Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-05-22
ROYAL RANGER RALPH,
-: OR -
The Eaif Of the Western PrairieS.
by WELDON J. COBB.
CHAPTER NIX.
THE MODOCS.

DreSSiye face az Ow with s. uueh euio'
zion.
"Yes," he murmured, at is indeed the
laughter of my fricnd-l could not |
mistake that face
Inez stood with dOYncaSt eyes and
0allid countenance and did not reply TO
ais words Dcspard Kissed but ore
ncnacing sentence into har shrinking
.ar:
"Rememlcr your promise." he breathed
icrcely. Your lover dies if You fail me
oow."
Then aloud he said to Walford: "You
ire satisfied that this is Inez Tracey?"
The hermit lowed aSSentingly
"She has q letter from her father
written just previous to his death. If
you wish tC see it she will show it to
Fou."
81 would like to sec it,"
Inez produced a misSive she had re-
rciVed some weeks before.
The hermit perused it, returned it to
her and asked, "This gentleman is your
intended husband?"
For moment Inez faltcrcd She
seemed about to deny the query when
She met the fierce, threatening glance OF
hcr CaptOr.
~Ycs, she gasped, almost inaudibly.
"And you wish me TO deliver to hlm
the trust left ne TO execute by your
dying father?'
"lf you will "
WarfOrd drew time worn paper from
his breast
ain this document" he said, "yOur
father left his fortune to you in my
charge. The fortune consists of lands in
california near the sea coast which are
already decided to you, and description
Of which is contained IN this paper"
He handed DCsplrd the document as
be spoke.
"Thesc lands" he continued, care COM
paratlvely worthless; but, besides them,
Mr. Tracey left fortune in tangible
shape. 1t comprises a caskCt containing
diamonds, into which he converted his
wealth in Heru; diamonds which, while
they only fl a small metal box, repre-
sent value exceeding ono hundred
thousand dollars
"And you have these diamOnds'" asked
DeSpard eagerly.
eyes My friend Tracey told me to
deliver them to his daughter l now do
go"
ton of the apartment, and was gone for
some moments. When he returned he
bore a small black box in his hand.
The avarcious eyes of DeSpard glcam
ed with secret cXutatiOn The coVetod
fortune of the TraccyS was within his
grasp at last, and he could scarcely con
tain himself for joy.
The Old scout. a silent and interested
spectator Of all that had transpircd
within the past few moments was terri
bly, excited
He saw the apparent accomplishment
of all Dyke Despard'S evil plans lie
saw the Tracey fortune wrested from its
rightful owners, TO enrich desperate
villain He saw Inez tho wife OF the
renegade.
Ho resolved to act boldly. Drawing
his revolver he Sprang past the bandits
"HO'd!"
His voice was clear and commanding
The startled DeSparJ recOlled
Ranger Ralph had wrested the casket
from his grasp just as the old hermit
had handed it to him
"Waford, do YOU not know me? 1t Is
Ranger Rail h."
A cry Of amalement broke from the
old hermits lips.
"You," he cried.
eyes, yes YOnder man is Dyke Des'
pard, the outlaw, and the girl is acting
under his threats"
"Down him"
The enragcd Despard shouted the or
der to his men hOarSely. lie himself
sprang upon the scout as he spoke
The box fell with q changing sound
from the hand of Ranger Ralph to the
hard stone floor of the cavern.
The other outlaws were about to press
forward to aid their companion and
leader, when a sudden episode diverted
them from their purpose.
A 1.-the form, that of woman, darted
suddenly into view. Springlng from a
dark corner of tho cave, she reVealeo
the face and figure Of White fawn, the
Indian princess.
She glided to whore De'pard and the
scout were struggling in deadly COMBAT
With one bow she drove knife into thc
back of the outlaw leader.
Then. stOoDing. he :eized the OoX OF
Jewel, and di appeared like ilaSh down
one of the Clark corridors OF inc pace
With a cry Of pain and rage Dyke
Despard ,taggcred back.
"Shoot them down." he cried hoar eIy
TO hi; men as lie rctrcated 10 lhelf
ranks.
The old hermit seized the scout as th(
latter wa; about to spring forward I'
rescue Incz. At the same moment Vh'
outlaw fred at them. ..,,.
@This wav." spoke tho hclmi quickly
10 drew Ranger Ralph cut OF range
of the bullets Of their foes
"Follow me" he o:d"rcd.
"But the girl"
"You cannot rescue her now
WoIford had Gartcd down dark cor
riGo. suddenly he raus d. series O.
savage wells cmanatcd from the apart
mcnt thew had just left. They were
mingled with the alarmed cries OF th'
bandits
Ioud reuorts of continuous firm:
ewoke all the silent echoes OF the pIa c
oWhat doe that mcan?" demanded
tn, mvstifcds 5 out
The Indians
"Ycs. They have penetrated the
cave. Sce Th.y are coming thiS way
Uastor old friend and partner, | have
q a~ofe retreat if we can Ony reach 1t II
Tie truth flashed across Range
Ral2h's mnd as he obcycd his com @
raniol and stumbled down dark cor
White Fam, he reasoned, had reac h
ed tn. tribe and they lad returned ", W u
lsr q wrcqk yeagean ccn the rc4egades
In th.s theory, however, the old Scou