooker knew what ho he meant ile he delred to bo be loft left alono alone to deal with del rey ilcy after the suro buro manner of tho the yaques and yet why not hooker gad thoughtfully at the oncoming doralea and walked swiftly back to this indian Is a friend of mine ba b said and I 1 can trust him he mys baya it will bo be better for us to ride on and ho be will take caro care of tho the guirales rui alca rales take taka caro care questioned gracca turning palo pale at a peculiar matter of fact tono tone in his voice sure said hooker lie ho says saya thero there lre ahead it will bo be better for you ho he says bays to ride on madro madre do dlos dios breathed gracia clutching at her saddle and then she nodded her head weakly you better get gel down for a minute suggested hooker helping tier her quickly to tho the ground here dijuk somo water youre kinder hinder faint ill be right back jest want to say goodby good by he ha strode over to where amigo had posted himself behind a rock rack and laid s hand band on his arru arm adfor amigo amiga lie he aid but the baqui kaqui only glanced at him strangely anything in my camp youre wel ivel como to it added hooker but amigo tod lid not respond hick eyes furt fart ff lii iks were fixed intently before him where del dal roy camo came gal loping in tho the lead you go bowl now he said speaking with an effort and hooker understood there was no love no hate left in that mighty carcass he was all warrior all yaqui and lie he wanted del roy to himself well bo be going hooker said to gracia returning swiftly and his subdued tones made her start sho she felt as one feels at a funeral the hovering wings of death yet she eho vaulted into her saddle and left her thoughts unsaid they rode on down the valleys valley spurring yet holding back and then with a the heavy mauser spoke out one roar that made tam jump the heavy mauser spoke oui oue one shot and no more there was a hush a long wait and amigo rose slowly from behind his rock godt exclaimed hooker as ho he caught the pose and hla his voice sounded bounded a requiem for manuel del rey then as gracia crossed herself and fell to sobbing ho he loaned forward in his saddle and they galloped away CHAPTER though men may make a lest jest of it in books it la is a solemn thing to kill a man even to bo be near when one Is killed it if gracca had slain del rey herself in a passion her hot blood might havo have buoyed her up but now her whole nature was convulsed with the horror of it and she wilted like a flower an hour before she had burned with hatred of him sho she had wished him lead dead and sought the man who would kill hill nil him now that iehl ills his ilia life lilt had been nil iehl ilia lilt snipped oft off between two heartbeats heart beats sho she remembered him with pity and muttered a prayer for his soul for hooker for do lancey she had no thought but only for the dashing young oung captain who had followed her to his death ot of this bud had no knowledge lie he realized only that she eho was growing weaker and that ho he must call a halt and at last cheni the walls of their pass had widened and they rode out into the open plain ho he turned aside front from tho the trail frail and drew rein by a clump of here let me take you 00 he said as aa she swayed slaved uncertainty uncertainly in the saddle sho she slid down into his arms and lie laid her gently in the shade poor girl ho he muttered its been too much for you ill get some water and pretty soon you can eat ile he tho the canteen from his saddle flap gave her a drink and left tier her to herself glancing swiftly along the horizon as he be tied out their mo mounts ants to graze but for her faintness lie he would have pushed on farther for he had seen men off to the cast bethun bu but thun hun and excitement had bad told upon tier her even more than tho the day and night ride for a woman and sitting it a side sad dle sho lie had done better than ho he had hoped and yet et well it was a long way to the border and ho he doubted if she lie could make it she lay still in the shado hado of the just as ha be had placed her anil and when he brought the sack of food site sho did not raise her r head eat hotter better eat something lie ho suggested spreading out some bread and dried beef ll heros eros some oranges I 1 got from don juan ill just put them over here for you ou gracia shuddered sighing we wearily artly then as if ills his words had hurt her she covered tier her face and wept what did you ou toll tell that man she asked at last wy W what hat man inquired hooker astonished aint you ou going to eat no sho cried gazing out at him through tier her tears not until I 1 know what you faid eald did you tell that indian to to kill him she broko broke down suddenly in a fit of sobbing and hooker wiped his brow I 1 wy nol he protested sure hotl what made you think that why you rode aver ivr and spoke to hl him and ld I 1 ho 0 looked at me and then he killed hilled she gave way to a paroxysm of grief ht at this and bud looked around him wondering that she aha was weak and hungry he ha knew but abut what was this she was saying 1 I reckon I 1 dont understand what youre driving at ho he said at last wish cat something feel teel bettor better no I 1 wont catt she declared sitting up and frowning mr hooker she went on very miserably what did you mean this morning when you laug laughed hedl I 1 I 1 said I 1 hated poor manuel and you sald said well what you did and you laug laughed hedl did you think oh you have that I 1 really wanted him killed wy suro sure cried hooker heartily 1 I knowel you was foo fooling lingl 1 I 1 laugh at you say what kind of u foller do you think I 1 am anyway dyo dye think id get an indian to do my killing oh then you she cried suddenly brightening up you know you talk so BO rough sometimes and I 1 never do know what you nl mean aal you 8 said aid you guessed have to kill him for me you know and oh it was too awful I 1 must be getting foolish im so eo tired out but what did you toll tell that indian cud bud glanced at her sharply for a moment and then decided to humor her perhaps it if ho he could get her quieted she would atop talking and begin to eat cat ile he asked me who was after us he said and I 1 told himot him it was dal rey yes and what did he say then ile he say nothing jest lined out tor for the pass and you say you wanted him killed not no burst out bud halt half angrily I 1 told you once I 1 did hotl not that indian had reasons of his bis own believe me hes got a scar along his ribs where del rey shot him with a six elx shooters and furthermore he added as aa her face cleared at this explanation of the mystery better try to take me at my word for the rest of this trip looks to mo me like youve been associating with these mexicans too much why what do you mean she demanded curtly 1 I mean this answered hooker being as were on the subject again ever since ive knowel you youve been talking about bravo brave men and all that and moren once youve hinted that I 1 brave because I 1 fight id just like to tell you to put your mand at rest that my father was a sergeant in the texas rangers and no hundred mexicans was ever able to make him crawl he served for ten years on the texas border and never turned his back to no man let alone a mex I 1 was brought up by him to be peaceable and quiet but dont you never think because I 1 run away from manuel del rey that I 1 was afraid th b face him ile he paused and regarded her intently and her eyes fell before his you must excuse roe me she said looking wistfully away 1 I did not I 1 did not understand dundei stand and so the poor yaqui was only avenging an injury 0 she he went on reaching out one slender hand toward the food ah I 1 can understand der stand it now he looked so savage and fierce but sho she paused again set back by a sudden thought though t d id nt you know ho he would kill him yes maam answered answered hooker quietly 1 I did then then why you that is 49 between them two he replied dug doggedly gedly del rey shot him once when he was wounded and left him tor for dead ile he must have killed some ot of ills his people too his wife meb be tor for till all I 1 know ho he never would talk about it but he come back to got get his revenge I 1 dont shoot no man front from cover myself but that aint it it was between them two and you she suggested it if you had fought del rey 1 I would have met him in the open said hooker and yet 1 I want to lie he ended bluntly want to fight him and want to kill him had no call to and then well there was you ah she breathed and a flush mounted her pals pale cheeks she smiled as aa she reached out once more for the food and hooker resolved to do his best at gallantry it seemed to make tier lier so happy so you ou were thinking of me she challenged sweetly all the while I 1 thought perhaps I 1 was a nuisance and in the way I 1 thought perhaps you did not like me because well because im a mex alex as you say no maam denied hooker gazing upon her admiringly nothing like that when I 1 say alex I 1 mean these lo 10 low bolado mexicans Alexi cans don juan tells me youre pure spanish with perhaps a little yaqui she suggested shyly well debbe he did say that too confessed bud but its jest as good as Sp spanish artish they say all the big men in sonora have got some yaqui blood morral that was vice president the tornes tomes brothers governors and aragon she added playfully but at a look in his eyes she stopped bud could not look pleasant and think of aragon ali ah y ee she rattled on 1 I know you like tho better than the spanish 1 I saw you shaking hands with that indian and what m as is it you called him amigo right smiled hooker him and mo me have been friends for months now out at the mina id do anything for that feller I 1 oh now you make me je jealous lilous she routed pouted it if I 1 were only a yaqui raqul and ana big and black never mind defended dud bud he all right and truo true was a true friend friends bellevo believe mo me are scarce there was a shade of bitte bitterness aness in his voice that did not escape her and she was carofill caro till not to allude to P phil hit ills name like the name nam e of tier her father fathe always drove this shy roan man to silence co and she wanted to make him talk then you ought to be friends w with ith 1 ran mn she chided after a silence I have always wanted to bo be your f friend why will you never ilow allow a it no but really I 1 always shown it I 1 remember now the first time that I 1 saw you 1 I was looking through my holo hole among the passion n flowers and you saw me with your ice keen on eyes phil did not but lie he was there and you lust just looked at me once and ana looked away wily why did you never respond when I 1 came there to look for you you would just ride by and look at phil never know knew me once and even no agreed bud smiling quietly lie he was crazy to see you but ho he rode right by looking at the windows and such the first time I 1 met him mused gracia 1 I askea asked about you did he over ever tell you bud lung hung ills his head and grinned sheepishly it was not difficult to tb make out a case against him and so gracia gracca had not wanted del rey key killed as aa he be thought she did she was not the vicious woman he hui had thought her for a time she was just the gentle noble girl h he 0 had bad sworn to protect and conduct across acres the border to tier her flance fiance again came the detre desire to claim her but there was not only phil to be thought of but the fitness of himself to be the mate of this woman Is it something I 1 have done she asked at last Is that why you never liked me now mr air hooker please gleaso speak to met mel and why do you always sit so ao far away aro are you afraid of me but look she moved closer to him here we are alone and I 1 am not afraid of youl you of course not answered bud looking across at her boldly why should you be you aint afraid of nothing la Is that a compliment she demanded eagerly oh then im so happy its the first you ever paid mel me but have I 1 been brave |