The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-21
ROYAL RANGER RALPH;
The Waif Of the Western PrairiieS.
BY WELDON j. COBB.
CHAPTER nv.

the courageous and lovely inez Tracey.
Before them. mile after mile, spread
| the broad, level prairie, in places like
an emerald carpet dotted with SpangleS
| of flowers of the rareSt hue and beauty,
and again grown high with rank, heavy
| grass
The horses they rode We're rapid tray
elerS, and within an hour. as they
glanced backward, they saw no sign OF
their pursuers.
Your enemies have either abandoned
| the chase, or the long grass hides them,
remarked Darrell, as he allowed the
| horses to proceed more slowly and
glanced over the fair moonlit picture
spread before them, and then at the girl
at his side.
| Darrell Grey had led an adventurous
life and had seen many fair women in
| many climes, but, he confessed, as he
gazed at the lovely creature who was
| his companion in flight, none so beauti-
full as Inez Tracey.
Perhaps it was the novelty and excite
mcnt of their situation; perhaps it was
| because two earnest, ingenious spirits
| had met and recognized magnetic con-
| gcniality in youth and Leauty: but at all
| events, as their eyes met, love became
mutual though uneXprcssed
| Inez Tracey found an interested lis
| tener in Darrell Grey, when she briefly
related her past and the events that had
| eliminated in the adventure of the
| night
| In return, Darrell told her who he
was-a surveyor sent West on business.
| He had become fascinated with wild
| Western life, and had for some years
| been engaged in the law and mining
| business in California.
| lie was about to return East in a few
weeks, and quite by accident had come
| 10 the little station at Ten Spot, crossing
| thither in a stage coach from a mining
| settlement located i'll the mountains that
| day.
| Darrell briefly related the episode of
the wounded messenger, and modesty
referred to his adventure at the trestle.
| The deep blue eyes of Inez Tracey
| looked into his own, as she listened
breathlessly to his story Of the attempt
ed signal to the train.
I'VE have been proceeding aimessly.
! thinking only of evading our foes" said
| Darrell, finally. Il am, in a measure,
unacquainted in this locality except at
| the mining camps in the hills"
Il wished to reach Miners Gulch, if
possible" said lneZ, but | am at a loss
| to locate it.
"Then you have been here before?"
| asked Darrell
"Ies: | cane TO see my father about
| five years ago. Since then | have been
at Schoo in California, which | left last
week when | received a letter directing
me to come here, and that a friend of
| my dead father would meet and care
! for me.
and this man whom you call Dcspard
he is relative, you Say?" inquired
! Darrell, curiously.
a very distant one of my father, who
never liked him and warned me against
| him Last summer he met me at a
/ summer resort, whittier our teachers
/ had taken US for a week vacation. /
| had met him at my fathers ranch. be-
| yond Miners Gulch, and | never liked
| him. He annoyed me with his atten-
Tons, and left me- very angry when |
| avoided him, and told him finally that
| did not wish to continue the acquaint-
| ancc, for | received letter from my
! father warning me against him, and
! telling me that Dyke DeSpard was plot
| ting against him and myself, and that
| lie was a renegade and an outlaw.
AMI since than?" asked Darrell.
Il have never met him until tonight
when YOU heard what he said, and know
| that he must have some deep object in
pr venting my going TO the Gulch."
Then h" will be disappointed for
once. Miss Tracey" said Darrell; "for we
can find the pace by morning. Oh, it
just occurred TO me. You say you cX-
pected a friend to meet you at the
depot?"
yes; an Old friend of my father: a
man who has been known in this region
for years as scout. His name is
Ranger Ralph"
Il have heard of him. Pc you know
him-that is, we'll enough to recognize
him from description"
Il have not seen him since | was a
child. do not think would. Why do
you ask"
because | have all idea that these
! horses belong To him, and that he is the
man who tod me first of the train
wreckers. If this is so. the horses prob
ably came from Miners Gulch. and We
will allow them to proceed their own
way. They may lead us to the very
place TO which YOU desire to lon
Darrel looscnod the rudely improvisod
bride and allowed the Steeds to take
Their own course. They now began to
leave the prairie and finally entered a
canyon, fol owing the course of little
stream.
There seems TO be Il regular trail
here" said Darrell. Il believe we are
on the right road az last. Miss Tracey. !"
"lou are taking a great deal OF 1rou-
bic for me. -" murlnuryd lnez. gratefully.
What. in running away from the
outlaw myself TO a place of Safcty?"
laughed larrel. banteringly. "No. no.:
we were partners in peril a the railroad
train, ana but for Won might have re-
manned ard been killed rs il is, as
soon As ! have placed You out of danger.
| will return aud learn the fate Of those
who were attacked by the train wreck
ar.
rs they rode on, however. Darrell
wished that such charming com pan.on-
ship could last always.
The dawn had come while they were
riding through the canyon. 1t was
scarcely diStinguiShab!e from the moon
light As yet, bat soon they knew the full
day would break. enabling them more
accurately t. determine their where.
abouts
That the horses were leading them di-
rect 10 Miners, Guch Darrell did not
doubt: but new discovery soon caused
the faithful animals to come under the
guidance OF BARREL again. For at 4
point where the canyon divided into
several minor branches. the girl startled
him with low cry OF alarm.
What is it," asked Darrell quickly.
"l.o ~
He repeated her own ejaculation Of
concern. as the advancing daylight show
ed an obstacle 10 their onward progress