Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-03-09


left hand, the. ranger halted, then
STOPPING for Anto's discarded cartridge
belt, he Topped it over his saddle-hOrn,
He vaulted easily into the seat, say.
ing:
Il hid that mare pretty well. Your
man may not be able to find her." Then
he turned his borrowed horses head
toward the brush.
AntO had sQuatted mOtionless until
this moment; he had not even turned
his eyes; but now, without the slight
est warning, he uttered a loud call
1t might have served equally well as 8
summons or as an alarm, but il
changed the rangers suspicious into
certainty. Dave uttered an angry ex.
clamatiOn, teen to the startled woman
he cried:
watch this man! He can't hurt
you, for I've got his shells" To his
prisoner he said, sharply: "Stay where
you are! Don't mover The next in
slant he had Hoped into the brush or
the tracks Of PanfiIo Sanchez. spurrinl
he tired gray pony into vigorous ac-
ion.
1t was an uncomfortable situation in
which Alaire now found herself. Law
vas too suspicious, she murmured to
herself: he was needleSSly melOdra-
matte: she felt exceedingly i'll at ease
as the p0nys hOOf-beatS grew fainter.
She was startled by hearing other hOOt-
beats now; their drumming came faint
out unmistakable. Yes, there were two
lOrses racing down the arroyo. Anto,
he fugitive, rose to his feet and stared
INTO the dusk.
"Sit down!" Alaire ordered, sharp
". He obeyed. muttering beneath his
breath, but his head was turned as II
n an effort to follow the sounds of the
pursuit.
Next came the distant rattle of
oosened stones-evidently one horse
vas being urged toward the open high
yrOund-then the peaceful quiet eve
ling was split by the report of Laws
hirty-thirty Another shot followed,
and then a third Both Alaire and her
prisoner were on their feet, the woman
shaking in every limb, the Mexican
straining his eyes into the gloom and
listening intently
Alaire had begun to feel the strain OF
he situation and was trying to decide
what next to do, when David Law
came riding out of the twilight. He
was astride the gray; behind him at
he end Of q lariat was Bessie Belle,
and her saddle was empty.
Mrs. Austin uttered a sharp cry.
Law dismOunted and strobe to the
prisoner. His face was black with
fury: he seemed gigantic in his rage.
Without a word he raised his right
nand and cuffed the Mexican to his
knees. Then he leaped upon him, as
dog might pOunce upon a rabbit,
rolled him to his face, and twisted the
fellows arm into the small of his back.
AntO cursed, he struggled, but he was
ike a child in the rangers grasp. Law
Snelt upon him, and with jerk of his
RATA secured the fellows wrists; ris-
ing, he set the knot with another heave
that dragged the prisoner to his knees.
Next he booted AntO to his feet.
1--WE a notion to bend a gun over
your head" Law growled. Clever lit
tie game, wasn't it?'
"Where-? Did you-kill him?' the
woman gasped.
Alaire had never beheld such a
demOniac expression as Law turned
! upon her. The mans face was con-
tOrted, his eyes were blazing inSanely,
his chest was heaving, and for an in
slant he seemed to include her in his
anger. Ignoring her inquiry, he went
to his mare and ran his shaking hands
over her as if in search of an injury
his questioning palms covered every
| inch of glistening hide from fOrelock
to withers, from shoulder to hoof, and
under cover of this task he regained in
some degree his self-cOntroi.
"That hombre of yours-didn't look
right to me-" he said, finally. Laying
his cheek against Bessie Bellies neck,
as woman snuggles close to the man
of her choice, he addressed the mare
81 reckon nobody is going to steal you,
| Ell? Not if I know it. No, sir: that
hombre wasn't any good, was he?"
Alaire wet her lips. "Then YOU
shot him?'
II didn't say / shot him." he told her,
gruff1y. II warned him first, and he
| turned on me-blew smoke in my face.
Then he took to the brush, afoot and
I cut down on him once more to help
him along"
''He got awayT"
81 reckon SOL
ooh, OH Alaire's tone left no
doubt of her relief. "He was always a
good man"
Good? Didn't he steal my horsei
Didn't he aim to get me at the first
| chance and free his compadre? That's
why he wanted his Winchester. Say!
} reckon he-needs KILN about as