Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-17

not recoilect Just where or when he had
seen the pony, and he was certain he had
not laid eyes upon the owner.
Devil take the boyi He's haif-witted." ("
Benito growled.
hut Dave changed his tactics Olga -
he said, sternly. do you want 20 20 to
ian9' Juan had no such desire. Then
tell the truth. Was the horse branded1"
Yes"
with what brandt"
Juan had not noticed.
with the X. T. perhSpsg" That was
the Lewis brand.
Perhaps"
where n Il now7"
Juan insolently declared that he didn't
know and didn't care.
"Oh. YOU don't. eh1" faw reached for
the boy and shook him until he yelled
You will make nice little prisoner.
Juanito, and we shall hnd way 20 make
you speak"
Gonzales was inclined 90 resent such
high-handcd treatment OF his underllng, but
respect for the Rangers was deep rooted.
and Juan's behavior was inexplicabie.
At last the horse boy confessed. lie had
seen both horse and rider but knew
neither. Mr.. Austin and the stranger hao
arrived together, and the latter had gone
on. That was the truth.
"Buenol 90 Law released his prisoner. who
skunk away rubbing his shoulder. Now.
Benito, we will find Mr. Austin"
A voice answered from the dusk: He
won't take much fndlng" and I'D Austin
himself emerged from the stable door.
We'll. what do you wantf" he asked.
You are Mr. Austin. reckon7'
II am. What d'you mean by abusing
my help7" The master of Las Palmas ap-
preached so near that his threatening scowl
was visible II don't allow strangers to
prowl around my premises"
Amazed at this hostile greeting. Law ex-
plained in word the reason for his pres
ence
II don't know anything about your man.
What d'you want him for, and who are
your"
Dave introduced himself II want him
for stealing GuSman calves trailed him
from where he and his partner cut into
| your south pasture"
Benito stirred and muttered an OATH but
Austin was unmoved. II reckon you must
be a bad trailer" he laughed. We've got
no thieves here, What makes you think
Guzman lost any calves7'
Dawes temper. never too we'll controlled
| at best. began to rise He could not
| imagine why a person of Ed Austin's
standing should behave In this extraor-
dinary manner. unless perhaps he was
| drunk.
Well I saw the calves. and I left the
| itioW tnut WAS branding thein with wet
saddle blanket over his face"
''Eh7 What's that9" Austin started and
| Gonzalez uttered n smothered exclamation
you killed him7 He's dead7"
Dead enough to skin. l caught him
with his irons in the fire and the calves
necked up in your pasture. Now I want
his companero."
'T--hope you don't think we know any.
thing about him." Ed protested.
sN.
Austin turned away with q shrug
You rode I'm with him." Dave persisted
Ed wheeled quickly How do you know
did?"
Your boy saw you"
Tho ranchmans voice was harsh as h.
said; Look here, my friend. you're on the
wrong track The fellow / was with hac
nothing TO do with this AFFAIR. Would yot
know your man? Did you get n look a
him?"
mo. But I reckon Don Ricardo coult
tell his horse.'
''Humph 70 Austin grunted, dIsagreeably
so just for that you come prowllng aroun,
threatening my help, Ell? Trying to fram
up case. maybe? Well. Il don't 60
was out with one Of Tad Lewis's men"
What was his namer Dave manage,
TO inquire.
'Urblna. He had a sorrel under him
but there are thousands OF sorrel horses
What time did you meet him?'
81 met him at noon and-Iye been wifi
him ever since. So you see you're wrong
presume your man doubled back and h
laughing at you"