Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-18
CHAPTER x-tcon,luued)

lewis was sandy -compleNioned man OF
IL about forty. with colorless brows and a
mean. shifty eye, Formerly a cowboy, he
had by the exercise OF some natural abilty
acquired a good property--and a bad repu-
tation just how or why he had prospered
was mystery which his neghbors never
tired OF discussing
Tad. Il seemed, resented any Interrupt
tlon OF his rest. and showed the fact plainly,
Yes. he employed fellow named Urbina.
What was wanted OF himg
Law explained briefly.
why. he's one OF my best men - laughed
the rancher. Tie wouldn't steal nothing.
Well I had TO shoot another good man
OF yours" Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back n step which onev
whor' he inquired qulekly
''Pino Cara" Dave told OF the meeting
at the branding fire and it's outcome. lie
was aware, meanwhile. that Lewis's family
were listening FOR behind a half-open bed
room door he could hear an excited whis-
pering.
KILLED him the first shot, eh7' Tad was
dumfounded. Now I never thought Ptno
was that bad. But you never can tell about
these ureasers. can your They'll all steal
II they get chance let Pine go, bout
n week back but he's been hangln' around,
aimin' to visit some OF hrs relatives up
in the brush country, 1t was probably one
OF them old tuZman saw AhSHoW' ~
couldn't of been Adolfo Urbina; he was
over to Las Palmas all the afternoon"
"Did you send him therey
sure. Ed Austin can tell you"
where Is Urbina now9''
81 reckon he's asleep somewhere. wen
dig him up and talk to him. II you say
Good"
Tad's Willingness 70 cooperate with the
| officer. now that he understood the situh-
tIon. was in marked contrast to the be-
havior OF Austin
| In fact his offer to help was almost too
| villIngly given TO suit Dave, who expected
| him 10 protest at being dragged out on such
| n night No protest came, however; Lewis
| sllpped into his boots and slicker, explain
ing meanwhile:
81 am sorry this play came up. for don't
want folks TO think got a gang OF thieves
workin' for me-"
| But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere TO be
| found. No one had seen him since seven
o'clock nor could II be discovered where he
| was spending the night. Dave remembered
| that II had been about seven when he left
| Las Palmas, and ascertained, indirectly
| that Tad had "A telephone. on his way
| from Austln's Law had stopped at a rancho
| for a bite 10 eat, but he could not forgive
| himself for the delay II, as he surmised Ur-
bina had been warned by wire Of his COM
Ing.
| That's TOO Daus am III
But he'll be around again in the morning
and I'll get him for you. You leave IL to
| me"
There was plainly nothing TO do but ac.
cept this offer, since II could avail nothing
| 10 wait here for Urbina's return. Unless
the fellow gave himself up. he probably
could not be found. now that the alarm was
given. without a considerable search-iT
| view OF which Dave finally remounted hi;
borrowed horse and rode away in the direc
tion OF Jonesville.
II was after daylight when he dlsmountet
| stlffy at Blaze's gate. He was wet to IN,
skin and bespattered with mud; he had
been almost constantly in the saddle fol-
twenty-four hours. and Don Ricardo's cow
pony was almost exhausted.
Blaze and Paloma. OF course. were tire
| mendously interested In his story.
"Say, now, that's quick work." the latter
exclaimed heartily You're some thief
buster. Dave, and II you'll Just stay her,