The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
ROYAL RANGER RALPH:
The Naif Of The Western Praiies.
BY WELDON ]. COBB.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE MOpOCs.


%Yes," he murmured, sit is indeed the
daughter Of my O. d friend-I could not
mistake that face ....... .-
Inez stood with downcaSt eyes and
pallid countenance and did not reply to
his words Despard Kissed but one
menacing sentence into her shrinking
ear:
Remember your promise!" he breathed
fiercely. aYour lover dies II you fail me
now" Dr..
Then aloud he said to Walford: aYou
are satisfied that this is Inez Tracey?"
The hermit bowed assentingly.
sShe has a letter from her father
written just previous to his death. II
you wish to see it she will show it to
you"
III would like to SEQ It."
Inez produced q missive she had re.
ceived some weeks before.
The hermit perused it, returned It to
her and asked, "This gentleman is your
intended husband?"
For q moment Inez faltered She
seemed about to deny the query when
che met the fierce, threatening glance Of
her captor. ~. ,.. .. a,,t.. -.
@Yes,n she gasped, almost inaudibly.
Il @And You wish me to deliver to him
the trust left me to execute by your
dying father?" s-s 49, %. .
@If you will. ~,
Warford drew time worn paper from
} his breast 49,.
sIn this document" he said, syour
= father left his fortune to You in my
charge. The fortune consists Of lands in
CaliforniS near the sea coast, which are
already decided to you, and description
Of which is contained in this paper.
He handed Despard the document as
he spoke.
aThese lands, {" he continued, aare COM
paratlvely worthless; but, besides them,
Mr.. Tracey left fortune in tangible
shape 1t comprises q casket containing
diamonds, into which he converted his
wealth in Peru; diamonds which, while
they only FL small metal box, repre-
sent value exceeding one hundred
thousand dollars tv-
9And you have these dianonds9' asked
Despard eagerly.
sYes My friend Tracey told me to
deliver thsmto his daughter I now do
so . s,a...:
The hermit retired to a darkened por-
ton Of the apartment, and was gone for
\ some moments. When he returned he
bore a small black box in his hand.
,n The avaricious eyes of Despard CLEAN.
( cd with secret exultation. The coveted
fortune of the Traceys was within his
grasp at last, and he could scarcely con-
tain himself for joy.
The old scout. q silent and interested
spectator, of all that had transpired
i within, the past few moments, was terri
bly, excited.
He saw the apparent accomplishment
OF all Dyke Despard's evil plans. He
saw tho Tracey fortune wrested from its
rightful owners, to enrich desperate
villain. he saw Inez the wife OF the
renegade.
He resolved to act boldly. Drawing
his revolver he sprang past the bandits.
u aHoid!" .......
His voice was clear and commanding.
The startled Dsspard recoilcd.
E Ranger Ralph had wrested the casket
from his grasp just as the old hermit
had handed it to him. " 80.
@Walford, do you not know me? It Is
! Ranger Ralph"
A cry Of amazement broke from the
old hermit's lips. .... ..-
HYou!. he cried. 49, .-. ..s g.. ....-g
ayes, yes. Yonder man is Dyke Des-
pard, the outlaw, and the girl is acting
under bis threats" ...-
@Down him!" ''.'.
The enraged Despard shouted the or
der to his men hoarsely. He himself
: sprang upon the scout as he spoke.
The box fell with changing sound
from the hand. of Ranger Ralph to the
hard stone floor Of tie cavern. a-r
The other outlaws were about to press
forward to, MD their companion and
leader, when sudden episode diverted
them from their purpose
A 1.-THE form, that Of a. woman, darted
suddenly into view. Springing from
dark corner Of the cave, she revealed
the face and figure Of White Fawn, the
Indian princess. ..
She gIided to whore Despard and the
scout were struggling in deadly combat.
With one blow she drove knife into the
back OF the outlaw leader.
Then, STOPPING, she seized the box Of
Jewels and disappeared like fash down
one of the dark corridors Of the place.
With cry OF pain and rage Dyke
Despard staggered back, -..-s..a
sShoot them down." he cried hoarsely
to his men as he retreated to their
ranks - .l~ '0. -. ., ..t~ - .
Tho old hermit seized the scout as the
latter was about to spring forward to
rescue Inez. At the same moment the
outlaw fired at them. r.
"This way "'spoke the hermit quickly.
he drew Ranger Ralph out Of range
Of the bullets Of their foes.
@Follow me-" he ordered.
"But the girl!"
@You cannot rescue her now"
Waliord had darted down dark cor
ridor. Suddenly he paused. Aseries Of
savage yells emanated from the apart
ment they had just left. They were
mingled with1tfe alarmed cries Of the
bandits.
Loud reports Of continuous firing
awokc all the silent echoes Of the place.
"What does that mean?" demanded
the mystified scott
Tho Indians"
sModocs?"
"Yes. They have penetrated The
cave. See! They are coming this way.
Hasten. old friend and partner, I have
asafe retreat II we can only reach 1t in
time"
The truth flashed across Ranger
Ralph's mind as he obeyed his com.
panion and stumbled down dark cor.
rido-. "
White Fawn. he reasoned, had reach
cd the tribe, and they had returned with
her to wreak vengeance on the renegades.
In this theory, however, THE old scout
was only IN measure correct. WhsA
had really happened was this:
White Fawn had rode toward the