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SATURDAY, JULY 4. -
The Land of Broken Promises
A Stirring Story of the
Mexican Revolution
A story of border Mexico, vivid,
Intense, such as haß never before
been written, is this one of Ameri
can adventurers into the land of
manana. Texan, mining engineer,
Spanish senor and senorita, peon,
Indian, crowd Its chapters with
clear-cut word pictures of busi
ness, adventure and love, against
a somber background of wretched
armies marching and counter
marching across a land racked by
revolution and without a savior.
(Continued from Wednesday).
Why—what is it?” she cried. Then,
as he spoke again and backed away,
she remembered him with a smile.
‘KJh,” she said, "is it time to get up?
Where are we, anyway?”
“About ten miles from Fortuna,” an
swered Hooker soberly. “Too close —
we ought to be over that divide.”
He pointed ahead to where the val
ley narrowed and passed between two
How to Waken Her, Even That Was
a Question.
hills, and Gracia sat up, binding back
her hair that had fallen from its place.
“Yes, yes!” she said resolutely. “We
must 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, eiapping on sad
dles and bridles, coiling up ropes, and
offering her his hand to mount. When
he looked at her again it was not
strangely.
“Hope you can ride,” he said. "We
got to get over that pass before any
body else makes it—after that we can
take a rest.”
"As fast as you please.” she an
swered steadily. “Don’t think about
me. But what will happen if —they
get there first?”
She was looking at him now as he
searched out the trail ahead, but he
pretended not to hear. One man in
that pass was as good as a hundred,
and there were only two things he
could do—shoot his way through, or
turn back. He believed she would, not
want to turn back.
CHAPTER XXV.
Though the times had turned to war,
ell nature that morning was at peace,
and they rode through a valley of flow
ers like knight and lady in a pageant
The rich grass rose knee-deep along
the hillsides, the desert trees were
flligreed with the tenderest green and
twined with morning-glories, and In
open glades the poppies and sand
verbenas spread forth masses of blue
and gold.
Already on the mesqult-trees the
mocking-birds were singing, and bright
Bashes of tropical color showed where
cardinal and yellow-throat passed. The
dew was still untouched upon the
grass, arid yet they hurried on, for
some premonition whispered to them
of evil, and they thought only to gain
the far pass.
Beyond that lay comparative safety,
but no man knew what dangers -lurked
between them and that cleft In the
mountains. Del Rey and his rurales
or Bravo and bis rebels might be
there. In fact, one or the other prob
ably was there, and If so there would
be a fight, a fight against heavy odds
if he were alone, and odds that would
be greatly Increased because he must
protect Gracia.
To the west and north rose the high
and impassable mountain which had
barred their way in the night; across
the valley the flat-topped Fortunas
threw their bulwark against the dawn;
and all behind was broken hills and
gulches, any one o 1 which might glvp
up armed men. Far ahead,” like a
knife-gash between the ridges, lay the
pass to the northern plains, and as
their trail swung out into the open
they put spurs to their horses and
galloped.
Once through that gap, the upper
country would lie before them and
they could pick and choose. Now they
must depend upon speed and the
chance that their way was not blocked.
Somewhere in those hills to the east
Bernardo Bravo and his men were
hidden. Or perhaps they were scat
tered, turned by their one defeat into
roving bandits or vengeful partizans,
laying waste the Sonoran ranches as
they fought their way back to Chihua
hua. There were a hundred evil
chances that might befall the fugitives,
and while Bud scanned the countrj
ahead Gracia cast anxious glances be
hind.
"They are coming!" she cried at
last, as a moving spot appeared in the
rear. "Oh, there they are!”
"Good!" breathed Hooker, as he
rose in his stirrups and looked.
“Why, good?” she demanded, cu
riously.
“They’s only three of ’em,” answered
Bud. "I was afraid they might be in
front,” he explained, as she gazed at
him with a puzzled smile.
“Yes,” she said; “but what will you
do if they catch us?”
“They won’t catch us,” replied Hook
er confidently. “Not while I've got my
rifle. Aha!” he exclaimed, still look
ing back, “now we know all about it —
that sorrel is Manuel del Rey's!”
“And will you kill him?" challenged
Gracia, rousing suddenly at the name.
Hooker pretended not to hear. In
stead, he cocked his eye up at the
eastern mountain, whence from time
to time came muffled rifle-shots, and
turned his horse to go. There was
trouble over there to the east some
where—Alvarez and his Yaquis, still
harrying the retreating rebels —and
some of it might come their way.
With Rel Rey behind them, even
though in sight, he was the least of
their troubles, and could be easily
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 the way, so that it would
not be necessary to injure more than
one man.
"Ah, how I hate that man!” raged
Gracia, spurring her horse as she
scowled back at the galloping Del
Rey and his men who were riding on
ward rapidly.
“Ail right,” observed Bud with a
quizzical smile, “I’ll have to kill him
for you then!”
She gazed at him a moment with
eyes that were big with questioning,
but the expression on his rugged face
baffled her.
“I would not forget it,” she cried im
pulsively. “No, after all I have suf
fered, I think I could love the man who
would meet him face to face! But why
do you—ah!” she cried, with a sddden
tragic bitterness. “You smile! You
have no thought for me —you care
nothing that lam afraid of him! Ah,
Dios, for a man who is brave —to rid
me of this devil!”
"Never mind!” returned Bud, his
voice thick with rising anger. ”If I
kill him it won't be for you!”
He jumped Copper Bottom ahead
to avoid her, for in that moment she
had touched his pride. Yes, she had
done more than that —she had de
stroyed a dream he had, a dream of a
beautiful woman, always gentle, al
ways noble, whom he had sworn to
protect with his life. Did she think
he was a pelado Mexican, a hot-coun
try lover, to be inflamed by a glance
and a smile? Then Phil could have
her, and welcome. Her tirade had
lessened his burden. Now his fight
was but a duty to Ills pardner in the
performance of which he would be no
less careful, but to turn her over to
Phil would not now be painful.
"Ah, Bud!” she appealed, spurring
up beside bim, "you did not under
stand! I know you are brave —and if
he comes” she struck her pistol
fiercely—"l will kill him myself!"
“Never mind,” answered Bud In a
kinder voice. ‘Til take care of you.
•Test keep your horse In the trail,” he
added, as she rode on through the
brush, “and I'll take care of Del Rey.”
He beckoned her back with a Jerk
of the head and resumed his place In
the lead. Here was no place to talk
about men and motives. The moun
tain above was swarming with rebels,
there were rurales spurring behind—
yes, even now, far up on the eastern
hillside, he could see armed men —and
now one was running to Intercept
them!
Bud reached for his rifle, Jerked up
a cartridge, and sat crosswise In his
saddle. He rode warily, watching the
distant runner, until suddenly he pulled
In his horse and threw up a welcom
ing hand. The man was Amigo—no
other could come down s hillside so
swiftly—and he was signaling him to
wait.
"Who Is that man?” asked Gracia,
as she reined in at his side. "Do you
kupw hlm.HI.
Author of
“THE FIGHTING FOOL,” “HIDDEN WATERS,"
“THE TEXICAN," Etc.
Illustrations by DON J. LAVIN
(Copyright, 1914, by
Frank A. Munsey.l
V
“Sure do!” responded Hooker Jovi
ally. “He’s the best friend I got in
Mexico!
“Kai, Amigo!!’ he hailed, as the
Yaqul came quartering down the hill,
and, apparently oblivious of the on
coming pursuers, he rode out of the
trail to meet him. They shook hands
and Amigo flashed his familiar smile,
glancing shyly over the horse’s hack
at the daughter of the Aragons.
“I knew the horse,” he explained,
with a gentle caress for Copper Bot
tom. “My people—up there —kill Mex
icans! Where you go?”
“North —to the line,” answered Bud,
pointing up the pass.
“Muy malo!” frowned the Yaqul,
glancing once more at the woman be
hind. “Muchos revoltosos!”
“Where?” asked Bud.
"Everywhere!” replied Amigo with
a comprehensive wave of the hand.
“But no matter,” he added simply. “I
will go with you. Who are these
horsemen behind?”
"Rurales!” responded Hooker, and
the Yaqui’s black eyes dilated.
“Yes,” nodded Bud as he read the
swift question in their glance. "He is
there, too—Del Rey!”
“Que bueno!” exclaimed the Indian,
fixing his eagle glance upon the riders.
He showed his white teeth in a smile.
In an instant he saw his opportunity,
he saw his enemy riding into a trap,
and turned his face to the pass.
What Amigo had waited for, the op
portunity he had watched for, was
at hand. Del Rey should pay the
price of that scar the Yaqul carried.
Not again would the bullet go astray,
and his people should have one less
Mexican to fight after that day. The
hatred of generations lay behind the
thoughts of the Indian. He cared
nothing for the grievance of the girl,
and he would not kill Del Rey for
that, but for his own reasons.
"Come!” he said, laying hold of a
latigo strap, and as Hooker loped on
up the steady incline he ran along at
his stirrup. In his right, hand he still
carried the heavy Mauser, but his
sandaled feet bore him forward with
tireless strides and only the heaving
of his mighty chest told the story of
the pace.
"Let me take your gun,” suggested
Hooker, as they set off on their race,
but Amigo in his warrior's pride only
shook his head and motioned him on
and on. So at last they gained the
rugged Fummit, where the granite ribs
of the mountain crop up through the
sands of the wash and the valley
slopes away to the north. To the south
was Del Rey, still riding after them,
but Amigo beckoned Ilud beyond the
reef and looked out to the north.
"Revoltosos!” he exclaimed, point
ing a sun-blackened hand at a distant
ridge. "Revoltosos!” he said again,
waving his hand to the east. “Here,”
waving toward the west, "no!”
“Do you know that country?” In
quired Hooker, nodding at the great
plain with its chains of parallel Bier>
ras, but the Indian shook his head.
"No,” he said; "but the best way is
straight for that pass.”
He pointed at a distant wedge cut
down between the blue of two ridges,
and scanned the eastern hills intently.
"Men!” he cried, suddenly Indicat
ing the sky-line of the topmost ridge.
“I think they are revoltosos,” he added
gravely. ‘‘They will soon cross your
trail.”
“No difference,” answered Bud with
a smile. "I am not afraid —not with
you here, Amigo.”
“No, but the woman!” auggeated
Amigo, who read no Jest in his words.
“It is better that you should ride on
—and leave me here.”
He smiled encouragingly, hut a wild
light was creeping into hlB eyes and
Hooker knew what he meant. He de
sired to be left alone, to deal with
Del Rey after the sure manner of the
Yaquls. And yet, why not? Hooker
gazed thoughtfully at the oncoming
rurales and walked swiftly back to
Gracia.
"This Indian is a friend of mine,”
he said, “and I can trust him. He
rays It will be better for us to ride
on —and be will take care of the
rurales.”
“Take care?” questioned Gracia,
turning pale at a peculiar matter-of
fact tone in his voice.
“Sure,” said Hooker; "he says there
are revoltosos ahead. It will be bet
ter for you, he says, to ride on.”
“Madre do Dios!” breathed Gracia,
clutching at her saddle; and then she
nodded her head weakly.
"You better get down for a minute,”
suggested Hooker, helping ber quick
ly to the ground. "Here, drink some
water—you’re kinder faint. I’ll be
right back —Jest want to say good-by.”
He strode over to whore Amigo had
posted himself behind a rock and laid
a hand on his arm.
"Adlos, Amigo!” he said, but the
Yaqul only glanced at him strangely.
"Anything In my camp, you're wel
come to It,” added Hooker, but Amigo
did not respond. His black eyes, fan
seeing as a hawk’s, were fixed Intently
before him, where Del Rey came gal
loping in the lead.
‘You go jqjld, speaking
HE AUGUSTA HERALD. AUGUSTA. GA.
By DANE COOLIDGE
The Heavy Mauser Spoke Out—One
Shot!
with an effort, and Hooker understood.
There was no love, no hate loft In that
mighty carcass—he was all warrior,
all Yaqul, and he wanted Del Rey to
himself.
’’We’ll be going,” Hooker said to
Gracia, returning swiftly, and his sub
dued tones made her start. She felt,
as one feels at a funeral, the hovering
wings of death, yet she vaulted Into
her saddle and left her thoughts un
said.
They rode on down the valley, spur
ring yet holding back, and then with a
roar that made them Jump the heavy
Mauser spoke out —one shot! And no
more. There was a bush, _a long wait,
and Amigo rose slowly from befifrij
his rock.
"God!” exclaimed Hooker, as ha
caught, the pose, and his voice sound
ed a requiem for Manuel del Rey.
Then, as Gracia crossed herself and
fell to sobbing, he leaned forward in
his saddle and they galloped away.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Though men may make a Jest of It
In books, it is a solemn thing to kill
n man, oven to be near when one is
killed. If Gracia had slain Del Rey
herself in a passion her hot blood
might, 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, she had wished him
dead and sought the man who would
kill him. Now that his life had been
snipped off between two heartbeats
she remembered him with pity and
muttered a prayer for his soul. For
Hooker, for De Laneey she had no
thought, but only for the dashing
young captain who had follow-ed her
to his death.
Of this Bud had no knowledge. He
realized only that, she was growing
weaker, and that he must call a halt,
and at last, when the walls of their
pass had widened and they rode out
into the open plain, he turned aside
from the trail and drew rein by a
clump of mesquit.
"Here, let me take you,” he said,
as she swayed uncertainly in the sad
dle. She slid down into his arms and
he laid her gently In the shade.
"Poor girl," ho muttered, "It’s been
too much for you. I’ll get some water,
and pretty soon you can eat.”
He unslung the canteen front his
■addle-flap, gave her a drink, and left
her to herself, glancing swiftly along
the horizon as he tied out their mounts
to graze. But for her faintness he
would have pushed on farther, for he
had seen men off to the east; but hun
ger and excitement had told upon hor
even more than the day-and-night ride.
For a woman, and sitting a side-sad
die, she had done better than he had
hoped; and yet—well, it was a long
way to the border and ho doubted if
she could make It. She lay still In the
shade of the mesquit, just as he had
placed her, and whon he brought the
sack of food she did not raise her
head.
"Better eat something,” ho sug
gested, spreading out some bread and
dried beef. “Here’s some oranges I
got from Don Juan —I’ll JUBt put them
over hero for you."
Gracia shuddered, sighing wearily.
Then, as If his words had hurt her,
BROKEN BUBBLES
she covered her face and wept.
"What did you tell that man?*’ she
asked at last.
"W’y—what man?” Inquired Hook
er, astonished. “Ain’t you going to
eat?"
“No!” she cried, gazing out at him
through her tears, “not until I know
what you said. Did you tell that In
dian to —to kill him?"
She broke down suddenly in a fit of
sobbing, and Hooker wiped his brow.
‘‘W’y, no!” he protested. “Sure not!
What made you think that?”
"Why—you rode over und spoke to
him—and ho looked at me—and then —
he —killed him!”
She gave way to a paroxysm of grief
at this, and Bud looked around him
wondering. That she was weak am!
hungry he knew, but what, was this
she was saying?
"I reckon I don't understand what
you're driving at,” he said at last
"Wish you’d eat something—you'll feel
better.”
"No, I won’t eat!" she declared, sii
ting up and frowning. “Mr. Hooker,”
she went on very miserably, “what did
you mean this morning when you
laughed! I said I bated poor Manuel
• —and you said —well, what you did -
and you laughed! Did you think- oh
you couldn't have —that I really want
cd him killed?”
"W’y, sure not!” cried Hooker
heartily. "I knowed you was fooling!
Didn't 1 laugh at you? Say, what kind
of a feller do you think I am, anyway?
D’ye think I'd get an Indian to do my
killing?”
"Oh, then didn't you?” she cried,
suddenly brightening up. "You know,
you Jalk so rough sometimes —and I
never do know what you mean! You
said you guessed you’d have to kill
him for me, you know, and —oh, it was
too awful! I must, he getting foolish,
I’m so tired out, but —what did you
I ill that Indian?"
Bud glanced nt her sharply for a
moment and then decided to humor
iter. Perhaps, if lie could got her
quieted, she would stop talking and
begin to eat.
"Ho asked me who was after us,” he
. ill,’"and I told him it was Del Rey.”
“Yes, and what did he say then?”
"He didn't say nothing—Jest lined
out for ttio pass.”
"And didn't you say you wanted —
him—killed?"
"No!" burst out Bud, half angrily.
"Haven't I told you once? I did not!
That Indian had reasons of his own,
lleve mo —he's got a scar along his
ribs where Del Rey shot him with a
. ix-shooter! Arid, furthermore,” lie
added, as her face cleared at (his ex
planation of the mystery, “you’d bettor
tv to take me at my word for the rent
of this trip! Looks to me like you've
been associating with these Mexicans
too much!”
“Why, what do you mean?" she de
manded curtly.
"I mean this,” answered Hooker, "be
ing as we’re on the subject again.
Ever since I’ve knowed you you've
been talking about brave men and
all that; and more’n cnce you've hinted
thaj I wasn’t brave because I wouldn't
fight a
“I’d just like to tell you, to pat
your mind at rent, 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 was brought up by him to
be peaceable and quiet, but don’t you
never think, because I run away from
Manuel del Rey, that I was afraid to
face him.”
Ho paused and regarded her Intent
ly, and hor eyes fell before his.
“You must excuse me,” she said,
looking wistfully away, ”1 did not—l
did not understand. And so the poor
Yaqul was only avenging an injury?”
she went on, reaching out one slender
hand toward the food "Ah, I can un
derstand It now —he looked so savage
and fierce. But"—she paused again,
net 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—"
“That, wns between them two,” he
replied doggedly. "Del Rey shot him
once when he was wounded and left
him for dead. He must have killed
some of his people, too; his wife meb
be, for all I know. He never would
talk about, it, but he come back to get
bis revenge. I don’t shoot no man
from cover myself, but that ain’t it—
It was between them two.”
"And you?” she suggested. ‘Tf you
had fought Del Rey?”
“I would have met him in the open,”
said Hooker.
“And yet—"
"I didn't want to,” he ended bluntly.
“Didn’t want to fight him and didn’t
want to kill him. Had no call to. And
then —well, there was you.”
"Ah!" she breathed, and a flush
mounted her pale cheeks. She smiled
as she reached out once more for the
food and Hooker resolved to do his
best at gallantry, It seemed to malts
her so happy.
“So you were thinking of me," she
challenged sweetly, “all the while? I
thought perhaps I was a nuisance and
In the way. I thought perhaps you did
not like mo because—well, because
I’m a Mex, as you say.”
(To Be 0->ulinued Tomorrow.)
FIVE