OCR Text |
Show DESERT GOLD by ZANE GREY Wildfire, Etc. & Brothers. hL I SYNOPSIS.-Fcetfi'- xt.m In the ng desert. "Cameron." holitary pros-po- i tor. forms a partnership with an unknown man whom he Inter learns is Jonas Warren, (alluT of a girl whom Cameron wronged, but later married, bark In Illinois. Cameron's explanation appease toWarren, and tlie two pnn-eea from refuse gether. Taking sandstorm tn a cave. Cameron discovers gold, hut too late, both men are. dying. Cameron leaves evidence. In the cave, of tlic'r discovery of koIJ. ad personal documents. Richard Gale, adventurer, in ("aslta, Mexican border town, meets George Thome, lieutenant In the Ninth old mvulry. college friend. Thome Mis Gal.' he Is there to save Mercedes Castaneda, Spanish Rlrl, his iifti inred wife, from Jli'jHf. Mrxintn lHiidit. Gale "rouphhousea" liJ:is and his gang. with the help 01 two American cowboys, and he, Mercedes and Thorne escape. A Imiflp call from t. the fort orders Thorne to his He leav. s Mercedes under Gale'B protection. The pair, aided by the cowboys. Charlie I. add and Jtm Lash, arrive In safrty ranch known as Forlorn Itiver, TMe fugitive arrow's ttre bordr are at Tom ft Mine's home Beldis tmininitlon Inspector. Living ing with him are h:s wife and stepdaughter. Nell I! ir'.on. Ua'e, with and Lash, take service with KeldiiiK as rangers. Gale telling Heldlng the cause of his being a wanderer, a mlMUnderHlamTing with hln fatlu-tlie son's roneerning business abilities. gets mrl-rrnn- am word to Thorne of h r sa:'ety. Hick also writes to hi ptrents, them of his whereabouts. Nell's personality, and her kinrt- ne?s, nttrait Gale. Hiding the rane. Gale falls in witfi a party of throe Mevican tal'-reneainpel at a water h.aiv Watehinp his to nunt them, he sees opiiortunity two Indians ride Into the camp. One of them, n Ya rn, is evl.1i ntly hn.lly wounded, and the Mexicans peek to kill him in n cru way. Dick drives them off. ennvevtn ounded V'iiiil to Held:ni;'s the ii h. The Indian I ernes I'ek's art. tnt admirer. Gale's admiration for ..-!increases. H iduu-'hordes, the jride of his life, are run off by tiie Mexicans. Gale, v'I'.h l a id. lash and tl.e TimiiI, iiirsiie the raidim p.iity, flna:ly 1 In whites, with cornering them. the recoveie I horses, return to the ran h In triumph Gale s'oures from Mrs Meldim; reluctant per mission and begins his courtship Not setting word with energy. from wiiose period of Thorne, army Rervlce lias expired. Mer-ede- s loses forbidNell, although den, rid.-- to Casita to seek Information of him. I I n' 1( THORME " "Yes. But are you wise In letting taciturn as to his Idea of forthcoming I ABflrsPOINT OF VIEW LOVED TWO GIRLS, any Mexican, even a priest, know Mo- events 1 cedes Is hidden In Forlorn Rlverr sunrise About an' hour after Taqul Aunts will Le kissers. ONLY ONE WAY COT "It couldn't be bidden long." ran in with e Information that l Gale was compelled to acknowledge or the reoeis were crossing we over. In ancles th era is money. -the truth of tbls statement That cant mean a fight yet," de She's a little devil at times, but she TU marry her first, then I'll face clared Belding. "But get In the houae Hero of Chateau AH the world scolds a always hud pood sense." Thierry,: AVho boy. Fetch the padre, Dick. hoys, and make ready anyway. I'll my problem. "Tom, you can gamble she's gone," And- ask our kind friends to be wlt- - meet hlro." Came Back Covered With .'" . , said Ladd. There's no accounting for girla. p esses at the ceremony.' "Beldmjf, you're an officer of the no! Jim, what do you Into "Aw, Medals, Sea, Jumps Much to Gale's surprise, nelther United States- .- Meztcaas are much - Ufa Is on think 7" Implored Belding. whipping after another, I've Beldlng; nor Ladd objected to the idea impressed by show of authority. I reckon Sol's white head Is Los Angeles, CaL There was only pointof bringing a padre Into the house- - seen that often In camp," said Thoni ed level and straight down Casita A watcher's place Is under the joe way out sofs. l hold, and thereby making known to at the "Oh, I know trail. An' Nell can ride. We're losln' U was He love with two young one Mexican the whereabouts of Greasers better than any of yon, don't least time. Castor oil casts its terrors before Mercedes Castaneda. Beldlng's cau - mistake me." replied Beldlng. He was women. One of then) was a It That roused Belding to action. tion was wearing out In wrath at the pae with rage, but kept command girl, a thoroughbred, a wonderfi " "I say you're all wrong," he yelled, A haunted house ta a thrill forever. tared, Intelligent woman, one 4s pa-persistent unsettled condition of the over himself. starting for the corrals. "She's only I have' aim tn rents would to ilka Ladd and the cooler The with border, and grew only YaquI rangers, taking a little ride, same as she's done The other was hut a child. sfctSNSi Luxury, thy name la going barefoot and more silent a possibilities of Thorne, stationed themselves at the often. But rustle now. Kind out. I trouble multiplied. room. rears old, daughter of his fiBihar's the several windows of girting Iick, you ride cross the valley. Jim, Blots will happen tat the best of let Gale fetched the padre, a tittle. Rifles and smaller arms and boxes of pirdeber, you hunt up and down the river. I'll ters. I V. Campbell-Bennet- t, Ernest" old man was who and timid shells and window Uttered the tables, weazened, head up San Felipe way. And you, with the E!gheajk without Interest or penetration. No small force of besiegers saw service Ap- - seats. take Diablo and hit the Casita To the tree' climber belong the apUnited States field artillery at Oftta Mercedes rent he married and could a overcome such as pa resistance ly Hull. If she really has gone after .. ples. ; mum Beldlng and his men were capable of beads or he told as bis Thorne Thortie you can catch her In an hour a was bled Mrs. It prayer. Belding making. or so." Theree bo place Ilka the gang's who kept the occasion frqm being a The horsemen halted at the corrals. " "Shore I'll go," replied Ladd. "But " cave. ;" on insisted and she not one, were merry and showed no evi They orderly Behlin', If you're not plumb crazy Thorne. marked her Gale dence of hostility. They were, howexciting close to It. you're That big white Roof climbing offers a multitude of unusual pallor and the singular depth ever, fully armed. Beldlng stalked devil can't catch Sol. Not In an hour thrills. , . and sweetness of her voice. out to meet them. a leader Apparently or a day or a week I" Thorne could not be kept In bed. wanted to parley with him, but Bel mean to Is "I.addy, you say Sol It's a long month that has the circus and all In a day. it seemed, he grew ding would bear nothing. He shook faster horse than Diablo?" thundered at the end. so well and so hungry that his friends tils bead, waved bis arms, stamped to Beldlng, his face purple. were delighted, and Mercedes was and fro, and his loud, angry voice "Shore I mean to tell you Just that Easy lies the bead that rests in In a few days his weakness radiant. could be heard clear back at the house. there." replied the ranger. "I'll ride mothers arms. was and he the disappeared detachment of the going rebels Whereupon your Blanco Devil as he never was rid round of the fields and looking over retired to the bank of the river, be before, 'eept once when a (1 n sight Perpetual penny saving is the price the ground marked out In Gale's plan yond the white post that marked the better hossmitn than I am couldn't of s pitcher's mitt of water Thorne was development. there and once boundary line, they make him outrun Sol." highly enthusiastic, and at once staked more drew rein. Beldlng remained by Without more words the men sat! Whom mother would make mad she out his one claim for hundred and the corrals watching them, evidently died and were o!T. The Interminable makes tend the baby. acres of land In that still of sixty mood. adjoining threatening Presently timetJmt Mlowi?jcQttta.Lnedox..yiLije. Biilln& juiiLtbfi, ranges These five ajSlngle rider left the troop and trot about as much suspense ns he could In took tracts all the ted his horse back down the road. ajLjouErej-...ground necessary well hour. What astonished him anil marks In company are your folks. for their operations, but In case of When he reached the corral he was helped him grently lo tight off actual the success of the Irrigation projectj seen to halt and pass something to distress was the endurance of Nell's It's always fierce weather when a the Idea was to increase their squatter Beldlng. Then he. galloped away to mother. fellow end a dentist get together. of more his holding land comrades. by Join purchase on the Early morning of the second down the valley. A hnndred families Beldlng looked at whatever It was day, Uale saw throe white horses and "lis better to have seen a baseball had lately moved to Forlorn River; he held In his hand, shook his burly a luiiy come wearily down tlx stepping more were coming all the time; and head, and started swiftly for the game through a knot hole than never road. I!e heard Blanco Sol's familiar to have seen It at all. Belding vowed he could see a vision house. He came striding into the whisile, and he leaped up wild with of the whole room Altar with a of soiled valley green holding piece paper. dale's joy. l be horse was riderless, Of all sad words of tongue or pen, farms. "Can t rend it now and don't know sudden Joy received a violent check, the saddest are these: "I gotta stay Meanwhile everybody In Belding's as I want to," he said, savagely. then rosurged when he s;iw a limp home today, fellows." JSdmund Not one of the men was able to household, except the qutet Ladd and J. form- In .Tim Lash's arms. I.add was Klefer In the New York Sun. the watchful Yaqui, In the absence of translate the garbled scrawl. a horseman who a wore supporting disturbance of any kind nlong the bor Shore Mercedes can read It," said The Waves Rolled His Body on the military uniform. He Was Very Weak, Yet He Would der, grew freer and more unrestrained. Ladd. dale shouted with Joy and ran into BRIEF BITS OF FACT Sands. Mercedes' Hand and Gaze at as If Keep was in Thorne a the door anxiety slowly fading and called opened the house to tell the good news. It Her With Unbelieving Eyes. the. of pence present. Jim Lash made her. She came Into the room followed Tnterry and who came back to CaliMrs. Holding ;s the Kating earth Is common among unfornia covered with medals, found It civilized who prevented him from rushing to was growing excited hurried In his a trip to the Sonoyta oasis, and Ladd by Nell and Mrs. Beldlng. people. miles line we of the patrolled want fifty east 'My dear, to you read Impossible to make a choice. tell Mercedes. larrntive. ward without Incident or sight of raid on what's written this He was said paper." son of E. I.ash handed down a ragged, trnvelthe 611 out J. then Nell swore she'd "Bight Bennett, For untold centuries the ers, hvldentiy all the border hawks Thome, as he led her to the table, One Hundred and Twenty-firs- t stained, wnti girl into Holding's arms. go after Thorne. If them cavalrymen street, feather has been a mark of pencock rank In were in at the of Casita. Mercedes picking "1 bid Mamma I" gave the writing one swift Los Angeles, secretary and treasurer China. otihln t ride with a western girl to The February nights were cold. with glance, then of the Woodward Bennett fainted In Thorne'i ave a brother American let them It uas indeed a repentant Nell, but Packing there was spirit yet In the tire blue inng hack ! One feller, under orders, a dry, Icy. penetrating coldness that arms. He carried her to a couch, and company. The honey obtained on the banks of a made warm fire most Nell comfortable. with Mrs. and He thought he loved both maidens. ried to stop Blanco So, An' that eyes. Then she caught sight of dale Beldlng began to the Euphrates is of un Intoxicating nahousehold Belding's in work over her. congregated And he could not choose. There waa and gave lilm u faint smile. feller Invited himself to the hospital. ture. at nis rangers. only one way out. and that was out to "Hello Dick." Then the cavalrymen went flyfn' for the sitting room, where burning mes- weiuing looked crackled in the tirequite logs it's open all "Laddy, "Nell!" dale reached for her hand, heir bosses. It didn't take long f,r right. How sea. Rojas The water of Lake Geneva rises many men hns he out there?' A few weeks ago some of his cloth held It tightly, and found speech very man in that camp to get wind place. and falls irregularly, much like the a came There low knock at the door. Mehbe twenty. Not more." of what was comin' off. Shore they Ing was found on the pier at Redondo ne can not twice that many beach. With them was a letter, 13 ocean tide. "You needn't worry about your old rnu.sta been wild. Thev strung out It may have been an ordinary knock. for It did not disturb the women ; but Greasers. fter Nell In a thunderin' troop. horse," she said, as Belding carried pages. Only one paragraph was mads Mt.' Everett Is only about 29,000 feet to Beldlng and his rangers It had a "Shore." her tow ard the door. and his men vamoosed Dick with "Itojas public. "Oh, blgh, but the sea off Ladrone Islands subtle meaning. Jim Lash removed his Blanco Sol Is glorious !" out a Rhot. "I have gone west. I think God Is 31.620 That ain't surprlsin'. pipe long feet deep. 'Who's that?" asked Beldlng, as he enough tojspeak. "Let's stave the will dale turned to greet his friend. In- There wasn't a shot fired by anybody. I have long Intended understand. back chair his off slowly pushed and dreaser till dark. Then Laddy an' tome day to swim until I was exhaust deed, It was hut a haggard ghost of The cavalrymen soon found Thorne In Europe there are estimated to be me an' Thorne will take Mercedes an' ed and could swim no tiie cavalryman. Thorne looked 111 an' hurried with him back on Uncle looked at Ladd. more." 25,000,000 more women than men, the hit the trail for Yuma." "YaquI," replied the ranger. or wounded, dale's greeting was also Sam's land. Thorne was half naked, Yesterday the waves rolled his body "Come In," called Belding. 'Camino del Diablo! a question full of fear. That awful oa the sands at Redondo beach and his latter totaling 225,000.000. DiacK an wue all over, thin as a rail. The door opened, and the short, trail with a woman ! Jim, do you for Thome's answer was a faint smile. He was given food an' drink. Shore father Identified It Pure gold Is known as 24 carats fine. He seemed ready to drop from the he seemed a starved man. But he square, powerfully built Indian en- - get how many hundreds of men have The society girl de- - led her engage are expressed in fractional Alloys He tered. a carried rifle on and Devil's the strode perished saddle. Gale helped Ladd hold Thorne picked tip wonderful, an' by the time roadT'Jjf ment parts of 24. Sixteen carats fine Is six"I reckon I ain't forgettln' nothing as wantln' to with Impressive dignity. upon the horse until they reached the Jim came along he And the s or pure Yaqui what do you wantr asked replied Jim. The waterholes are full her knees gardener's daughter fell oa teen twenty-fourthtart for Forlorn ftlver. So was Nell house. Beldlng came out again. His and wept and said over and gold. and his Beldlng; In repeated welcome was checked ns he saw the By main strength question much as per over again, "He waa so good to me.' condition of the. cavalryman. Thorne suasion we kepiLthe.two men quiet Spanish. alcohol . Wood eddied as whisky "Retior Dick," replied the Indian. reeled Into Dick's arms. But he was till next evenln at dark. 130 deaths 'and 22 cases of caused Gale HAS .an WRONG Jumped up. MAN excla we stifling able to stand und wulk. ARRESTED as made well, sneaky a start blindness In 21 states during the first mation, and he went outdoors with In the dark as Jim an' me could mnn "I'm not hurt. Only weak six months of 1922. starved.'- he said. "Is Mercedes-Ta- ke age. an' never hit the trail till we Yaqui. The Indian's presence was al Woman Ha Waa Brooklyn "Thought me lo her." was miles from town. Thome's nerve ways one of gloom, and now his stern DoubtMy Missing Husband" action boded Twilight occurs only tn those counOnce clear "She'll he well the minute she sees held him up for a while. Then all at catastrophe. ful In Court tries that are situated at some disof he trees to the level desert pointed him," averred Belding, as he and dale once he tumbled out of his saddle. led the cavalryman to Mercedes' We got him hack, an' Lssh held him across the river, where a row of camp New York. Sirs. May - Harrison, tance from the equator. In countries near the equator darkness falls quite room. There tl.e.v left him; and dale, on. Nell didn't give out till daybreak." fires shone bright out of the darkBrooklyn, was certnln James F. Pearce suddenly aa soon as the sun dips As I.add paused In his story Balding ness. at Jeast. felt his ears ringing with the was her missing husband, Joseph Harthe horizon. "Haiders!" ejaculated Gale. began to stutier. nnd finally he ex girl's broken cry of Joy. rison, when she saw him playing cards Then he cautioned Yaqui to keep When Bidding and dale hurried pioded. His mlgjity utterances were a few days ago. She was not so sure forth again the rangers were tending incoherent. But plainly the wrath he sharp lookout, and. hurriedly return WOMEN IN THE LONG AGO In the Brooklyn family court, when the tired horses. I'pon returning to had fell toward the willful girl was ing to the house, he called the men her charge of desertiou was beard be- tie house Jim l.ish calmly lit his forgotten, dale remained gripped by out and fold them there were rebels or Lfore Magistrate Dooley. Women played the guitar in 1288. raiders camping just across the I'ne pipe, and l.aild declared that, hungry s'lenee. She was asked flatly by Assistant l.ndd did a not word. say as he wj's. he had to toil his story. "I.addy. what knocks me is Rolas Women played polo 400 years ago. Corporation Counsel Flanagan: "Shore. Behlin'," began I.add. "that holding Thorne prisoner, trying to with an onth. slammed down his "Is this man your husband?" was funny about Diablo out bin' make him tell where Mercedes had cigar. "I'm almost sure." hesitating. Women used scissors 400 years B. C. "I knew It was too good to hist. Blanco Sol. Funny ain't the word. I been hidden " said Belding. "But, Is he your husband?" . , , , T , I .... ... "Shore. It'd knock anybody." kick, .ion ami .mm stay nere while nearly laughed myself to death. Well "I can't swear to him out and out" Women wore silk In Solomon's time. I rode In Sol's tracks all "The bandit's over her. That's Laddy and I look around." the wuv To Then why did you have him ar , to Dick sitting-roomreturned the the Casita. Never seen a irebef or a "Spanish of It." replied Beldlng, rested?" Women used safety pins 3,000 years ne women were nervous and not raider till I got to town. I wont his voice rolling. "Bojns loves Mer"Well, I thought then that he waa ago. be So to deceived. Pick ns he hales cedes to the said her. He of wants the cavalryrump merely this straight Joe Harrison." men, an" found them Just coolln' off girl only to have her. then kill her. Yaqui bad sighted lights off in the "The case is dismissed," said the Women played tennis in the days of and an' dressln' down their hosses after It's d n strange, bovs, nnd even with desert, were they probably Pearce alghed aad hurried Rome. magistrate. Thorne here our troubles have Just campfires. Beldlng did not soon rewhat looked tn me like a big ride. from the courtroom. turn, and when he did .he., was ajone, "Some soldier took mo to an officer's begun." Women wore shoes 2,300 years be and. he wanted to consult with tent. Nell was ther, some' white an' "Tom, you spoke correct," said Jim saying fore Christ. FOR STEALS DOGS the men. he sent Mrs. Belding and the HIS BABES all In. .add. in bis cool drawl., She Just said. 'I.addy!' When Ht Reached the Corrals He Waa "Shore I'm not sayln' what I think," girls to tlielr rooms. Thorne was there, too, an' he was Women sewed as far Seen to Halt and Past Something added I.add. But the look of him was belli' worked over by the camp docYeung Man Releases Most of Dogs In back at 1546. "lddy's gone over to scout around to I tor. didn't ask no questions, be- not Indicative of a tranquil optimism. and try to find out who the outfit beBelding. Kansas City Pound and Grabs cause I seen quiet was needed round Thorne was put to led in Gale's longs to and how many are In It." said Two for Hie Kids. Women of tha ancients used mint to now. There's grass, an' we can do the He was very weak, yet he Beldlng. "I don't look for an attack that tent. After satisfying myself room. scent in Job their baths. six days." thut Nell was all right, an' Thorne would keep Mercedes' hand and on Forlorn River. Kansas City, Mo. Most of the dogs I'm afraid 'It's three hundred mile to Yuma." id the In no danger, I went out. at her with' unbelieving eyes. Then, were Beldlng hesitated and looked with a freed city pound by Women nsed the chafing dish many, 'Beldln'. Jim's Idea hits me ss "Shore there was so darn many fel- lighting sleep with what little strength grim concern at the cavalryman. young man who appeared la a taxlcab centuries ago. many reasonable." pretty Ladd. Interposed lers who wanted lo an' tried to tell he had left, at last he succumbed. "Whatr queried Thorne. front of the city pound, climbed over 'Lord knows that's about the only la me what'd come off, I thought I'd For all Dick could ascertain bis "I'm afraid It's Rojas." main gate Into the stockade and the chance we've got except flghtln'." Women ate lemon and peppermint never find out. But I got the story friend never stirred an eyelash nor a Thorne turned pale but did unwired the gate. The young man A "But la the Eighteenth century. we drops do stave suppose off. An" nerve. twenty-seveRojas for his piece by piece. here's what hap- finger hours. When lamped Into the taxlcab, taking with and you get safely away with Mer he awoke he was pale, weaV but the "I thought of that at once. pened : him a couple of dogs that caught bis But cedes. Isn't Rojaa going to find It "Nell rode Blunco Sol Into old Thorne. CURIOUS CREATURES and departed. Ha said be Rojas will never get bis hands on ray out quick? Then what'll he try to do fancy, camp, an' had a crowd round her In "Hello, Dick; 1 didn't dream It. wife. If I can't kill him. I'll kill her! wanted doga for bis two babies. to us who're left heref' a Jiffy. She told who she was. where then." he said. "There A frog can lira for days without Belding, this Is tough oa yon you are, ana reckon he'd find out by daylight.'' she'd come from, an' what she wanted. my darling with the this risk we put upon your family. its lungs. proud, dark using Well, It seemed a day or so before eyes she's here? Mercedes is well-s- afe! I replied Jim. "But. Tom. he ain't regret" Nell got there the Woman Bandit to Routs a start You see. scrap then. Oh! . . . But 'say. I haven't "Cut that kind of talk." replied Bel cavalrymen had The warlike Amason ants have I'm flggerln" on the eraxy Greaser heard word of Thorne. You Ree, a dollar to my name. I had a lot of dlng. bluntly. With Trusty Hatpin slaves to wait on them, which they "Well, If It Is Rojua wantln' the girl. But he's too smart Thorne had left camp on leave of ab- money. Dick, and those robbers stole he's acting d n queer for a raider. capture la raids on brown ant col sence some time before. In a few more It, my watch D n that That's what worries me. We can't do to flghl you for nothln. Rojas may onies. San Francisco. As a weapon everything. be nutty about women, hut he's afraid days It turned out pretty sure that for little black Greaser!" anything but wait. With Uddv and of defense Mrs. Horace 0. Little some reason ltojas was holdln' Thorne. "Cheer np. Beldlng will make you Yaqui out there we wont he sur of the U. 8. Take mv word for it spiders have little ll recommending to her friends he'd discover the trail In the mnrnln' 'Now. It happened when Ibis news a proposition The future prised." If any eyesight but they can readily presently. at same time useful the tin end came Colonel W le was In Nognlos smiles, old friend. If this rebel busiThe women of the house might hnve an' light out on It. I reckon with ten, recognise - their -- mates through an deadly hatpin. Returning to tier hours' start we could travel comfort- with his staff, an' the oflieer left in ness as only ended!'' some acute sense of smell. gotten sleep thrt night, but If nhle." home, she was stopped by a foot-pacharge didn't know how to proceed. "Dick, you're going to he my savior was certain the men not get any. demanded her mowy who Ito.jtis' camp was tutthe line in twice over. . The larger robber crab, found In Well, now, listen Morning broke cold sn.1 tray, the liMh Four Jabs vlth her hulpiu disMexico, nn' rklln' over ,.,ere was serito me." His gay excitement changed of February. of the Pacific Islands, starts certain I.ndu .nine In humrrv " 'Dearest, I'm oolng-ao- on. couraged bLn and he took to his ous business. It meant a whole lot to earnest life In the water like other crabs, but gravity. "I want to marry and cold, and said Mexicans were heels. the lucid And She cut I'll reported maybe moreHlmn Just aratterin' one Greaser Mercedes at once la never' there a padre not breaking camp. He reported a later, takea to climbing coco palm to the. police. camp. Thome's feller aoldiers waj herer . gntd-slzeand picking the coconuts for food. force of rebels, and waa cro as coxtuubu) Author of Riders of the Purple Sage, Copyright by Harper anxloa to get him out of a bad Ox. but they bad to wait for orders. rphea NelL jpund out Thome was beln' starved an' beat in a dobe shack no more'n two mile across the line; she shore stirred ap that cavalry camp. Shore ! She told them soldiers Rojas was holdia' Tharne--torturlhim to make him tell where Mercedes was. An' she begged the cavalrymen to rescue Thorne. "From the way It was told to me I reckon them cavalrymen went up In the air. Fine fiery lot of youne vrn, i lajuuiil, nioiu iur n viral). tsut me onicer in charge, beln' In a ticklish place, still held out for higher orders. You-a"Then Nell broke loose. know Nell's tongue Is sometimes like a choya thorn. I'd have give some-thito see her work up that .soldier outfit Cnn't you fellers see her on Blanco Sol with her eyes turnln black?" Ladd mopped his sweaty face with his dusty scarf. He was beaming. He . ' - whlte-livere- ,k,.i.. I rlety ll n' . . - ! -- ! dilti-ctil- ! CHAPTER X. Continued. 10 "Blanco Sol gone!" yelled Beldlng, In a rage. "Haiders!" exclaimed Jim Lash. "Lord only knows. Yaqui says It wasn't raiders. "Send Ynqul to find the boss' trail, an' let's tigger," said I.add. "Shore this 's no raider job." In the svlft search that ensued Gale dlil nut have anything to say; but his mind wns forming a conclusion. When he found his old saddle and hrldle missing from the peg In the hnm his two-third- - he-lo- 1 with-needl- ae "Blanco Sol Gonel" Yelled in a Rage. Beldlng, conclusion became a positive conviction, and it muile him, for the moment, mid and sick anil . , "Hey. Ilck. don't taiie it fo much to lienrt." said Heldlng. "We'll likely find Sol. Mild If we don't, there's other Rood horses." Tin thinking of Sol," replied f'.ale. cast n sharp glance at dale, his lingers, nnd said: snapiK-t-l "I) n me If I ain't guessed ll too!" "What's wrong with you locoed f.ents?" bluntly demanded Heldlng, "Nell hit started for CnsilH." burst out Uale. "She hns gone lo fetch Mercedes some word about Thome Oh. Heldlng, you needn't shake, your head. I know she's gono. She tried to persuade me to go. und was furim,. . spew-bless- nl , wum St i wouuiii t. don't. believe It." rer ::,,! Beldlng. rNell may have uer lomt.m- - ooarsfcty. It's" not-los- n i g d . r |