Show HI the land of broken promises A stirring story of the mexican revolution bf DANE COOLIDGE aw pool H alea wuen the etc 1914 by frank A v CHAPTER continued i by the the land ahead was full e bandits and la drones men to whom fauman life was nothing and a woman no more sacred than a brute at the pass all trails converged from the corth and from the south not by any chance could a man pass over it in the daytime without meeting some one on the way and it the base a beet eyes on gracia it would take than a nod to restrain them so in a sheltered ravine they sought cover until it was dark and while oracia slept the heavy headed bud watched the plain from the heights above As be watched be dreamed of a borne in which this woman now sleep ing beside him was the queen he dreamed 0 years to come with un bounded happiness throughout all 0 them thoughts of phil and duty to hie pardner were tar away nothing en the plain below served to distract him from this dream ot happiness As far as he could see there was nothing that savored of danger for be woman in his keeping there were DO sounds or signs of either federal or revolutionary troops from both of which they were feeding feeing and from both of which he must guard her again they were in a world that was all their own an eden with but one man and one woman for an hour and more be watched land dreamed and with the dreams came the desire tor sleep the cry ot datura tor rest gracia stirred then softly to him calling him by and her voice was as music fur away when she awoke and found him nod ding gracia insisted upon taking his place now that she had been re her dark eyes were bright and perking but dud could hardly see the long watching by night and by day aad left his eyes bloodshot and ten with lids that drooped in spite of bilm it he did not sleep now be might doze in the saddle later or ride blindly into somi rebel camp so he made her i to call him and lay down to rest until dark the stars were all out when he awoke startled by her hand on his tiala but she reassured him with a word and led him up the hill to their lookout it was then that be under her silence in the brief hours during which be had slept the de country seemed suddenly to have come to life by daylight there had been nothing to suggest the presence of men but sow as the velvet night set tied down upon the land it brought ut the glimmering specks of a bun decd camp fires to the east and to the hiorth but the fires to which gracia pointed were set fairly in their trail and they barred the way to gadsden look she said 1 I did not want to wake you but the fires have sprung up everywhere these last ones are right in the pasa when did you see them asked hooker his head still heavy with bleed bleep have they been there long no only a few minutes she an elered at sundown I 1 saw those over to the east they are along the base of that big black mountain but these flashed up just now and see there are more and more some outfit coming in from the north said bud crossed over the pass and camped at the first vater this side who do you think they aret asked gracia in an awed voice insurrect In like as not muttered bud gazing from encampment to encampment but whoever they are be added they re no friends of ours we ve got to go around them and it we canet suggested gra da 1 I reckon well have to go through then answered hooker grimly we don t want to get caught here in the morning ride right through their camp ered gracia 1 t the sentries get to aleco he on halt to himself then just before the moon comes up we II 11 try to edge around them and if it comes to showdown we II 11 ride tor if are you game he turned to read the answer and the drew herself up proudly try me ehe challenged drawing nearer to him in the darkness and so they atcon side by side while their hands clasped in promise then as he night grew darker and no new ap hooker saddled up the weleta hofses and they picked their ray don to the trail tie X area were tar ahead but kt walk their forsea feet falling silently upon the sodden ground not a word waa spoken and tasy halted often to listen for offers too might be abroad the distant fires were dying now except few where men rose to ced them the braying of burros came in from the flats to the right and as the bugl alves drew near the first encampment they could hear the voices of the night guards as they rode about the horse herd then as they waited impatient ly the watch fires died down the guards no longer sang their high tal setto and even the burros were still this was their opportunity it they were to get through that line of sleep ing men it must be done by stealth should they be discovered it would mean one man against an army to protect the woman and the odds great as they were must be taken if need be it was approaching the hour of mid night and as their horses twitched restively at the bits they gave them the rein and rode ahead at a venture at their left the last embers of the fires revealed the sleeping forms of men to their right somewhere in the darkness dar knees was the night herd and the gerders herders they lay low on their horses necks not to cast a silhouette against the sky and let copper bottom pick the trail with ears that pricked and swiveled and delicate nostrils snuffing the lean taint he plodded along through the greasewood divining by some in his master s need of care the camp was almost behind them and bud bad straightened up in the sad die when suddenly the copper bottom jumped and a man rose up from the ground who goes he mumbled swaying sleepily above his gun and hooker reined his horse away before he gave him an answer none of your business he growled impatiently I 1 am going to the pass and as the sentry stared stupidly after him be rode on through the bushes neither hurrying nor halting until he gained the trail good luck he observed to when the camp was far behind he took me for an officer and never saw you at all no I 1 flattened myself on my pony answered gracia with a laugh he thought you were leading a pack horse good chuckled hooker you did fine now don t say another word because notice a comans womans voice and it we dont run into some more ot them well eoon be climbing the paa they bad passed through some per allous moments but gracia had hardly realized the danger because ot the ae aurance of hooker who was careful not to frighten her unnecessarily but it was an assurance which he had not felt himself and be was not yet tain of their safety the waning moon came out as they left the wide valley behind them and then it disappeared again as they rode into the gloomy shadows of the can yon for an hour or two they plodded slowly upward passing through narrow defiles and into moonlit spaces and still they did not mount the sum mit in the earthe dawn began to break and they spurred on la almost a panic the mexican pal count them selves late it they do not take the trail at sunup what it they should meet some straggling party before they reached the pass bud lumped copper bottom up a series of cat steps Gra claa roan came scrambling behind and then just as the boxed w alls ended and they gained a level spot they suddenly found them selves in the midst of a camp of leans men saddles packs and rifles all scattered at their feet buenos dias saluted bud as the blinking men rose up from their blankets excuse me amidos amigos I 1 am in a hurry A donde vaa A donde vaa chal longed a bearded man as he sprang up from his brush shelter to the pass senor answered hook er still politely but motioning for bracia to ride on ahead adios who Is that man bellowed the bearded leader turning furiously upon his followers where Is my sent nela stop him but it was too late to stop him bud laid his quirt across the rump of the roan and spurred forward in a dash tor coyer they whisked around the point of a bill as the first scattered shots rang out and as a frightened sentinel jumped up in heir path bud rode him down the man dropped lie gun to escape the fury ot the charge and in a mad clatter they flung themselves at a rock slide and scrambled to the bench above the path was rocky but they pressed forward at a gallop until ae the sun came up they beheld the of the pass ve win cried bud as he spurred up the last incline As he looked over the top he ex viodea in an oath und jerked copper bottom back on hia haunches the leader ot a line ot horsemen was just coming lp the other side there was no escape and then back at the frightened girl behind me he commanded and dont bahoot im going to hold em up he jumped his horse out to one side and landed squarely on the rim of the ridge gracia drew her horse in behind him and reached tor the pistol in her holster then both together they drew their guns and dud threw down on the first man go he ordered motioning bin forward with his head pr bronto he jerked out hi rifle with his hand and laid it across bis lap hurry up now he raged ai the startled mexican baited go on and keep a going and abe arst man that makes a break shoot him full f holes he sat like a statue on bis chining horse his six shooter balanced to shoot and something in his very presence the bulk of his body the forward thrust of his head and abe burning hate of his eyes quelled the spirits of the rebels they were a ragtag army mounted on horses and donkeys and and with arms ot every known make it was just such an army as was overrunning all northern mexico such an army as had been levying tribute on the land for a century they spread terror throughout all that great coun try south of the american border the flery glances of the american made them cringe as they had always cringed before their masters and his curses turned their blood to water he towered above them like a giant pouring forth a torrent of oaths and beck aning them on their way and abe lead er was the first to yield with hand half raised and jaw on ills breast he struck spurs to his fright ened mule and went dashing over abe ridge the others followed by twos and threes some shrinking some protest ing some gazing forth from beneath their broad hats As they looked back be whirled upon them and swore be would kill the first man that dared to turn his bead after all they were a generation of slaves those low unthinking geons peons and had not made them brave they passed on the whole line of bewildered soldiery looking in vain for abe men that were behind the american staring blankly at the beau ticul woman who sat so courageously by his side when abe last bad gone by bud picked up his rifle and watched him around abe point then he smiled grimly at gracia whose eyes were round with wonder and led the way down the trail CHAPTER the high pass and the were behind them now and the rolling plains of agua negra were at their feet to the northeast the smoke ban ners of the gadsden shelters smelters sm elters lay like ribbons across the eky and the line was not far away yet as they came down from the mountains bud and gracia fell silent and slackened their slashing pace the time for parting was near and part ings are always sad but ten ailee across the plain lay gadsden and phil phil to whom gra da was promised there had been no thoughts of him from the time they sat together under the horse blankets waiting tor the rain to pass until now that the dangers were virtually over and but a short time more would place them beyond the reach of either ru rales or rebels bud thought of the duty he owed his pardner even though that pardner had played him false great as was bis longing for gracia he could not forget that duty their companionship had been but a thing to forget if he could or at best he coad only remember the sweetness of it and must forget abe dreams he had dreamed as be watched beside gracia in the hills he was taking her to phil and all else must be sacrificed for auty bud looked tar out across the valley to where a train putted in from the south and the eight 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 the north what is it asked gracia coming out of her reverie oh nothing 1 answered bud slump ing down in his saddle I 1 see the rail load Is open again they might be somebody Bome body up there looking for us you mean well say a bunch of ru rales he turned still farther to the north as he spoke and spurred his jaded horse on gracia kept her roan beside him but be took no notice ex capt as be scanned abe line with his bloodshot eyes he was a bard look ing man now with a rough stubble of beard on his face and a sullen set to his jaw As two horsemen rode out from distant agua negra be turned and glanced at gracia seems like we been on the run ever since we left fortuna be said with a rueful smile are you good for just one more what is it nowa she inquired pulling herself together with an effort are those two men coming out to meet ue do you think stop us about our luck returned hooker but when we dip out of sight in this swale here well turn north and hit for the line all right she agreed my horse is tired but do whatever ou say bud she tried to catch his eyes at this but he seemed lost in contemplation ot the horsemen rhems ru rales he said at last and heading straight tor us but weve come too far to get caught now come on he added briskly bru and went galloping up abe swale for two miles they rode up the wash their heads below the level of the plain but as bud emerged at abe mouth ot the gulch and looked warily over the cut bank he suddenly reached tor his rifle and measured abe distance to tam una they was too foxy tor me he mut as gracia looked over at the approaching but I 1 can eland cm off he added eo you go ahead no she cried coming out in open rebellion well I 1 won t leave you all declared as be turned to command her oh crime ainne dud she laid an impulsive hand on his arm and he thrust bis gun back into the sling with a thud all right he eald cant stop to talk about it go ahead and nay the bide off ot that roan I 1 they were less than a mile from the line but the euralea had foreseen their ruse in dropping into the gulch and bad turned at the same time to inter capt them they were pushing their fresh horbes to the utmost now across the open prairie and as the roan lagged and faltered in his stride bud could see that the race was lost head for that i he called to gracca pointing toward one of the international markers as he faced their pursuers you II 11 make it they wont shoot a woman lie reached for his gun as he spoke no no ehe cried dont you stop it you do I 1 will come on phe entreated checking her horse to wait for him you ride behind me they wont dare shoot at ua then dud laughed shortly and wheeled in behind her returning bis gun to its sling all right be said we 11 ride it out together then lie laid the quirt to the roan in the whirl of racing bushes a white bonu ment flashed up suddenly before them the were within pistol shot and whipping like mad to bead them another figure came flying along the line a horseman waving bis hands and motioning then riding side by side they broke across the boundary with the baffled yelling savagely at their heels keep a going L prompted hooker as gracca leaned back to check her horse down into the gulch there them are liable to shoot yet abe final dash brought them to cover but as bud leaped down and gracca watched them with jealous ayee took gracca in his arms the roan spread his feet trembled and dropped heavily to the ground he 11 be all right soothed bud as gracca still clung to his arm then as he saw her gaze beyond him he turned and beheld philip da lan cey it was the same phil the man bud had called pardner and yet when hooker saw him there he bened and his face grew hard well he said slowly detaching gracyas Gra clas fingers and putting her hand away As phil ran forward to greet them be stepped sullenly to one side what they said he did not know for his mind was |