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Show THE BULLETIN mm NO W. . . By FRANK H. SPEARMAN CRAPfEB XVII Continued O must be rid of their trespassing and their Increasing depredations. No fixed plan was arrived at that night The men chosen were only told to look to their arms, their ammunition, their mounts, and to 1 But only when their lean had proven groundless, when it became evident that not a living iouI wai within eight or hearing, did Bowie and Carmen realize that a fountain hunt up a few knots for torches. of water close to the plaza wai gushBowie understood the value of sus ing with a roar into the air and pense to worry defenders of a post running like a river over the and made no move to leave the rancho until the next day had They looked at the church but passed. It was after midnight when did not recognize it It dawned be called together his men and rode on them that the tower wai gone. quietly away for the river. Carmen had refused to go to her They hurried to the house. Their knocking brought no response. They room until he started. She was unturned to the door of the church; nerved by the situation and the dan it was still barred. With the earth ger, and she stood with him at mid shuddering every few moments un- night in the patio until the last moder their feet, they shouted togeth- ment Tears glistened in the moon er, called the names of the two pad- light as she lifted her face to the res and their own names. Slowly stars in prayer when he rode away. and cautiously the church door was The raiding party made a wide unbarred. Padre Martinez opened detour in their approach to the to them. Every soul men, women squatter quarter. They forded the and children of those at the mis- river well above it and came slowsion were on their knees, sending ly down through the hills on the supplications up to heaven for help. farther end of the settlement Carmen, breaking into tears, joined The moon was high but the chapthem. arral along the river near the Me-leafforded some protection as CHAPTER XVIII the horsemen wound their way through it It was days before Santa Clara In the silence after the next half-Valley recovered from the shock of hour one man, Bowie, emergIts mighty earthquake. Gradually ing from the shadows, stepped to news from the neighboring ranches the ramshackle door of the nearest reached Rancho Guadalupe, and the shack. It was built with a patchexcitement died when it was learned work of boards picked up wherever there had been no human casual found and dragged by lariat, behind a horse, to the camp site; wil ties. The earthquake was past; but low poles chopped from the Melena Bowie's most troublesome problem swamp had been added, together till confronted him the squatters with strips of condemned sails picked up from the water front of He resolved to act at once. "There's nothing to be gained by Monterey. Bowie knocked with the butt of temporizing much may be lost," his pistol on the flimsy door. "Hellol he said to Don Ramon energetical Inside there, boysl Hello!" he demoralized has "The ly. quake called. do but them couldn't help it Any- A second and louder summons way, Tm going after them in the brought tardy and profane remorning." "As you think best, senor. Take sponse. "Get up," said Bowie sharp care of yourself. To lose you would ly. "I want to talk to you." There was some moving and fum be to lose the whole battle for the about inside with more pro bling rancho." Carmen listened to the decision fane questions. "We're friends," said Bowie, anwith uneasiness and anxiety, but a question, "provided you swering there seemed no alternative. She, too, only begged Bowie to be care behave yourself. Open the door. "Open it yourself," came the truc ful. ulent challenge from within. Bowie the about squatamong Scouting sprang ters the day before, Simmle had kicked the door open andmoment learned that some half dozen of to one side. At the same a pistol shot rang from within the them, chastened by the fright of the temblor, had decided to seek shack. "What are you shooting at?" other regions for their abode. But waste these were the milder mannered of asked Bowie casually. "Why are twen the Invaders. The bard cases re- your ammunition? There ty men out here. If you hit one mained. be shot or hanged in ten next the At daybreak morning you'll minutes. We're going to Are your Bowie took Pardaloe, Simmie and shack. If you want quarter, come Pedro with him. Crossing the riv- out now, while you've got a chance." er, he directed his men to ask the A tall, gaunt and dirty specimen for out a come talk. to squatters of the American outlaw frontiersWhen six of them had straggled man of his day slowly emerged from their shacks Bowie, on his from the Interior darkness into the mission. his horse, explained clear moonlight that shone Into the "I've called you together for a doorway. He was rigged in a loose plain talk, boys," explained Bowleg ragged shirt and loose ragged trouaddressing the six squatters and sers. He cursed and growled; their following of twice as many swore he knew nothing of any summen. "You are scraggly-lookin- g mons, had been in Yerba Buena for claiming land here that doesn't be- three days, and ordered the midlong to you. Hold on! Don't all try night trespassers off bis premises. to talk at once. Wait till I get Bowie made no effort to appease through and you can have your say. him. He repeated bluntly, "Get You've squatted here on a rancho belongings out of this shack if without leave from the owner, with- your don't want 'em burned up." you out asking leave. The squatter flew into a cat"You are killing the rancho a planned one, for he tle about as you please. You claim ended it suddenly by pulling a pisit's to feed yourselves; you claim tol, hidden under his trouser band that the owner's got more cattle where his shirt hung loose, and firthan he needs and you haven't got ing it straight Into Bowie's face. any. But you don't say a word It was not quite fast enough, Bowabout his cattle that you've killed ie knocked the barrel aside and laid and sold In Monterey, do you? Not the butt of his own pistol heavily a word about his beef quarters and across the squatter's head as the hides that you've traded for whisky man sprang to clinch him. He there. You don't say a word about slammed the squatter aside Just as raiding the rancho storehouse and a second man sprang like a panther helping yourselves to fiour and grain through the doorway, knife in hand. and wine. That has happened twice. It was a knife with a long blade. "Now, all that's going to stop. I Bowie, taken somewhat by surprise, say nothing more about old scores; confessed next day it looked a yard about your trying to burn the mis- long. He ducked to one side, but sion night before last and your de- the second squatter, a smaller and manding that the Indian women be quicker man, got the knife point into sent out to you. Bowie's left forearm before the lat"But take notice: You're headed, ter could escape it The stab served one and all, to get off Guadalupe only to enrage the Texan, and the Rancho and off the mission lands in wiry squatter ' took a fast beating hours or to stand your from the pistol butt while Pardaloe twenty-fou- r ground with rifles and shotguns. For and Simmie threw and bound the tomorrow morning I'll be here to tall fellow. clean this whole mess up and it'll "This buck is a wildcat" exbe done. That's my say. Now you claimed Bowie, turning his smaller talk." captive over to Pedro. "Look for Deaf Peterson did talk, and he his knife. Pedro. It's here some talked loud and long. "We stand on where on the ground. Felipe, fire our rights as bony fidey settlers and this shack. No matter about the becitizens of the United States of longings. These fellows don't deAmerica," he shouted finally. "You serve any consideration. But first can't scare us 'n' we don't surren- make sure there isn't someone der our homesteads for you nor for drunk and asleep Inside." all the greasers in Californy. Capt'n Felipe, with lighted pitch pine, Blood'll be here., tomorrow, boss. hurried into and out of the empty Talk to him if you want to. N' if cabin. The next minute it was you're looking for a fight you can ablaze. The two squatters were get one right here now where you're dragged away and left bound in the horsin' around." chaparral to work themselves free. "You've had your warning, boys," "Move fast boys," counseled Bowretorted Bowie evenly; and without ie as he galloped with his men down further parley he and hia compan- the river. "The whole nest will be ions rode away. awake after that shot." A quarter of a mile brought them After supper that night there was a council at the quarters of the to the second cabin. It was sounded, Guadalupe vaqueros. Bowie had as- searched, found empty, and burned. sembled Pardaloe, Simmie, Pedro, "Guess some of the boys skedadFelipe and three of the hardiest of dled," suggested Pardaloe. "How's the cowboys for a conference. The your arm, Henry?" "All right" plan of an attack on the squatter "Bleeding?" stronghold was discussed. The sug "Not much." gestion of a daylight assault was "Got It tied pretty well?" abandoned since it was almost cer"Good enough for tonight. Come tain to result in more casualties than would be likely in a night raid. on. "There's another shack," said It was no part of Bowie's plan to shoot any squatters, but the rancho Pardaloe suddenly. "Look out I" po-trer- o. na rage-appar- ently Fraal H. Spearmaa coeafork anj coaveaicacfi of Rim Hotel al piicn at low ai you'd pay eUewbere, A rcaovalioa program completed November let make meat acommodaUoM aa Mutual value. Park your ear ia aew, modera farage al eitremcly low rate. die Enjoy WNU Service world-fame- d "Do you want to murder the fel low?" "Just want to see how many there is up there shooting," said Parda And without hesitaloe amiably. tion he stepped Into the doorway him. No shot greeted himself. "Jus's 1 thought; Jus' two uv 'em here. Look here," be said, shaking the squatter savagely, "who's up in the woods?" "Must be Deaf Peterson 'n' the captain," the squatter mumbled. "Jus's I thought Henry Blood and Peterson," commented Pardaloe. "Get to the horses," exclaimed Bowie. "We'll see how much fight there is in those fellows. Pedro, look after the woman. Burn the shack and ride after us. That timber is thin; not much chance tc hide. Go!" The run, with Pardaloe and the d Simmie at Bowie's heels, was across an open meadow that exposed the riders to rifle fire. This was held back until the three men were fair moonlight targets. But the beads were drawn on men spurring hard and heading straight at the enemy. The squatler rifles blazed. Blood, especially, was accounted a dead shot but the odds that night were against marksmanship from the wood. Pardaloe's horse stumbled. His knees crumpled, and Pardaloe took a cropper. Man and beast rolled violently along the ground. Simmie took a flesh wound under hii right arm. Bowie, riding faster, reached the timber before the squatters could reload. Blood and his companion made no stand. Bowie caught sight of the two dashing through the trees on horseback and gave chase to the one closest Simmie, more enraged than seriously hurt took after the other. It chanced that Peterson was Simmie's quarry; Bowie was chas ing Blood. The squatters rode the fresher horses; they were more familiar with the country. And their pur suers, not able at every moment to keep their eyes on the chase and dodge among the willows and lau rels, found their hands full. Bowie succeeded in chasing his man out of the timber to a stretch of open country. Both horses, de spite the desperate spurring of their riders, were showing the grueling pace, but both held out till day was breaking. In the stillness of the early dawn, Held his man against the borlion. with Bowie straining every effort to solved to take an he wanted for keep his man in sight the chase, himself and had sworn he would de- mile after mile, went on; only the fend himself. flying rhythm of the horses' hoofs Profiting by the absence of re- broke the silence ushering in sistance from Don Ramon during peaceful day. And where nature bis long illness. Blood had built upon offered every possible beauty to his claim a rough attempt at a calm the heart of man, two men stockade. It stood on the brow of thundered In deadly enmity across a rise that overlooked the river for field of poppies that turned the dull miles. The spot had been well cho- brown of the cropped grass for miles sen for defense and would prove, into a glory of golden blooms. The Texan with straining eyes Bowie realized, a troublesome obheld his man against the distant stacle to the cleanup. When they rode up In the moon- horizon.. No thought of relenting, no of mercy, restrained him. light to Blood's place Bowie gave thought orders to his scouts and vaqueros. The insolence and Invasion of "Take no chances here. This man squatter might be forgiven. But the is tough. He will shoot to kill; don't Texan's thoughts were set on the murder of an unoffendlet him beat you to it Scatter now. Work around by the Melena. Don't ing Indian. That murderer must expose yourselves any more than be held and punished, and his pur suer meant he should be. you have to." With a sharp Jerk of the bit Blood He had hardly spoken when the scream of a woman surprised ev- wheeled suddenly to the right, away from the poppies and toward the eryone. A second scream followed; Melena. It was a desperate move then a succession of moans, growing for refuge, but if the murderer could fainter. the swamp far enough ahead Bowie's mind worked fast He gain of his pursuer he could turn on Bow to his nearest the rifle passed ie and pick him off his horse from "Spread out and charge 'em, hiding. A our Inside Is only boys. fight e run to the great It was a chance," he shouted. "Scatter." Mile after mile fled under swamp. Spreading into a fan, they dashed the drumming feet of the straining forward. A second surprise greetYet Blood, even on the ponies. ed them at the stockade burst of fresher could gain but little mount gunfire. A vaquero was knocked on his grim pursuer. Every glance from his saddle; a horse went down. backward from the murderer's sad Bowie and his two Texans galloped dle lessened bis hope of a chance to through the flimsy stockade to find reload for a shot after gaining the themselves facing five fighting men. swamp, for Bowie, alive to the trick. They emptied their pistols, sprang was bent on defeating it from their saddles and rushed the Sooner than seemed possible, the squatters, who, clubbing their rifles, two men, racing on narrowing laid hotly about them. But they planes, thundered into the lush were dealing with men familiar with of the Melena border. Blood, grass every trick of frontier fighting, and glancing back over his shoulder, Tex the knives of the quick-foote- d yelled a defiance and, halting on ans turned the tide. One of 'the the very edge of the morass, squatters went down, out Two of whipped out a pistol and threw a them ran for the cabin, and the re shot at his pursuer. maining two threw up their hands. It was an Impossible shot made Pricking them significantly, the Tex from the saddle on a restive horse at an pushed them as unwilling shields more than fifty yards, yet the slug toward the shack. A gunshot flashed went home, Into Bowie's altearing from the cabin. The squatter hot ready pricked right forearm and tages yelled to the defenders not to shattering It between the elbow and shoot and, leaping to the shack door, wrist Pardaloe crashed it in and Jumped With an impatient curse the aside. wounded Texan, crouching in his There was no further fire from saddle, spurred headlong at his enwithin. The vaqueros came up with emy. But Blood did not wait for the loaded rifles, torches were lighted, attack. Bowie knew that the squatand the men followed their leaders ter must have a second loaded pisinside. tol or he never would have fired so An Indian woman, strapped and wild a shot a shot with which he gagged, lay on the floor. Pedro cut could at best only bave hoped to her bonds. She had been kidnaped hit the horse. But Blood did not from the mission. Two men, she know that Bowie had thrown away told them, had bound and gagged his empty pistols and now carried her when she had tried to escape. only a knife. The squatter wheeled Who were they? Where were they? and plunged into the bog, Bowie Bowie tried to learn. He flung open racing after him. The moonlight the back door. When Blood, hotly pursued by streamed in. A rifle shot rang out Bowie, dashed into the swamp a and tore into the lintel above his feathered scream rose from a myrihead. It was from ''the woods and, ad of birds in their sanctuary, rudely as Pardaloe shoved a screaming invaded. Slinking cats scampered squatter into the doorway, a second madly from under the plunging shot came from the woods. hoofs of the two horses. The Me"Hold on, Ben," protested Bowie, lena woke In panic. (TO BE COSTIM'ED) pulling the squatter victim away. A burst of gunfire flashed from the chaparral next the river. Slugs whistled through the air. Felipe was hit but not badly. "Charge 'em!" shouted Bowie, and he spurred at the thicket They rode down the ambush before the three men within it could reload. Short work was made. Two of the men were stopped and bound. The third, dodging rap idly through the brush, was pur sued by Simmie out of the Jungle, Jerked from his feet by a lariat, and finally trussed up with his compan ions. Their rifles were hunted up in the thicket found and thrown into the river. Shack after shack of that group was challenged and emptied. Each squatter was allowed to save what he had. The ranch horses they had stolen were claimed by Pedro, but Bowie quickly repaired his tactical error in claiming them. "Where can a man get to on foot in this country. Pedro? We want 'em to travel fast and far. Give 'em the horses." At a point where the river, fed by confluents, broadened, and along the slope running up toward the hills, lay some of the choicest field acres Here of the Guadalupe rancho. Blood, as squatter chief, had fixed his own abode. With the airy assurance of a squatter he had re-- as low as $2.25 Rooms long-bearde- ni The HOTEL UTAH Salt Lake Cmr COFFEE BBOFi Breakfast from 1C lanchtea from 41; dinner from I Sc. 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