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Show THIRD EPISODE American Blood. j The outlaws were thrown .Into wild disorder as a result of Pedro's ferocious feroci-ous attacks. A portion of the hut had been blown up, thus forcing him and his followers to retreat behind a rock. Lopez, raging like a furious crater, uLiuLupieu iw beuu ins iueu uiiur me old slave. But they hesitated. At the foot of the cliff stood the) saviour of Liberty still Introducing' bis new method of warfare. Everyj time one of tho Mexicans attempted; to close In on him he reached for; another stick of dynamite. He was a terror to behold. In the meantime, the Major and tha rangers stood listening to the loud explosions which rumbled through. the canyon and echoed far down, tho tralL They were drilling the rock which had been thrown across the road by Lopez and his men. As they worked the earth at their feet trembled. "Egads!" exclaimed the Major. "They're blowing up the canyon." "You-all ain't seen that feller Pedro round here lately, have yer?" asked one of the rangers' of the Major. "No, by Gad," replied the rusty old Qghter as ho swung quickly around. "Where Is that dirty old rascal? I'll bet he's sneaked back to the hacienda." "Looks ter me as though he's taken Borne lunch with him, too," remarked Stove Dudley, one of the bravest men that ever patrolled tho border. "There's about a dozen of them sticks of dynamite dyna-mite mlssln'." "Unless I'm pretty badly mistaken," Interrupted Bill Larabee, as he slouched slouch-ed over to where the Major stood, "he's makln all that thunder down there In the canyon." With that the Major and a few of the rangers approached the edge of tho cllft? and looked down, as their eyes searched tho depths of the canyon. can-yon. "By God. there he Is !" shouted Bill as he pointed to the figure of Pedro far beneath them. At that moment he was standing, poised on a big rock. As they watched him he thrust one hand Into the bosom of his shirt and brought forth a long, narrow object and hurled It with all his strength straight at a group of dark figures that hastened to get under tho cover of a huge rock. An Instant later another terrible rumbling noise re. Founded through the canyon, and, again the ground beneath them trembled, as a cloud of smoke rose upwards. "He's fightln' them with dynamite!" exclaimed tho Major as ho gazed far below. "That's Lopez and his band!" cried Bill. With that the Major and the boys returned to their work and resumed drilling tho rock which was almost ready for the dynamite. It was now daybreak. MA nlghl long Rutledge and his men had been drilling, while tho Major, tired from his strenuous ride, had thrown hlm self down on one of tho blankets and snatched some sleep. However, just beforo dawn he had insisted on relieving re-lieving tho Captain. But, while Rutledee soucht to aulet tho Major, and rolled himself up In his blanket, he made certain that one of his eyes was continually open. For, he recalled ho had an engagement at daybreak to kill a greaser, and he was particularly anxious to keep the appointment. As Rutledge faced the sky thinking of these things his opponent was in his tent, a few feet away examining Ills sheath-knife, His eyes gleamed with hate for the ranger. Just as the sun shoved Its nose above the eastern horizon, Manuel stepped from his tent. As he did so, Rutledge, who had already seen him, reached for his knife, and, after stretching his legs walked straight over to the spot whero the Mexican stood. "Now then, you llver-colorcd puerco," he said as his eyes flashed fire, "take a good look at that sunrise, sun-rise, for It'll bo tho last one youH see around these parts for some time." With a curse, Manuel grabbed his knife from his belt and made a lunge at Rutlcdge. But, tho ranger was on his guard. His powerful strength succeeded suc-ceeded In keeping the Mexican's knife a good distance from his breast, although al-though tho wiry devil made thrust after thrust Finally Rutledge with ono strong blow sent the knife of his opponent op-ponent flying to tho dust, at the same tlmo almost taking tho Mexican off his feet. Manuel was now at the mercy of the Captain. The latter walked over to where his adversary stood cringing and trembling with fear, and was about to run his knife Into him, when n spirit of fair play took possession of him. He threw his knife away and went after hlra with his fists. During the encounter Hutledge stumbled over a stone and went tumbling tum-bling to the ground. The Mexican, with a fiendish grin, fell on top of hlra and grabbed him by the throat With n quick Jerk, Rutledge. managed to throw him off, and, locked together, they both went rolling to the edge 'of the cliff. For a moment it looked as if both would go tumbling Into the canyon below, but Manuel finally managed to free himself and endeavored endeav-ored to force Rutledge over the edge. But, the Captain grabbed Manuel and hung suspended In mid-air as he endeavored en-deavored to fight his way to the top again. At this moment Liberty, who' with Pedro, had made her way to the camp of the rangers, after eluding Lopez and his men, saw the two men fighting, fight-ing, and, with a shriek of terror rushed toward them, closely followed by the old slave. .As she reached the spot, Kutledgo regained his foothold. Manuel, however how-ever was exhausted. The Captnln, realizing this, fought on until he had the Mexican at his mercy, and then, picking him up he lifted hlra high a"bove his head and was about to throw him over the cliff Into space when a shrill cry attracted his at tentlon. "Bob! Bob!" She ran up to him and grabbing his arm pleaded for the fellow's life. "He belongs down there with the rest of those yellow dogs," said Rut-ledge, Rut-ledge, meaning Lopez and his band. "But, you don't want his blood on your hands, Bob," she begged. "If he Is what you say, he Isn't worth it" "Well, he can thank you for saving his life," remarked the captain as ho flung the fellow to the ground. Just then a terrific explosion occurred, oc-curred, and the little party turned just In time to see the rock which had blocked the trail, go flying upwards up-wards Into thousands of pieces. "Where Is Lopez and his gang?" saked Rutlcdge as he turned again to Liberty who was greeting the Major. "Lopez and Alvlra have organized a big band of lnsurrectos and they are Upon reaching tho end of the" trail) they were greeted by the report of H o rifle and one of the rangers went H tumbling out of the saddle. Instantly H tho Major gave the command to fire H In tho direction of the bushes. Il Then the fighting began in earnest While the bullets were raining all H about them Liberty, who had taken jJ up her position besldo Rutlcdge and H aided him In emptying his cartridge jH belt, ran over to the Major. IH "I am no good here," she said. "Let me ride to Nostinos." H The Major pondered a moment) H Then, he suddenly turned and facing jH her replied: IH "My dear, It Is too dangerous a ride H for you to take alone." J "You have nothing to fenr, Major," she urged. Then, as she meditated nn IH Instant "Til tell you I'll tako Pedro IH with me." IH This proviso won over the Major H and he ordered Pedro to ride with Liberty to Nostinos. "And, mind you," he said seriously, as he eyed the slave, "I shall hold lfl you to account if anything happens jf to jH Hiding behind d rock, not far dls- tant, Lopez with one of his men, H was closely watching every move of H the trio. As ho saw Liberty and Pe- dro start towards their horses ho H turned to his man; "Don't let her ge jH away," he said: "Tak two others H with you." jl A -little later as Liberty and Pedro started down tho rond, three Mex- leans mounted their horses and fol- lf lowed some distance behind. While this was going on Rutledge was safely lodged behind a huge rock as he kept up a constant .fire at the' sombreros as they popped up above H others. Once, as he was reloading IJ his gun, Manuel, vho had not yet re- jf covered from the severe battlo with the ranger, levelled his own rifle straight at his rival and fired. The Tho .Major, who had been-watching J the Mexican, ran up just as Manuel lf was starting to fire a second time, jH and, swinging from the hip knocked him cold. Ho snatched up his gun, IH and, as Manuel staggered to his feet he blurted out: "I'm. watching you, you coffee-colored skunk. And if you IH try that trick again Til have those rangers shoot you." Liberty and Pedro were now some ' distance from the rangers and riding their horses hard towards Nostinos. Soon after they left the camp Pedro had discovered they were being pur" sued. He pointed out the figures of the approaching Mexicans to Liberty, who was able to distinguish their out lines against the skyline. ,H A3 she rode on her thoughts were; busy. Those Mexicans must be checked somehow. Finally, as she "Ws Will Start for That Place," Said the Major. jl going to march into Discovery tonight to-night and kill every man, woman and child !" she cried excitedly. "My God I" exclaimed the Major. "And, there's only a handful of citizens citi-zens to resist them." "Isn't there something we can do. to help them?" pleaded Liberty. "They're probably well on their way by this time," said Rutledge. "Nostinos Is fifteen miles from here," said Liberty. "There is a Cabrero camp there. They are In telegraphic communication with Discovery Dis-covery and if we ride hard wo may be able to w.arn Colonel Dalton to be prepared." "We will start for that place," said the Major. But, he did not see ono of Lopez's men, who had been hiding In the bushes, listening to every word, nnd crept quietly away to Inform his leader of the Intended warning. As tho band, with Lopez riding at their head, left the trail, and turned Int,o the main road the messenger overtook over-took them. Leaping from his horse he rushed up to the lender. "Rutledgo and his men are going to Nostinos to inform Colonel Dalton of our plans," he said. "Ah, ha," grinned tho Mexican, "Well, we show them." And ho Immediately Im-mediately ordered his men to dl&i mount and they made for the bushes, pulling their horses behind them, to He in wait for tho little company of roncers, which at that moment waa Just starting down tho trail. The Major headed the little column and was followed by his men. Then came Rutledge riding beside Liberty, with Podro riding bareback. turned a bend In the road and they disappeared from view, she conceived an idea. On either side of the road were some big trees. Dismounting she took the lariat from her saddlo and jH made one end fast around the trunk H of a tree. Then she stretched it jH across the road, and drawing it taut tied it to the branch of another. Leaving Pedro with a gun she then' ttl remounted and rode on. jH A few minutes later the Mexicans H rounded the curve, one man slightly H behind the rest The first two, al- though they saw the rope, were unabla ,; mM to pull up their horses, and, strlk- . Jng tho rope, they were thrown from j their steeds and went tumbling to jil tho ground. The third saw It, ducked Kl his head and rode on. As the other ll two started to climb back into their Pl saddles Pedro opened fire on them. Hl One dropped. Tho second was just I'MI about to raise his gun when Pedro' f il fired again and he fell to the ground f jl dying. Then Pedro Jumped on his KBI horse and started after Liberty. il Finally the camp of Cabrero came fH into view on the side of Nostinos HJ1L. IH Just as they reached the camp Pe fjl dro saw the Mexican in front of htm, raise his gun, aim it at the girl, and Pl fire. She dropped the reins and fell1 !H backward unconscious. H With one dash Pedro reached thd ,H side of tho Mexican and grabbed him fl around the throat and they both went' Ll to the ground. But Pedro was on top. JH Liberty's horse, feeling himself free, dashed forward and raced into, camp IH with tho limp form of his rider hanging H helpless from the saddle. 1 (TO BE CONTINUED). .J EH |