Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-04-26

III you've paid for him he's yours.
OF course" said Dick in disbelleving
tone. for which Nan could have shaken
him "l'll take the matter up with
Loo Sing"
stop awhile. yon and the lady. and
I'll give You broied chicken dinner.
I'm aiming to cook him right away"
Not today. thank you. said Dick.
with scaut courtesy. and the bad man
flushed under his tan at the implied
insult Nan looked down at him and
met his embarrassed glance She smil
ed reassurlngly into his startled eyes.
and there came n surprised look into
her own As she rode away she looked
bnck more than once NJ the lone figure
standing In the sheep herdcr's hut. and
the last time she looked he waved his
hat In friendly farewell After that
she kept her face straight ahead. her
eyes fixed on the triangular space he
tween her horses ears little smile
played ahont her lips. and now and then
dimples came and went In her pink
checks
At the ranch Loo Sing was closely
questioned ana strongly denied steal.
ing his masters chickens The matter
was talked over nj the supper table.
and Dick threatened to make trouble
for Gay Ransom the bad man.
THE country is well rid of such YER
min." he muttered as he went to bed
Two hours later. at midnight. there
came the thunder Of running hoofs on
the ground without and the pounding
OF n revolver butt on the front door.
Dick Fancher threw mp his window
to find the glare OF grass fire red
dening the sky with mrid pickering
light and outlining the tall. graceful
form of the bad man on his brown
horse
We'll. what is III" ne demanded
sharply.
Fire. See il coming? I've come TO
help you ditch il around the house or
else get the women away. What do
you want To do:" He asked the qnes-
ton impatiently. and indeed there was
little time TO be lost. for the long red
wall OF flame was approaching rapidly.
The ranch house was OF adobe and
would stand the fierce encircling
flames IL they could manage the ditch.
They could turn the contents OF the
water tank into the ditch Dick was
thinking while he rapidly dressed and
ordered his family from their beds.
Loo Sing had quite disappeared. and
the three Mexicans. who were all the
help Dick had on the farm M this sea
son. were doubtless gambling down NJ
Cummings saloon. eight miles away.
There was nobody here but the bad
man and Dick tanchcr.
First they drove the frightened
horses 10 the shed near the house.
Then they turned loose the restless
cattle and saw them flee instinctively
to the refuge OF the hill the east.
II would take days to ~ Ter them In
again. The two men fell TO work with
shovels and made wide ditch all
around the little lionel adot,e house.
waiting there in til, middle Of the
crisp. parched plain TO know what her
fate would be. Would the beat OF the
flames crack her walls beyond endur-
ance of the women within. or would
the two be able to complete the ditch
and I'LL II with water. thus frustrating
the cruel tongues OF devastating ire:
The ditch was finished while the hot
breath OF flame famed their cheeks
They turned the water. an all too slen-
der stream. into the ditch. saw the
earth drink II M drink and drink. and
then when IL could absorb no more
saw the ditch slowly I'LL 10 half its
depth Then Gay Ransom. hatless.
coiilcSs. singcd by flame and scorched
beyond recognition. threw pail after
pail OF water against the walls OF the
house even while the heated surface
Missed under the contact and the steam
rose In n white drift. Dick Fancher
was everywhere NJ once. beating back
little incursions of flame. tossing a
bucket OF water on Il flaming shrub.
chasing bewildered chickens into the
house. soothing first his family and
then his horses until the morning
dawned and found them safe.
Black and grimy beyond recognition.
they stared al each other while the
smoke clouds beloved away 10 the
northeast Then 1t was that Loo Sing
emerged from the adobe chicken house.
wild with fright and dragging after
him the evidences OF his own guilt In
the shape Of bag of muilicd chickens
Il owe you the sincerest apology.
Ransom" said Dick l'ancher frankly
as he grasped the others hand. and
! owe you more than can say for the
help you've given me tonight"
Il think you've made u mistake.
Dick. dear" said Mans soft voice. with
hint OF laughter In its tone. This
is not Gay Ransom. the desperate
am sure II is MIR I,leck himself. for
met him last summer NJ the TetIeys'"
"Of course. Of course" cried Bleck
excitedly. Il knew I'd seen you be-
fore took you In to dinner. you
know"