Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-05-15
ROYAL RANGER RALPH;
The Waif Of the Western PrairieS.
BY WELDON j. COBP.
CHAPTER XvII-Continued.

and WhlCh Idrrol OTdy ndu lOIO0I ooi"O
in entering the place. 1t afforded
strong intrenchmcnt for him, and he
had his enemies at a decided dlsad-
vantage.
A sharp fussilade enSucd, during VIII ch
one of the men, evidently wounded re-
treated down the corridor with savage
howl of pain. His companion followed
his example and beat hasty retreat
Ranger Ralph could hear them calling
for help to their companions in the main
outer cave. -,
"They have sounded the alarm and Will
soon return with increased force, de-
cided the old scout
He watched at his post for some time,
abandoning it only when a wild commo-
tion arose in the corridor.
Armed men bearing torches came
rushing in pursuit of the furitiycs.
Among them the s-Out observed Dcs-
pard and DantOn. lie glided through
the aperture leading to the outside, ana
found himsolfin the same moonllt Vailey
into which Darrel Grey had fallen few
no irs previously.
Darrell and Inez w,rc nowhere I'D
sight, and the scout supposed that they
had succeeded in making their escape
: He therefore set about finding some way
hmsef to leave the valley
The apparently inaccessible waIS OF
the place made the task SCom almost a
hope ess one, however. His invcstlSa.
tions wero forced to be desu'tory ana
brief. for in q few minutes the outlaws
arrived on the scene
The scout had Just time to safely en-
sconce himself in small thcket, when
Eesrard AMI his men came into view
Immediately the little Inc osed valley
was the scene of the widest excitement
The men. with torches borne alolt'
secured every portion of the place
A shout of triumph thrilled tho scout,
mud minute later he saw several OF the
bandits emerge from a smaller cave
whore they had found Darrel and Jnez'
in the are of the lights Kan ger
Ralph could discern the palo, distressed
fa of barrel and the despa;rlng one OF
Inez. With eXultant c,icS the bandits
bore their risOnerS ID the spot where
DcSpard was.
"Remove tho girl to the cabin and
guard her until morning." ordered the
bandit leader "AS to him" and he IN,
dicatcd Darre' fcrce'y "he has crossed
our path once too often He shall die. ."
"No, no." pleaded Inez, franticaly'
but she was borne away with her appear
ing words unhceded
Ranger Ralph could scarcely contain
him e and he grasped his revolvers;
grimly. Dcsrard, Danton and sevcrai
of the men were standing near him, Out
he realized that it would be folly 10
attempt to fight against such uneven
odds.
"Therc was another OF them" he
heard voice say excitedly.
ala" calculated DeSl ard. "Who?",
His informant was one of the guards.
"A man dressed like half brt ed.
Despard started violently.
-. ale was friendly to the gir' and the
prisoner. he asked.
"YeS." :,
"Thcn he was no half-brccd at all.
Danton, we have been Ceceivcd.
"By Talula?"
Exactly"
"You think he Is no messenger IRON
;hc Modocs?"
That's it,"
"Who is he. them"
"a spy-a friend to the girl"
Ranger Ra phi, probably"
"Perhaps Boys, search tho valley
thoroughly. He cannot have escaped
called Despard to the men,
The bandits at once began sys-
tematic scour 0. the va ley. From his
covert the scout could see DcSpard and
Danton and several Of the men leturn tc
the cave.
The outlaw chief repaired at once to
the log house on the cliff where th9 dis
gu:sed scout had been led by Vance
Inez, weeping, was seated in the room.
Despard fierce gitter in his eyes, ap'
preached her at once.
Girl" he said, 81 have few words
TO say to you
Inez did not reply, but continue to
sob bitterly.
"You are entirely in my power" re-
sumed DesDard, "and neither you no
YOUR friends can defeat my plans. No'
must become my wife. "
Despard's words aroused all tho re-
sentful womGnlness in lncz'S nature.
She started wildly to her feet her eyes
flashing, her face pa.e and defiant
"Never." she cried.
Her firm reply did not appear TO dis
turb her captor.
"There is no G cape" he contIn -e1
calmly.
Il will die first"
"No: you will obey me. You Will no
only become my wife but you wi also
do as | tell you regarding the fortune
your father has left YOU"
Take that fortune, then. Release
nv friends and myself, and 1t is yours
"No. nv far Jnez," jeerod Despard
"Your charms have fascinated me, ami
shall we'd YOU As to the fortune, tha
is in the hands of a man named Wal
ford You will visit him with me to
morrow morning You will te hin
that am YOUR legally welded husband
and induce him to turn over your for
tune 10 me. Then you will accompany
mo n some distant country and become
my vie" -, =.
had concluded.
"And i. refuse?" she demanded
Despard cam step nearer to her
There was a fierce glitter in his evil eye
"Shall tell yOu?" he Kissed.
ayes"
erie man YOU loYe, Darre, Grey, shal
de"
With a cry of dread dsmay Ine1
Tracey recoi ed
At that moment there was an iht
ruption On OF the out avs came rush
inc. exc ID and lreathless, mo tht
room
captain" he cried, eve have fonp(
the half-breed!"
ale is captured?"