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Show I Password ! . ! i I I Bg ETHEL LEE DAYTON I 9 i SlWWlll1ll1llHtHl(tllUlllll!lllllMtllll3 (Copyright, 1916, by W. G. Chapman.) The tables were turned. I laughed outright as I realized it. There, back in the timber, at a lonely spot which few would visit or pass, I had left a stalwart Mexican soldier tied hand and foot. Certainly I was safe from his pursuit until morning. The way it had come about was this: For several days I had been located lo-cated at Mayena with the United States troops. I was taking photographs photo-graphs for a series of magazine articles ar-ticles and had become quite well acquainted ac-quainted with Lieutenant Harney Itos-siter. Itos-siter. Before coming to Mayena I had been for a week at Pulza. There I had met Miss Wentworth and her family. The impression made upon me by Miss Wentworth was a lasting one. When Lieutenant Rossiter stated that he knew the Wentworths there was a friendly bond established between us at once. It suffered a severe strain my last hour in camp, however. Rossiter Ros-siter came to me looking anxious and distrustful. "You told me you were going back to Pulza?" he said, and inquiringly. "I've got to," I told him. "I left all the views I took in Chihuahua there, counting on picking them up on my homeward-bound trip." I did not tell Rossiter, of course, that I was glad of an excuse, as a return would naturally mean a second meeting with the charming Miss Wentworth. , "I got a letter about two hours since from Pulza," said the lieutenant. mm- I Passed No Habitation During the First Five Miles. "which troubles me a good deal. You know the critical condition of affairs af-fairs at Pulza. I have received private pri-vate word that the native commandant there is alfout to be superseded by his former predecessor, Maceo. That means trouble, danger for Mr. Wentworth Went-worth and his family." "Why?" I asked, at once interested. "Because Maceo is a rejected suitor of Miss Wentworth, and it was through Mr. Wentworth that he was relieved of his ollicial duties. Under the old regime that would mean little. Witli the present factional lines narrowing, nar-rowing, it gives to the treacherous and revengeful Maceo the power of a tyrant, ty-rant, and he will exert it. "And your message to Mr. Wentworth Went-worth would be?" - "To leave Pulza at once. To delay is to be caught in a net. Even you will not find it easy to evade the guerrillas. guer-rillas. Within forty-eight hours they may have their forces spread so that those-south of the river here will he completely shut in." "I think I understand," I said. "You are very kind to have all this consideration consid-eration for the Wentworths, lieutenant." lieuten-ant." "Not when you reflect that I am engaged en-gaged to marry Miss Wentworth." "Huh ! " I barely suppressed the utterance ut-terance of amazement and disappointment. disappoint-ment. Then there was no hope for me in that direction! It was rather a sorry mission I was undertaking for a distinct rival. However, I summoned up all my manliness and started on my journey. It was late the next day when a shot halted me. It came from a thicket. My horse fell, and before I could get out from under him a brawny Mexican, wearing the Insurrectionist uniform, was at my side, his carbine leveled. He had the drop on me, and it was sure death to make a move to resist or escape. He bound my arms with a belt, tied a lariat about my waist, making me understand that I was a prisoner and considered as a spy, and bound for his camp ten miles ahead, he mounted his horse. I had some rough tramping to do. It was well on towards dark when ne came to a little settlement. My captor, boastfully parading me, rode up to the general store and celebrated his heroism by being helped to half n dozen strong drinks. Supplied with a bottle of the stuff, he resumed his journey. We had not gone two miles when I noted his drooping pose. Overcome Over-come with the strong liquor, he was asleep in the saddle. The horse halted to browse and his rider slept on. It was my chance. At a standstill I could work with some system at my bonds. Soon I was free. To dispose safely of my captor was an easy task. I took his hat, his jacket and his weapons. Then it was that I laughed exultantly, for there was only twenty-five miles between myself and Pulza. I passed no habitation, met nobody during the first five miles of my ride forward. I had fancied I knew the route perfectly, as I had traversed It before, but at the end of an hour began to be confused. I lost the trail and did not catch it up again until I came in sight of n lonely little cabin. It held a light. I was desperately thirsty, and, glancing in at the open window, I noted a water pail on the table and the only Inmate of the desolate place, a little, undersized Mexican lad, about five years of age. He was seated at the table eating porridge. As I stepped through the doorway he sprang nimbly to his feet and faced me. I almost laughed outright. The shrewd, impish expression on the face of the youngster was absolutely irresistible irre-sistible as instantly he threw up both hands. Then, his keen eyes looking me all over, he uttered two words : "Sandoval Muerte !" I nodded my head. He was reas sured. He went back to his porridge like one who has a duty to perform and had received a safe-conduct. I drank at the pall and left the hut, turning the queer incident over in my mind as I rode along. Suddenly, In Mexican : "Halt who goes?" It was an inspiration that came to me, looking down the barrel of a leveled lev-eled carbine. At once there flashed a thought through my mind. The parents par-ents of the Mexican lad had tutored him for a critical occasion nonresist-ance nonresist-ance and the password. I gave it now. "Sandoval Muerte." "Pass on to the left. You are for the town?" I grunted an assent. Again I Inughed this time to drive away a shiver, for I had met a narrow graze. The hour was late when I reached Pulza. At once I visited the Wentworth Went-worth domicile and had Mr. Wentworth Went-worth out of bed, explaining matters. He looked serious, and decided on Immediate Im-mediate action. It was wise, for a few hours later the entire district was under insurrection domination. "My daughters," he introduced a little later, when he led two charming young ladies into the room, jvho had hastily dressed at the tidings of alarm. My Miss Wentworth came forward with a welcoming smile. As I spoke of Lieutenant Rossiter, the other Miss Wentworth looked anxious and relieved. re-lieved. For the first time I knew there were two Misses Wentworth, aud mine, the younger, was not a fiancee. That is, until we were over the border. We did not wait for daylight. My meeting with the Mexican sentinel a few miles from town convinced me that the insurrectionists were critically critical-ly near. Our party was the last through the district without challenge. The doughty lieutenant had his Eleanor El-eanor and I my Daisy, who made of me to her friends a hero complete. |