The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-17
ROYAL RANGER RALPH,|
lhe Waif Of tho Western PrahlG;,
BY WELDON ]. COBB
.-s On t---
CHAPTER L
TIE TRAIy-wRECKERS g

"a spy-one Of the vigilantes. Down
him, or the game is lost!"
These eiaculations, spoken rapidly
and excitedly, broke the silence OF q
weird and tragic scene in one OF the
loyeliest valleys>of the far West
They were directed toward man
who had suddenly appeared upon land
scape which for over an hour had held
half q dozen human figures, who had
been lurking in the vicinity Of q lonely
stretch Of railroad
The time was night, relieved by the
xefulgence Of q September moon, its
rays Just beginning to illumine mount
ain and valley with rare crystalline
beauty.
Hall q mile distant, where the river
stretched q dim silver thread Of radi-
snce, lonely station showed, from
which glimmered the light OF single
lantern.
at the spot where the story opens, the
single railway track curved over hlSn
trestle work and then descended on
sharp grade toward the station and the
stream.
For wears this section, especially the
course pursued by the railroad, which
was a recently constructed branch OF the
rreat Pacific system, had been known as
&he Lone Canyon trail The station was
called Ten-spot and the nearest settle
ment was twenty miles over the noun
tain at Miners Gulch.
Beyond that stretched an alienation
Of plain and hill and valley, infested
even at the time Of our narrative by
marauding bands Of savages.
The region was one in which rough,
uncultured set of miners and rangers
resided, and outlaw bands found 1t IA
yorite field for their operations
As has been stated, one hour previous
20 the utterance Of the words that begin
this chapter half dozen men rode up
to the scene, dismounted silently, LED
their horses to q thicket near by, and
then became msssed together near the
Here for some moments they were en-
saged In some mysterious movements
About the rails. One Of their number
went down the tracks to the station,
returned, muttered an ominous 9All
Fight and then their dusky figures
moved hither and thither. Not an audi
Bic word was spoken until tall, full
bearded man, evidently the leader Of the
party, startled his companions with the
exclamation:
sGet to covert Someone IS coming!"
Someone was coming straight down
the tracks, man past middle age, stall
vart, rugged, and attired in the garb OF
Q frontiersman.
His gait was careless and leisurely
one. as II he had got tired OF waiting Tor
the train at the depot and was strolling
about to kill time until it arrived.
All unaware Of the perilous ambuscade
that lay in wait for him, he was not con-
scious Of the presence Of foe until he
turned q curve in the rails and fell back
with q startled cry:
sWhat's this! An obstruction on the
rosdi They're at it againl Redskins or
outlaws; there's danger afost for the
night train, sure.
he turned to hasten back to the sta
t3on. AT that moment six dusky forms
arose from the bushes that lined the
side Of the tracks.
.Fire!"
: ~Who Is heP"
"a spy-one Of the vigilantes! Down
him, or the game Is lost
There was binding blaze OF light,
and six revolvers flashed in the moon
light .
missed him-after him! he must
not escape and give the alarm!" cried
the leader Of the coterie.
The stranger had indeed been missed.
he must have been magically alert, for
as the bullets whistled past him he drop
ped to the ground and they few over his
head.
sYou scoundrels! Come on, whoever
! you are!"
His voice, clear and stentorian, rang
out like an Indignant roar OF defiance
and courage.
He had again sprung to his feet and
had drawn his own revolver.
At that moment his enemies made q
united rush for the spot where he was.
He was forced to retreat step or two.
A creeping vine entangled his foot, and
he fell violently backward.
~Take thatl"
The words were spoken by the leader,
as he reached the prostrate man.
aDespard-outlaw and renegade!
know you. Cowardi villain! II I was
at fair odds with you"
The words were silenced suddenly.
The leader Of the bend-the man he
had called Despard-had raised curved
iron bar he held in his hand 1t de-
scended with terrific force, cutting
cruel cash in the forehead Of the cour.
sgeous stranger, stunning him to insen.
sibility.
Despard's eyes wore haunted, fright
ened expression, and his face was deathly
pale as he surveyed his unconscious foe.
sYou've settled him, Despard," spoke
one Of the men as b. crowded to his side
"What does 1t mean?"
Despard spoke in an awed tone.
@What mean?"
THAT man."
~You know him
Know him! Look again, Jim Dan
ton. All! thought you would recog-
nize him.
Despard's companion peered close at
the face OF the PROSTATE man.
aRanger Ralph" he gasped out
Eyes. Do you remember when last
We saw him, and we left him 10 die
prisoner In cave in the Utah hills? He
had crossed our trail leJerlnlned TO
bring US to justice for stage robbery.
Ee swore then that he would be avenged
he escaped. What can his presence
here mean but disaster 90 our plans?
His object Is the same IS our own-to
meet the girl who stands between me
and royal fortune. 1t Is an III omen,
Danton. fear. tremble."
1For q dead man." scofPed Danton,
teeringly; sfor he is certainly dead this
time"
aHe may have friends near at hand. =
sWe can soon find that out. But no
no: he would not walk to his fate that
I. 1y,,a hnr n lnAnQnfr