Show VAL VALo o oP-a oP PARADISE M b 13 I To NI S Id I Oj b Tf on pe 1 I I I i Continued from Our last Son ho o would auld outS say Bay these stars of ot ours will wilt shine around the world some day But his happiness was a 8 Mere were matter mo ot of a few pleasant week as us wo we got cot ot farther tarther down to toward ard OUI ou destination fOr destination tor one gorgeous tu tt flight hl as wo we made ready to camp In a It told fold of ot the Uie hills hlll two masked mashed men dropped from a rocky pass and ambushed the tha daring thing bold bol camp It was lS a and cut and took us una unawareS arcs ho were ere alwa alwais II preparo prepared They Thoy wore 1 hi to men no men no and both nero We big II mon men The two tsO and andI i I were to obey the guns guna gun ye we It ero but faced faced but this Kentucky gentleman r this tier fiery tiery old father rather ot or mini mini- ah ah ah ho he maji t as a lighter fighter born And It WaS w his horse that the masked men wanted anted lis 1 is meet So lie he li refused and anil leaped for tor his hisgun hisgun hi gun beside a and roe rock and the tho lender leader shot him hini as ho he ran rani Shot him dead de In his bbs tracks I leaching tor for the I think I went vent mad that minute for forI to I leaped at nt the tho then halt half up upon upon u II on his horse I I nent ent like a 11 eQ Ctt 1 I carried a knife and I 1 tried to t lull him with It but h he heat beat mo me off of with his hia gun bult As I 1 Cell ell my face battered to a 1 i pulp PUll bf b tho the hailing butt buttI I I inked laed with my clutching fang tiB ors and s i-s and tore toro away lIay his hii mask I saw sav his face tace just juat ono one s s Jet second before beCore tho ot of o tailing sIght Bight blotted I I It i out and it was and a handsome race faco middle aged agod and sod and tIle the thelong long dark ees c cs that lighted lIs It eN ere hard as ILS steel and terrible When hn I came caine back to earth no 0 were sere two dead men and two Il Ih In ones tor for one ono of othe the handlers hid Irid been ben killed also The Thi Theother other vas a a bravo chap chili and ho bt ought Tue me round helped to gather up tin the scattered horses and the next day e wi c burled buried our dead at the foot toot of ot the lull hili There at that unmarked eraM grin e eI I made mado my roy oath and started out to keep It For four tour soars ears I 1 hll hae e searched the earth for Cor a 1 big ble gra gray man with long dark eyes that glittered i nith a mad excitement and ond some someday day dllY I 1 shall find him There Thero was but butone bu 1 ono one bit of ot good left lett mo me from that bit bit- bitter bit ter The day day Tho Comet who loved me meI m best bast of o all who touched him would I hae e none of the tho strangers Iha The trainer said enid he wont ent ent road mild m d as a lunatic when hen the they tried to take tako him wild lId sel he charged them thein full broko broke his ropo rope and literally thoe ro roe e them Into the sanctuary of ot the tho pass but but they took hIs hia gentler dou- dou double ble bie the starry starry-e starry ed Meteor Out of the tho chasms and defiles The Comet came next net day dt It my ceaseless call call- calling call Ing ing came rampant and blowing blo and wel e been boon together e ever eer er since ceased rolled Ills hIs wide wido hat aimlessly bet between cen his fingers and set elIt It back hack upon his head Ho to pulled It nell ell do don doiMi n abo above abose e lii his eyes and turned to the tho gIrl Ith hIs old gentle genUo smile I I i I I Come Com e Miss atlas Hannon he ho said let let mo me take you down The Tho tale Is told the the story finished Now you know sometime of ot the Border save savo and except the fashion of my liv- liv liv living ing That can be told In a breath II I I hate oppression n Mexico It Jt thrives I II appallingly I ha haio 0 had to 01 I ceaselessly I 1 ha have e put my hand I against e every er man Po nho aho ho wrongs a helpless one and I 1 have ed cd the price Ive I've made them pay wherever ver I and whenever I 1 could I 1 have rIght and left and lett and gis given ghen en it Jt right and I 1 have havo kept nothing for the tho bread I ate te And ILI I 1 have searched searched searched for tor The Meteor and the tIle man who rides him him- him for tor I mean to have hale them both loth I IHo Ho lIe reached for tor her hr hand with a firm gilp and drew her with him out from the shelter of the tho house council to where tho the hOI stood at the II trail trails B mad had As they paused to mount Val again put her hand on his Ider ider der and faced him gra el I Some da day she sho saId Bald some will ou vou will come conic back to back to me I OU Idal The rho muscles In arms tt itched but ho he held them sternly athia at hia his III sides aides les Tho The knuckles on hi his clutched hands shone pearly white Ith the effort No he lie said I not am-not am not tho the man Hut But Val VIlI Hannon her dark eyes dim Ith vi n ith honest tears leaned forward forward for for- ward and kissed hissed him square upon his abut shut tight lips Some da day she sh said It l lila It strange vou YOU will stIll como come back to back I the church door and door and to me mc I Then the they mounted in silence and andIn andin andIn In nence went vent do doe down n the trail to the lovIs below CHAPTER XVI the Vixens Vixen's Heart When 10 love boe e rejected turns to hate All ill III betide the man Kipling Kipling soul III wa chaos As he followed Val Hannon down the face I of Mesa leM Grande Orande a flood of ot bitter wa- wa wa waters rose and drown drowned d hI his Inner self Regrets remorse sorrow th tiny thay all took hold on him and rung him like a rag I Itt i t cell oen them 1 And Ids hi head hed was whirling like Il a a I I drunkard drunk s with the tha exquisite mem- mem memory memory ory of o that honest Kiss No Ko matter what happened he lie would Always ays have hav th-it th a a priceless possession And then they reached the bottom of ot the trail net Bet deep bet between een hug huge shafts of or rotting stone and camO caine cam taco faco to taco faco with Lob Lolo Sanchez on 00 a apinto pinto pon pony Dusky Du ky as sunset lull lull- blown blon as a flow flower r very bc In a sensuous ta fashion she ehe sat Bat at and looked hooked at or them them or at tho the man rather Val she the did not seem slem to see sec The Th bud of ot her scarlet mouth broke bro over ovo her small blue white teeth In a I that had ravished more hearts than one ono and she held out one slim shim hind hand Master she sho said Bald In Spanish loused from his tense tenso reverie everle pulled himself together and an book the tho hand politelY How do you do Lolo Lola he said Como eta eata V she aho returned still sUII In the Spanish as It 11 by Its ita ue UI she narrowed the Interest to themselves turned to Val VoI Miss Hannon ho lie said do you yol know now the Senorita E No Ko said al aI and smiled Bu But Lob Lolo did not smile Instead the th look she threw throw at the other girl eirl wai nas as asI asI I slow appraising Insolent Tho The Rose Rosf I of ot Sinta nta Liandra had never en the loosening of ot this mans man's arm the th slipping ot or out of Ills hIs hl eon con when hen he glanced up night at Hunnewell's to face tace Jol-ir Jol Hannons Hannon's daughter Therefore hated the tho woman oman What matters she Bhe he Slid I I 1 om m only Lob Lolo 1010 of Leandra too lowly for tor the tho ho Pride Prida of ot Par Paradise to see fee With art she sho dropped bet he wonderful eves ees es and she Ahe 1 vias as on the s second cond tho the loas loly lo as she said the thi thelIs iJ lIs ho said fAld do yon fon know the ho Senorita Sanchez meek the far tar beneath Only Lob Lolo ot of poor Leandra-poor Leandra poor In this worlds world's good goods e a i little sister of the tho more fortunate nate And And wan aA na the tho friend of such duch Val understanding perfectly stiff stiff- stiffened ened in her saddle a n slow flush grew In her cheeks chees The girl looked up and all her flow flow- or Ir faco taco melted In beauty of tenderness tender tender- ness as she smiled at him None Nono but you my tny master she sho aad BOtti softly III 1 I so BO kind to me Worn Wom Women om en hate all me-all me all of ot them therm I hae still sUII the tho gold you ou gave and me-and me and the kiss as aa well nostrils drew in a sharp line Lob Lolo 1010 he said speak English No need said Val al I un- un Un un-dei un stand He lie did not look at her though a cold hand gripped at his vitals Well Wehl Voll he ho said ai Nothing said gald Lob Lolo like a child Verily do things rise riso from the past flast like hike e evil ghosts hosts thought the tho man That cheap and tawdry kiss given in the tho gaiety ot of o It a reckless moment came back to damn him now In the one womans woman's eyes as IlS a worthless trifler What could she Bhe think what hat could she sho feel but a nauseous revulsion even as he himself felt It Ho Ito looked at Lolo Loin and the flue sparkle as hard as ns In his hia hl eyes Tile The little meant to do the trick she had done to step between and turn Val flom him I But Dut to his astonishment Val spoke ell she said Is good to all 1111 He lie has given gold sold to many nd a a kiss Is manual Glen of ot a 11 gentle heart The man drew a long breath held It let it out Lob Lolo flashed IMbed a glance ria-nce at Val Vat then then- then thena a IL venomous spurt Artist recognized artist But But Dut not like minel she cried He gambled for tor andon and won non mol me He Is ts m my master said Val VIlI sharply and an he will wUl know Inow what what what-to to do with n ith his pos pos- possessions possessions sessions Lob Lolo 1010 little one said tell It all What hat all Is there u save ve that you yo from Bride Bride- lIon 1100 vi on me square and mart man Another long breath lifted tries trie's breast Lolo Lobo and her kind were monstrous to him but non now but she Bhe was wasIl wasa waa Il a woman and he had nevor never spoken harshly to a woman oman In his life He H turned and looked hooked at and al Val and his heart rt leaped heaped at the steady faith vv s burned In bet hei eyes I can cnn explaIn explaIn- explain he said Bald but she sh shook her head Why should 3 ou she aha I need no rio explanation Your face ace Is h 1 enough lot toi me My God groaned what have hate ha e I dono done to be tie worthy Father was wae right I should have gone long lone back Ho lie passed a hand band across his eyes and addressed Lob Lolo gently Lolo Loio he said go home and home and as asI asI asI I told you that da day dont don't try these shameless tricks A red flame tiamo mounted to the girls girl's giri very hair burnIng hot furious I A wonderful n understanding undemanding she cried great faith and confidence confidence- between een Miss Val Yal Hannon of ot Paradise the and and Ute nd-Ute Black Very beau beau- beautiful nai ml ml Dlos Dios Dlo An And with a swing swine of her braided quirt on the pintos pinto's flanks she and use vv as gone around the th broken fringes of Mesa Grande Orande The Tho Black Rustler Before Vals Val's eyes the levels shimmering In the Ute at- at afternoon af afternoon sun seemed to rIse rl a and dance grotesquely She Sho put out a hand to steady herself and grasped tho the empty air quivering in bi his hia sad sad- saddle saddie sad saddle dle die did not touch it Continued in iii Our Next Issue |