The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-05-26

him in, though with surly reluctance. 1
Lewis was Sandy-cOmplexiOned |
man of about forty, with colOrless
brOws and a mean, shifty eye For
merly a cowboy, he had by the exer-
else of some natural ability acquired |
good pFoperty-and bad reputation. /
just how or why ne had prospered !
was a mystery which his neighbOrs
never tired of discussing.
Tad, 1t seemed, resented any inter
ruption of his rest, and showed theS
fact plainly.
Yes, he employed a fellow named
Urbina. What was wanted of him?
Law explained briefly.
why, he's one of my best men,
laughed the rancher. He wouldn't
steal nothing"
well, I had to shoot another good
man of yours Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back Il step. (which one?
WhO?' he inquired quickly
''PinO Garza." Dave told of the
meeting at the branding fire and its
outcome. He was aware, meanwhile,
that Lewis family were listening, for
behind a half-open bedroom door he
''Killed the first shot, eh?'' Tad was
dumfounded. Now, 1 never thought
Pine was that bad. But you never can
tell about these Greasers, can you?
They'll all steal if they get a chance.
let Pine go, bout a week back; but
he's been hangin' around, Amin to
visit some of his relatives up in the
brush country. 1t was probably one
of them old Guzman saw. Anyhow, it
couldn't of been AdOlfo Urbina he
was over to Las Palmas all the after
noon"
did you send him there?"
''Sure. Ed Austin can tell you"
where is Urbina. nOw?"
81 reckon he's asleep somewhere.
Wen dig him up and talk to him, if
you say So
But AdOlfO Urbina was nowhere to
be found. No one had seen him since
about seven O'Clock, nor could it be dis
covered where he was spending the
night. Dave remembered that it had
been about seven when he left Las Pal
mas, and ascertained, indirectly, that
Tad had a telephone. On his way from
Austin's Law had stopped at a rancho
for a bite to eat, but he could forgive
himself for the delay if, as he sur
missed, Urbina had been warned by
wire of his coming.
That's too bad, amt it?" Lewis
said. But he'll be around again in the
morning, and I'll get him for you. You
leave it to me-"
There was plainly nothing to do but
accept this offer, since it could avail
nothing to wait here for Urbina's re-
turn. Unless the fellow gave himself
up, he probably could not be found,
now that the alarm was given, without
a considerable search in view of
which Dave finally remounted his Dor
rowed horse and, rode away in the di-
rection of Jonesville.
It was after daylight when he dis
mounted stiff1y at Blaze's gate. He
was wet to the skin and bespattered
with mud; he had been almost con-
stantly in the saddle for twenty-four
hours, and Don Ricardo's COW pony
was almost exhausted.
Blaze and Paloma, of course, were
tremendously interested in his story.
"Say, now. that's quick work. the
some thief-buster, Dave, and If you'll
just stay around here little calves can
grow up with some comfort
| When Dave rode to Jonesville, after
breakfast, he found that the body OF
his victim had been brought in during
the night, and that the town was al
ready buzzing with news of the encoun-
| ter. During the forenoon Don Ricardo
and his sons arrived, bringing addi-
tiOnal information. which they prompt
ly impaired to the Ranger. = The Guz-
mans were people'of action. All three
of them had spent the night on horse
back, and Pedro had made discovery
On the day previous Cara had been
seen riding in company with man
aStride a sorrel pony, and this man
had been recognized as Adolfo Urbina.
Pedro's witness would swear 1t.
| Their distance from Las Palmas at
| the time when they had been seen to-
getheF proved beyond question that IN
less Urbina had flown he could not
have arrived at the place in question
by noon, the hour Ed Austin had fixed.
This significant bit of information,
however, Dave advised the Guzmans
not to make public for the time being.
Toward midday Tad Lewis and three
of his men arrived with the news that
Urbina had left for Pueblo before they
could intercept him.
Hes got a girl up there, and he's
gone to get married." Tad explained.
I'm sure sorry we missed him."
Dave smiled grimly at the speaker.
Are you sure he didn't cross to the
other side?' he asked.
Lewis retorted warmly: "Adolfo's an
albright hombre, and I'll back him.
SOIL Ed Austin. I guess me an Ed
are responsible, amt we?'' Some
skeptical expression in his hearers
face prompted him to inquire, brusque-
ly, do you believe what I'm telling
you about his goin' to Pueblo?''
ST guess he's gOne-somewhere"
Tad uttered an angry exclamation
Looks to me like you'd made up your
mind to saddle this thing onto him
whether he done 1t or not. Well, he's
a poor Mexican, but I won't stand tc
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