Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-10-09

thOugltfully. yet you W tnS N''N-'
| Manuel, and tell cook to give you
something to eat and drink, and then
you must go and rest After you nave
eaten will settle with you. You have
earned your reward"
Manuel grinned appreciatively and
| led his tired horse around to the corral,
while Mark Smith paced up and down
the hard baked path before the door.
He had STAYED it off for months, put
now it had come. Vados, the outlaw,
had held his men with an iron hand,
| and not once had he permitted drunk
! enness to spoil his wild raids upon
| the peaceful settlements over the bor-
der. They came and went in the night
| like shadows. Vados knew his half
| savage followers, and he had not dared
allow them liquor
| But now he had broken loose nln-
self. and his men were quick to follow.
their leader.
| What chance had law and order,
! even the emblem of great govern
ment, in the face of madness! Ana
! these were nothing better now that
they had had taste of the pulque.
While Mark Smith acknowledged
this, he set his jaw tight and, mount
ing his horse, rode from one to another
| Of the outlying ranches, giving warn
| ing of the coming raid. He advised
his neighbors to gather at his place.
| His line was drawn closer as he
| neared the town, and at last there
remained only one house, that of James
| Bradley.
| Ellen's father was at the gate when
| Mark rode up.
"I've heard all about it. What's your
| plan, MarkY' he asked.
| "Gather all the women and children
| at my place with an armed guard. l
| want the men to go with me to meet
vados and try to wipe him out before
| he does any damage. I've sent a
couple of messengers to Arko to tele-
| graph for assistance from El Paso."
Good. I'll hitch up and bring my
| folks over. I hope you'll let me be oRf
| the skirmish line" added the old man
! wistfully.
"Suit yourself, but we need "a steady
L .
ed Mark wearily.
Just at sunset the last off the fugi-
| tives rode through the gate Of Mark
Smiths ranch. 1t was a very martial
sight that met their eyes,, and it re-
newed courage in many timid heart.
From every peak of the roof there
was a standard from which waved the
stars and stripes. Every window had
it's pole with futtering flag, and even
the stables were breaking out in pa
triotic colors. On eitheF side of the
gate was tall pole. where two large
flags waved protectinglyi over the refu-
gees.
James Bradley and his wife had
come over in buck board with some
of their most precious belongings.
Where is Ellen?y asked Smith as
he assisted Mrs. Bradley to the ground.
Ellen's parents cast startled glances
around. - s-.--.->~ -----..---,
"Why, isn't she here? She started
off on her horse and said she would
get here firstF
'I'll fetch her." gritted Mark savage
ly, and, throwing himself on a horse.
he tore away toward the town.
But in the deserted town there was
no trace of Ellen Bradley. Mark found
himself riding frantically in pursuit Of
the girl who had fiouted him for a
whim. AT last he dashed toward the
river and followed a fresh trail along
the bank. Possibly Ellen was taking.
the longer way, but she must know it
was a dangerous way today. vados
might be lying in ambush, waiting for
the friendly night to cover his move
ments.
1t was dark when he reached the
river. Here a strange sight met his
startled eyes.
This was the narrowest part, and it
was here that the outlaws would cross
If they were to reach Smiths ranch.
that night, as they had threatened. A.
narrow wooden bridge spanned the,
river.
A dark bulk of shadow resolved into.
a stationary horse and white clad
rider Above the rider there appeared,
to float in midair a large transparency
with the stars and stripes painted Wv
idly on four Sides Within the trans
parency there burned a light that,
threw the flags into strong relief.
Mark Smith had carried that trans
parency in the last political campaign.
That was not all.
There was an ominous cracking, with
the smell of burning wood. Suddenly
the bridge burst into flames and dis
closed on the opposite bank a para
lyzed group of ruffians, vados and his
band. They stared at the motionless
ngure garbed in white upholding the
glowing transparency, then at the.
burning bridge, and with one accord
they turned and fed in drunken terror
toward the hills. Another day would
ma their heads clearer and their cour-
age renewed and they might return to.
feager. but by that time the troops.
| wOuld have arrived