The Mena weekly star., 1917-06-28
CHAPTER XIV.
Lefever to the Rescue.


 Lefever, chafing In the aspen grove under the restraint of waiting in the storm, was ready long before daylight to break orders and ride in to find De Spain.
 With the first peep of dawn, and with his men facing him in their sad dies. Lefever made short explanation.
 T don't want any man to go into the gap with me this morning under any misunderstanding or any false pre- tense," he began cheerfully. Bob Scott and Bull will stay right here. If, by any chance, De Spain makes his way out while the rest of us are hunt ing for him, you'll be here to signal us three shots, Bob-or to ride in with De Spain to help carry the rest of us out. Now, it's like this" he added, ad- dressing the others. "You, all of you know, or ought to know--everybody 'twixt here and the railroad knows that De Spain and Nan Morgan have fastened up to each other for the long ride down the dusty trail together. That, I take it, is their business. But her uncle, old Duke, and Gale, and the whole bunch, hear, turned dead sore on 1t, and have fixed it up to beat them. You all know the Morgans. They're some bunch-and they stick for one another like hornets, and all hold to- gether in a fight. So don't want any man to ride in there with me thinking he's going to wedding. He isn't. He may or may not be going to a funeral, but he's not going to shivaree."
 Frank Elpaso glanced sourly at his companions. T guess everybody here is wise, John."
 "I know you are, Frank" retorted Lefever testify; that's all right. I'm only explaining. And don't want you to get sore on me if don't show you a fight" Frank Elpaso grunted. T am under orders." John waved his hand. And I can't do anything"
 "But talk" growled Frank Elpaso, not waving his hand.
 Lefevef started hotly forward in his saddle. "Now look here, Frank" He pointed his finger at the objecting ranger. I'm here for business, not for pleasure. Any time I'm free you can talk to me-"
 Mot till somebody gags you, John," interposed Elpaso moodily.
 Look here, Elpaso," demanded Le- fever, spurring his horse, smartly to- ward the Texan. "are you looking for a fight with me right here and nowr
 "Yes, here and now" declared El- paso fiercely.
 "0r, there and then" interposed Kennedy, ironically, "some time, some where. or no time, nowhere. Having heard all of which. hundred and fifty times from you two fellows, let us have peace. You've pulled it so often, over at Sleepy Cat, they've got 1t in double faced. red-seal records. Let's get started"
 sRight you are, Farrell" assented Lefever, but"
 "Second verse, John. You're boss here; what are we going to do7 That's all we want to know"
 "Henry's orders were to wait here till ten o'clock this morning. There's been firing inside twice since twelve o'clock last night. He told me to pay no attention to that. But if the whole place hadn't been under water all night, I'd have gone in, anyway. This last time it was two high-powered guns, picking at long range and, if I'm any judge of rifles and the men prob ably behind them, someone must have got hurt. It's all guess-but I'm go- ing in there, peaceably if l can. to look for Henry de Spain; if we are fired on we've got to fight for it. And if there's any talking to be done--'
 You can do it." grunted Elpaso.
 Thank you, Frank. And will do it. I need not say that Kennedy will ride ahead with me, Elpaso and Wickwire with TommIe Meggeson."
 Leaving Scott in the trees, the little party trotted smartly up the road, picking their way through the pools and across the crawling streams that tore over the trail toward Duke Nor gans place. The condition of the trail broke their formation continually and Lefever, in the circumstances, was not sorry. His only anxiety was to keep Elpaso from riding ahead far enough to embroil them in quarrel before ne himself should come up.
 Halfway to Dukes house they found a small bridge had gone out. It cut on the direct road, and, at Elpaso's sug- gestion, they crossed over to follow the ridge up the valley. Swimming their horses through the backwater that GOV cred the depression to the south, they gained the elevation and proceeded, unmolested, on their way. AS they approached Sassoon's place, Eipaso' riding ahead, drew up his horse and sat a moment studying the trail and cast ing an occasional glance in the direc- tion of the ranch-house, which lay un- der the brow of hill ahead.
 When Lefever rode up to him, ne saw the story that Elpaso was reading in the roadway. It told of man shot In his tracks as he was running toward the house-and, in the judgment or these men, fatally shot--for, while ms companions spread like a fan in Ironl of him. Lefever got of his horse ahu' bending intently over the sudden page torn out of a mans life, recast the scene that had taken place, where ne stood. half an hour earlier. Some httie fiuna v.afeyer spent patiently decipher-