Show I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I V VA A U L' L 0 IF JP D A U IA R A U lA D 0 11 S JE e. J b by Copyright C arra arrangement n g ement bY By Down Dodd Dow with with Mead Metropolitan Vingie Metropolitan an Co ie Inc Ine Newspaper E. E All rights Roe Service o reserved I New Printed Tor York ii from tram last week He Ho was too far tar away to see eee the wondrous wondrous wondrous won won- drous beauty of at the red king facing him or to know his rider for a woman i But with his characteristic gaiety galety he heI hest I st stood od up for tor a n. second and Ve s sweeping the broad hat from his head waved It ItIn itin In circles And Val Hannon answering the strangers stranger's signal agnal raised a hand above her head CHAPTER IV The Cross in th he Wilderness The summer drowsed upon the land The rhe winds had died this day and the brazen sun was monarch Where the Little Antelope trickled sluggishly between between between be be- tween its Hs low banks to nurse the straggling growth of ot tr trees es that lined It the heat was somewhat tempered t r Cottonwoods grew here tall and slim w and many trees to spread their lacy shadow and there were desert desert desert des des- ert flowers planted In stone edged beds heds among the sand while the sword like spikes of at the maguey plant reached out to catch the unwar unwary This was a desert garden rugged grassless Inured to heat and drought yet pleasant pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant to the eye and mind as many a amore amore amore more more favored spot was not To the west weilt of at the garden and beyond the trees standing out against the sun and andi i the desert winds like a speared and shielded warrior the long blank walls of ot the Mission took the light on their pale expanse in a a. way to be seen for tor many miles across the plains I Peons waifs on the changing tides of ot fortune refugees from the turbulent land across the border those broken and dispossessed by the warring factions factions fac fac- Lions that destroyed their own and got nowhere the sick In mind and soul and body these body these came to the doors of Ref Refu Refugio Re- Re f fu fugio lo and none was turned away For at those doors stood Father Hll IIiI- faire laire who for forty years had watched the stretching plains He had seen some ome piteous things and more that were tragic and some that were bright with faith and courage and everlasting such such as John Hannons Hannon's love for tor his blind bUnd wife and wife and he was gentle with understanding But those who came to the l must work for tor Father Hillaire was poor In worldly goods and tho the scant fare that was so free on tho the long board In the great bare living room I behind the church must be taken from 1 the soil with unceasing labor I Frijoles grew on the level stretches across the stream and a few bands of of- cattle ran on the open range while sturdy grapes purpled on the wall that clasped the garden Brown bre bread d dand and milk and simple home homo made wine and nd the frijoles always these waited the com comer r at the Mission steps be it dawn or dark or In the dead of night But sometimes the slice of the dark bread were thin the tea strongly flavored flavored flavored fla fla- with sage for gold came scarcely scarcely scarce scarce- I ly Iy to the tho padres padre's coffers In these days The sun went down toward the west and the long blue shadows started r out across the level floor from the lone shafts of ot stone and the table tablelands tablelands lands of ot the mesas and the little wind began to whisper from the south while the wondrous colors came came sifting through the light These colors color had been to Father one of tho priceless possessIons possessions possessions posses posses- of his life a gift of ot God in all truth a wonderful healing and inspiration tion tion Never ever was the d day y so dark the future fu future future fu- fu ture so uncertain but that high burdened burdened bur bur- ened heart found peace and hope in their beholding Today as they flushed the high vault Above the garden Father Hillaire shut his Ws' beloved books and rose to greet th them m. m In that Instant there came the sound of ot the roll long-roll of at a running horse up upon upon upon up- up on on the distant plain He hurried to the opening in lit the high wall where the great gates turned back upon It and looked eagerly out For a moment a pucker of concentration tion t n drew In between his brows then smoothed away as the charming smile came upon his features Ah he said sald aloud delightedly It could be no other There was not in the land another pair like the two who came skimming forward like a swallow the man and the horse there horse there could not be They seemed not two but one so perfectly did they blend together In motion and andIn andin In iti appearance The rider rUler carried his broad black hat bat in his hand and the wind of their coming 1 Blew the black blackhair blackhair blackhair hair back from his white forehead and his his' face was bright with laughter to greet the old priest In the gate Father he cried as the great red horse thundered up to slide in the dust v and stop with his haunches to the earth his fiery eyes ees shine a-shine In his broad bay face Padre Ave He flung himself from the saddle and caught the padres padre's hands In both hl his own pumping them up and down boy fashion My boy said Father Hillaire gladly searching the sparkling face faceSon Son Son son It has been long long long since Refugio has seen you Come in Ha Have Hae e you eaten Not since yesterday but what mattel's matters matters mat- mat tel's T He laid his arm affectionately about about I the old mans man's shoulders and turned to toward toward to- to to-I to ward the gar garden en ca car carefully gathering V. V r the he bridle rein he had not loosed 3 S So they entered the garden drawing the great red stallion after and the father stopped and securely ly closed the gates Bonifacio he called caled into the depths where the shadows were already falling fall tall ing Ing come and take The Comet Give him he continued as a slim youth came briskly up through the ha trees a little water water not not much much and and rub him down well wel Then a feed teed from the bins in the north stable Keep watch upon him thyself until I cl call Dusky women their faces meek with tho the sweetness of that house went wih noiselessly about the setting of t the evening meal and old for many nany years ears the chatelaine greeted the thet j t stranger with a warmth warth of ot recognition In her winkled wrinkled features And so presently of the Border sat at the long table with wih the padre adre of at Refugio and ate as one fam fam- I He bowed his bis black head through the short blessing and with with- wih- wih neld his hand with wih a slow repression though ough hunger was with wIh him keenly When Wen the te meal was finished the two men J went outside again to the starlight star star- light ight and and the dry dr garden drew to together together together to- to gether the orn worn chairs by the little table where lay the ancient books and talked In that deep communion which comes with wih liking and Ind understanding Twilight deepened and the tip Up of t glowed In the dusk sign manual mn Ign-mn s of or comfort They Te talked taked swiftly and nearly nealy and the padre leaned forward and laid his wor worn hand on knee Oh my nay son eon he said sad softly I have o grieved over this waste for tor all nI the months montha I have known kown you Lods loss Logs lossl loss I I 1 It I Is not right a crime against humanity hu- hu I manity for tor fo a man like you you-a you 1 0 a man X who can cal control himself himself to to to cast cas his hla high chance to the four winds smiled In the gathering darkness You know father he said that Td rd take tae that from none but you ou I know said sid the priest prest firmly and andI I dare I have dared much In my time 1 Y YI I 1 xI I I S I I Val VI sat straight t in her saddle her hands folded on the The keen knife is the kindest I dare because I love you And I take it and come back for back for forthe the same reason See he laid aside the in his fingers and reached in a pocket on his hip I have ridden a day and half a a night to bring you this I will wl cover the same ground In the tho next few hours to get back from whence I came But the bringing gives me Joy c cHe He lifted the old mans man's hand and placed therein a a buckskin bag heavy and musical with the dull dul clink of gold I Take it I it he said It I Is yours But Father Hillaire shuddered an and I his Ma fingers slipped loose from the theother's theother's others other's pressure so that the bag fell fel back upon the table I cant I cant can't he said sadly It is tainted taint taInt- ed gold True rue said gaily I took It from a a mine owner who owns a thousand peons soul and body who drives them through hunger and op oppression oppression oppression op- op down into the darkness of death with wih never a hope or a comfort His soft voice h had d b become come suddenly hard and bitter biter Father Hillaire caught his own breath in a sigh Oh my son I cannot vision such sucha a thing It I cuts me to the heart Give It up give up-give give up this life le Start over over over-go go away Into away Into the north some north some somewhere where where and here and and forget these rides these desperate risks this dashing against the law of God and man With a quick spring was wason wason wason on his feet He swept the bag of at gold Into his hand and held It out Will Wll you take It i he asked evenly to to buy food for tor your poor your aged your sick and your little ones nes that swarm swam here in our blessed blesse garden Or shall I ride south again and squander squander squander der it the gaming tables on of and on the girls of the dance halls hals He was wa steady cool ready to do what he promised Slowly the old pr priest st rose to face faco fae him in the dusk He stretched out a handI hand I 1 will wil take tae It I. I my son he said a a I doubtful means to a holy end and he took the b bag g of gold and dropped I II It I in the deep pocket of his cassock smiled that brilliant lighting lighting light light- ing of his lean face t that at shone like a afIre afire afire fire behind a curtain and putting a hand on the others other's shoulder shook It i gently genty Then he whirled and put his fingers to his lips The whistle that startled started the quiet garden was enough to split the eardrums Instantly from tram the distant side of the enclosure where the stables stood there came an answer answer answer an an- a wild wid shrill heavy scream the piercing neigh of a stallion and a huge dark bulk came trotting swiftly down dow the walks beneath the trees is its rein Jerked from the hands of Bonifacio dangling at its feet feet The Comet caie came to his master put his palm to the horses horse's Up lip lp their secret sign of ot greeting Goodby father sail sai gravely buenas noches Vale he added gracefully giving the farewell in three tongues Then he gripped the others other's others hand hard sought the pommel and leaped into the saddle without t a foot to stirrup stirrup stir stir- str- str rup though th the great horse stood seventeen hands to his bare der There was a sudden leap a thunder thunder thunder thun thun- der of hoofs on the hard-beaten hard earth and they were gone a wind and aholt a a. a holt of speed out through the gate which Bonifacio had opened For a long moment Father Hillaire stood In the dim light by the narrow door of the church and listened to the roll of ot their their- their going going a lifting ex excIting exciting exciting ex- ex citing sound and he shook his head and sighed and touched the gold In his pocket I would that ire he came no more mare to this land of his destiny he whispered miserably gay reckless and Movable lovable and and lost to all al eternity What if It I told him of that other horse that horse that only other one In all al the earth earh to match The Comet the wondrous red king of John Hannons Hannon's brood CH CHAPTER V V. V Why Dont Don't You Run Redstar Night lay soft on Paradise Tree toads talked at Intervals and a cicada shrilled Its Is endless tune while out In one of at the gay fringed hammocks young slim and brown lis listened ifa- ifa ls- ls with downcast eyes to the gentle gentle gen gen- tle le voice of Arias Gomez Game also slim and brown pleading the ancient tale in the tho ancient wa way In the great room of ot the deep adobe house there were no candles lighted for though Fanita had come I I soft footed footed to do that service serice the mas mas- ter tel had waved her away John ohn Hannon Hannon Hannon Han- Han masI l I J non sat In one of the big chairs with I Ithe i the cushions and smoked the short wih I pipe that always rode in his Inside pocket or between his lips and listened lis lis- ls- ls in ineffable content to the gentle gente gen gen- tle te airs that came softly softy from the ancient keys kes under Belle Bele Hannons Hannon's fingers Stretched on a couch in the farthest corner her slim length well nigh compassing compassing com com- passing it from end com I I to end her sun- sun browned hands beneath her head Val lay and listened too though her thoughts were not In the past b but bit t the fu they future they re they had to do with the coming com com- com com- ing dance at Hunnewell's store and with the gay bunch of riders from the outlying ranches who would be there In all al t their gala attire attre A It would be Fourth of July and I every cowpuncher who could straddle straddle strad strad- I dle die a cayuse would attend There would would be races and as always the Re ned Rea Brood would be there too All An that Is Is but Old Od Hotfoot Hotfoot shut shutout shutout out of ot the tho excitement by constant king motherhood motherhood and and Redstar Redstar the Lightning would run away from alland all an alland anand and sundry as l he had done for two years now and If f the master mas mas- master ma- ma mater ter Would put her up would make a speedy showing and this year for the first time the young matched racers Firebrand and The Flame would have their chance was getting a trifle old and she had overheard overhead some talk between the boss and Tom Briston Bris- Bris ton concerning his withholding Poor wild wild and strong and keen as the wind in spring She him screaming In h his s stockade pounding the earth eath with nu his hil shining hoofs when the rest went off oft to town town for for the first time without I him She frowned in the dusk with a quick sorrow for the old racers racer's passing Redstar now now Redstar Redstar the great king he he would graze placidly In his green greenfield greenfield greenfield field and take no note of ot the Red Broods Brood's arrogance and pride as a they trotted away each ech with a a rider In at at- at He lie le would not so much as raise raso his splendid head blink his soft eyes And yet of them all al he was the king faster than their fastest stronger than their best Dad Val said presently when there came a lull lul in the tinkling music which Belle Bele Hannon hummed an elusive melody melody melody mel mel- ody the better to bring it to her fingertips finger fInger- tips why Dad Dad why have you never run rn Redstar In the races raes Eh The rancher took th the pipe from tram his lips suddenly and sat up in his chair His handsome dark eyes so like Val Vals Val's Vals s sown own In one or two expressions narrowed narrowed narrowed nar nar- rowed in the darkness Why do you ask me mo that that 7 At the tone of his voice any anyone one on the rancho racho save and except these two women would uld have ceased to press the conversation converston I Why I dont don't know his daughter answered calmly except except that keen as a I you are on horseflesh and racing rading ra ng youve |