Show oo O. O 1 8 Q j 0 I CJ The Fighting Ranger B 8 CY for or Newspaper By y Q l Serialization Serialisation by i HORACE F. F J. J McCONNELL EATON and end w. w N. N U. U Struts Service GEORGE W. W Co Picture Corporation r 0 0 I I o- o O O O. O t CHAPTER XII XII Continued Continued 12 12 Mary gave gare Bud his Instructions Stella lingered near the open window leaned out and saw sneaking up up- up Buck ck McLeod She furtively took a prepared note from her waist and cas- cas dropped It out the window Buck Duck below catching 1 It read In a n hasty glance After nightfall when I drop my ivy handkerchief the way will be clear Then unobserved he sneaked back the way he had come and disappeared Ste Stella's Stellas lla's acted sentimental mood continued that e evening after she and Mary had finished dinner 1 a wonderful night It Is Is she II exclaimed coming to Mary l It reminds reminds reminds re re- re- re minds me of so much you much you know ow Mary It was just such a n night as this tills that Bud Dud Bud Mr Hughes Hughes and and I quit the circus The moon wasi was was was- i Mar Mary Marv smiling b lifted a coquettishly Iv reproving finger linger and said Stella Stella I Stella I think youre you're In loewith love lo with your our memories And And If If you I want want want- want you'll you'll fi find d Bud down at nt the ranch gate on watch In watch In the moonlight moonlight moonlight moon moon- light too ton We IVe have to Ic keep a watch on because weve we've had so much trouble i with rustlers Stella affecting a coy embarrassment embarrass- embarrass ment said I UI think I will take a little run out fand and see him I dint I wont won't be long I Mary picked up a book and settled y down to rea read as Stella went out the I door I Stella found Bud Dud at the pate gate ate In wistful meditation Her comIn coming our cur surprised hi him Oh Bud Dud on a night like t this I couldn't resist the temptation to come and land chat over o old oIl times with you rou Stella told him 4 She exercised all her most alluring h i wiles wiles lIes and soon had Buds Bud's heart going b faster than It had had In years ears and his tongue gently gentl rolling roiling over oyer soft words lot of oC sentiment Meanwhile Stellas Stella's e e was furtive e furtively eye J e something lurking In to the isle I brush just outside the gate bate While I Bud oblivious to everything but but Stella p poured out his heart to her she let her J handkerchief drop to the ground There was a crackle of breaking twIgs several forms leaped out of the l darkness and rushed upon Bud ud taken talen completely off oft his guar guard Screaming 4 St Stella lIa fled fied as one of the attackers s i Started to tie Bud up with a coil of i a. rOpe I Now then said Buck McLeod to the men well ell lock the ranch hands In the hunk bunkhouse house and drive ofT off the herd we we dont don't want any If ferd we we re can help It lt Js They rushed oft off toward the cowboys cowboys' cow cow- bo boys boys' s quarters One lingered a mo mo- eat drew a n knife from his pocket nd nd slashed the ropes that bound Bud t was Idaho Bill mil the new member of the he e gang ang but before Bud could c catch Ja AF n- n glimpse of him he had hastened off ofT Mi r the dark to Join his fellows j rustlers crept up on the hunk- hunk f souse rouse where the ranchmen uen were playing playcards play play- ing cards and drew the heavy bar cross oss the door locking It lt It Then they peaked sneaked back swiftly to get their horses horses A Again unnoticed 1 by hy t y the there her Idaho Bill Dill lingered lie Ill withdrew with- with j drew rew the cross bar looked back buck can can- f saw Bud Dud running toward the nod and dl disappeared In the dl- dl w of the ranch house I 1 I Bud Pud flung open the bunkhouse door Hustlers Miquel and the fiher titer men Jumped to their feet hipped out their guns buns rushed out to toT toThie T Thie he I e stable and mounted horses Buck McLeod null and his gang now mounted were were- dashing back The t g from the open bunkhouse A Joor or showed them the they had been Q the attempt to put over the Job Is i l i Then the they saw the he ranchmen me me flying around from the stable stahle on I heir horses j 1 Gotta be after neter nil all mat mat- ered Buck with a n curse tt ti opened fir fire e. e It was returned return ell Yo J. J the oncoming cowboys s 's A running attle was on iB fAt At the time sound of the shots shunts MaryI Mary I X topped ped her book bool and Jumped to her ilet mt et in alarm Uncertain what tt tt I do 0 she clutched a n revolver r In her ts Sand and started shorted for the door Before st at a reached It It It m was e as flung spas open and rough rough looking looking figure his face half t 1 j 1 by a n huge sombrero broke faced her StoP ho who are you Mary nt pained earned pointing the gun Jun at the man Dont Don't shoot lad lady the manA man A removing his hat and bowing th moth mock politeness Permit me to produce m myself self myself Idaho Bill It 4 f stared at her liar Mary was st at certain what to make of ot him and CP to menace him with her gun Ot the sound of shooting con con- pi PIea tac e yourself sir or Ill I'll IllIca ret p let tf shoot threatened c Mary lary Man Bald Idaho Bill 1111 and his H I s 1 voice changed to one that was familiar to her dont you know me Mary Uary lowered her gun stared wide- wide o Qed eyed ed and gasped Terence IThe I IThe IThe The same alias Idaho Bill nIll cattle rustler Terence replied rushing toward toward toward to to- ward her and enfolding her In his arms After a R kiss which more than reassured reassured reas rens- Mary lary completely complete of ot his Identity he said That old Komi Kom sure did a good Job on disguising me when even my own Mar Mary doesn't recognize me lie hastily explained his reported death how Komi had saved him and that he had adopted this disguise and Joined the rustlers the better to final final- L. L ly trap rap mem Jem into me Hanus or of the taw law But I must stay with them as Idaho BUI Bill until I have got more evidence and run down the wolf who has caused luse all your trouble he lie said continuing rapidly Only yourself and Komi know Im I'm alive e Keep the secret She looked at nt him with Implicit love and confidence I knew all the time you had not deceived deceIved deceived de de- me as ns they tried to make me believe she said The firing of the shots outside con con- But nut we must do something to stop them now and save sa the herd said Terence going to open the corral and run the steers off Quick I must go out and do what I can to prevent them He started off oft Mary Mars clutching her gun with one hand and and clinging to his arm with the other cried Im going with you No no no Mary he said stay lucre here She would not be thrown off oft He tried to dart out alone I shall I shall she Insisted following following fol fol- fol lowing him There was no time for argument and Mary Iary was not to be dis dis- dis- dis They slipped out through h the back backof of the house honse and toward to the corral I T nor 1 n 17 11 t f. f It H L UV L UI he said You Yon cant can't hold the fort alone she answered and I can cnn shoot as straight as any man While Buck and the main body hodr of his men kept the tile ranch defenders engaged engaged en en- by hr gunfire up front two of the rustlers had slipped away In the darkness darkness darkness dark dark- ness and back to the corral gates As Mary and Terence came cume up the fenced lane Into which the corral opened the they were suddenly stricken with horror as ns a n sound of many hoofs pawing the ground brot broke e upon their ears and they saw the stampeding herd rushing ou out from the corral toward to to- toward ward them Were too late Terence cried In dismay already opened the gates What can cnn we do screamed Mary ar T Tile They mey were trapped between the two fences of the lane and In a n moment the steers would be upon them They Ther could only run back the lane ahead of tit I. I h h nit nit- et ill ut would er never he lie heable able to outrun the herd They would surely be trampled to death They started running nevertheless ne as there thereas was as no alternative e Suddenly the they tripped Pad pud stumbled They found the they had hud rolled Into a n small ditch crossing Ing the time lane lune Mary started up Terence held her heck back Lie still still flat flat on the bottom he cried This ratty may save su us Its It's our only hope hOIe The Time thundering feet had hunch reached them The steers were leaping the ditch Their hoofs passed sell through th the theair theair air close overhead o dnn dangerously close to Terence and Mary but mild did not nuh hm h themI them I 1 hope thc they're re nil all sure footed critters crit crit- ter laughed Terence Terene tJ trying to inject a o note of humor Into their precarious situation to cheer Mary Marv Such thoughts come comae even en In the face of death If none of them slip well we'll he be safe smite C 0 Out In front the ranch defenders lr ln It f n t 1 u b u II lilt rustlers rusHers Under their thick steady gunfire the rustlers were ere rapidly falling failing backWell backWell back Ic Well Vell have theme them on the run soon sonn said Bud to riding next to him From Front the distance came the sound of the hoofs of the stampeding cattle let loose opened the corral cried Miquel At this moment with the ranch much cowboys cowboys cow cow- boys pressing strongly forward the ranks of Buck McLeod broke arid and the they started fleeing on the tIle run Buck cursing trl tried d vainly to cull call them back hack and continue the battle hattle but hut with several several sev sev- eral of them wounded and their courage courage cour our age breaking down the they heeded tiel leader lender no lon longer er Disgusted he ho turned and fled tied after them then the co cowboys s gl gib gibing gibIng ing chase Come Com said Bud to were not needed her hero here an any more Lets Let's chase back close the corral and und save n as us s runny many of the steers ys s 8 we can enn can The They spurred off toward tic the I he corral I At the gates they found the he two rustlers rustlers rustlers rust rust- lers who were stampeding the milling herd through Into the lane Inne The They open opened cd fire tire Taken by surprise the two rustlers fled precipitately ly without even e returning r the thc fire ire Laboriously Bud and slid the tle corral corrol gate shut against the still sUIl oncoming steers anti and finally ll laid had d the balance of the herd locked In n. n When the n flying hying Ing hoofs of the cattle ceased passing over them Mary and Terence bre breathed thed a sigh of or relief The They waited a n moment to make sure that no more would come then rose to their feet teet Well dear clear looks like Uke your boys got them on the run said Terence got got- away with part of ot the herd but Ill I'll trap them Mary looked at nt him pleadingly Oh dont don't go 10 back to them she ehe said Stay The They'll 11 discover er you If you OU rejoin No Xo Mtr Mary I must must Its Its It's for your sake sale I'm Im learning things about this gang and the real chief behind their operations that are important to to save your father and the ranch He look looked d at nt her I lovingly o Then he hc noticed Bud and coming down clown the lane toward them The Tile bo boys they boys the s they know about me make me-make make believe belle youre you're struggling he said He seized her with mock burliness and she struggled During the struggle he planted a kiss on her Ups lips tenderly laughing tenderly laughing and for a moment moment mo mo- ment she ceased to struggle while she returned It It This wont won't do Mary he laughed under his bre breath th fight me She laughed too and resumed hl r nl wn Tr I V VI bb Bud and Miquel running were comIng conning coming com conn- ing close Im going to throw you to the ground now scale the fence dash for your stable steal one of your horses and beat it It Terence whispered Now Now he be ready so you'll youn fall easily and not hurt yourself He lie hurled his bel beloved ed to the ground and scaled the fence Bud Bull and coming conting up more concerned over o Mary than than the escaping rustler bent over her limp bod body giving Terence ample opportunity to escape Mary pretending pretend pretend- ing unconsciousness continued to lie He still sUH to hold the bo boys s 's from pursuing him When she finally permitted them to revive her and escort her back to the house there was no more sign of 01 the rustler who had attacked her None of the boys returning from the running gun battle with the the fleeing gang had 1181 seen him either One thing puzzles me said Bud as the bo boys s gathered to together ether and discussed the fight and those who had been wounded bathed and their hurts First these guys Jump me and tie the me up and run off oft then one of em cuts the topes ropes and frees me and runs off oft after the rest of em Now what do you make of or that I CHAPTER XIII III Hard Knuckles Buck and his men back at nt their camp far early parly next morning were counting countIng countIng count- count Ing the time cattle they had land stolen and commiserating about the debacle of ot their raid mid If It some traitor hadn't let those ranch birds loose from the bunkhouse wed we'd a had the whole herd growled Puck Buck Wheres that road agent Idaho agent Idaho Bill They counted heads and discovered the new man mun was missing At this moment Topaz Taggart rode Into camp and calling Buck said Stella Montrose Is coming to meet me Leave some of the boys hoys here for another little Job Send the rest of or them over o the border with those cows pronto Buck told him about the disappear disappear- n m. m I v wi v mums V U iu u i U L t eyes CS glared We must find the double-crosser double he snapped before he hie can expose us I have e a n way ny of dealing with ith skunks Back Dack of the time brush hrush at nt the edge of ot the camp lay Iny Terence watching and listening listening lis lis- s- s Intently With him was Komi whom he hind had on his hta way vay Terence Terence Ter Tem ence hastily scribbled a n note and handed it to the Indian Take lal e this to l Mary Marshall then wait for her rot rt jour dour hut but on Sierra Diablo he lie said Ill come later The Ile Indian mounted his horse se and I sped off Terence leaped aped to his saddle lu I and rode Into the camp Look Lol there Leak there he lie Is Is shouted one of the men as ns Terence appeared T Two T vo of the tho men Jumped him only to 0 meet his bare hare knuckles and and h he Knocked cold As Buck came up shouting shouting shout shout- ing Well give p him tam a n ropes rope's end and the other men crowded crowdell round Terence die drew hc a trim gun nn TO BE DE CONTINUED I |