Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-16

ne saw caused MIN - push forward ~|<&
no diminution OF stealth.
He had kone perhaps half mile whom
Bessie Belle raised her head and Ne noted
that her nostrils were working scneifiv<ix.
A few yards farther on Law fancied that
m could detect the smell OF wood 0re
Almost without n signal from him fhe
mare halted In her tracks until he had
satisfied himself. stIil farther along they
came 10 n place where the brush was low.
and there, rising through the tree tops
beyond. they saw waverine plume cf
blue smoke
The Ranger rode into sight OF the brand
Ing IRE with his Winchester across Tiir
saddle horn and his thumb upon the ham
mer. What followed came with almost the
binding suddenness OF a lightning crash.
though afterward the events OF that crowd
ed moment fingered as n clear-cut memory
First there was the picture Of q sandy
glade in the center OF which burned ire
with branding irons In u. and a spotted
calf tied to a tree but otherwise no align
OF life Then, without warning Beeeio
Belle threw mp her head In that character
istic trick OF hers. and simultaneously Dave
saw ngure rise out OF the grass az his
left with rifle leveled. The Ranger re-
membered afterward the odd foreshortenIne
OF the weapon and the crooked twist OF
the face behind H. with the first Jerk
Of hrs horses head his own gun had ioaped
20 his shoulder--he was not conscious Of
pressed the trigger he beheld Jet OF smoke
squirt from the muxxlc aimed at him. with
the kick OF his carhine he felt Bessie Belle
give way-lt seemed to Dave that he shot
while she was sinking. The next instant
his feet, still in the strrups. were on the
ground and his horse lay between thcn.
motionless That nervous fling OF her head
had saved Dawes life. for the rustler'n
bullet had shattered her skull In its flight.
and she lay prone, with scarcely n muscular
Ns.rle, t.nA ~. IN.
breath escaped slowly from her lungs: Il
was as II she hcaved lingering sigh one
leg contracted and then relaxed
For n moment the Ranger was dazed. He
stood staring down at his pet: then the
truth ergulfed him He realised that he
had ridden her 20 her death. and at the
thought he became like n woman bercft
OF her child. like n lover who had seen his
sweetheart slain.
A shout--it was n hoarse, tnarticuiate
cry: swift. maddened scrutiny that
searched the sodden scene OF the ambush
then he was down beside the mare calling
her name heartbrokenly his arms around
her neck, his face against her warm, wet.
velvet hide
Law knew that two men had entered
the thcket and therefore one stili remained
TO be reclxoned with. but he gave no thought
20 that Nor did he rise to look after the
grotesquely huddled figure that had been
a cattle thief only n moment before-both
he and his assaiiant had been too close 20
miss From the corner OF his eye he could
see a pair OF boot soles staring at him out
OF the grass and they told him there was
no need for investigation.
Near the body he heard n calf stirring.
but he let II struggle.
Bessie Bellies bright eyes were glazing !.
ahe did not hear her lovers voice. Her
muEzle, softer than any satin. was loose.
her lips would never twitch with that
| clumsy, quivering caress which pleased
| her master so. One front hoof, washed as
| clean as agate, was awlSwardly bent under
| her. the other had plowed n furrow In the
| soft earth as she sank, and against this
| leg her head lay tipped.
Don Ricardo and his son burst out of
| the brush from opposite directions almost
| al the same moment TO find the Ranger
| with his face buried In his horses mane.
''Carambal What is this7" The old
| man flung himself from the saddle and came
running "You are injuredf'
Pedro, too. bent over the officer. his
| brown face pale with apprehension
| 'sMother OF God Z" breathed the latter. III
was wild thing to do. to ride alone.
| I'm all right" Law said, rising stihy
| uhereunon both Mexicans voiced their
relief
The saints be praisedi"
| "Sii What happened7 There was q
| shotl Did you see nothingT
Law jerked his head In the direction o.
| the fallen man at his back, ana Pedrs
uttered a loud cry.
Look" Father and son ran through
| tho grass. then recoiled and broke into
tarRon of oaths and exclamations
CONTINUED TOMORROW