Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-07
THIRD EPISODE
American Blood.

The outlaws were thrown into wild
disorder as a result of Pedro's feroci-
Gus attacks. A portion of the hut had
been blown up. thus forcing him and
his followers TO retreat behind rock.
Lopez, raging like a furious crater,
attempted TO send his men after the
old slave. But they hesitated.
At the foot Of the cliff stood the
saviour of Liberty still introducing
bis new method of warfare. Every
time one of the Mexicans attempted
TO close in on him he reached for
another stick of dynamite. He was
q terror TO behold.
In the meantime, the Major and the
rangers stood listening TO the loud
explosions which rumbled through the
canyon and echoed far down the trail.
They were drilling the rock which had
been thrown across the road by Lopez
AMI his men. As they worked the
earth at their feet trembled.
"Egads =" exclaimed the Major.
''They're blowing up the canyon"
"You-all amt seen that Teller Pedro
round here lately, have yerT" asked
one Of the rangers Of the Major.
"No. by Cad" replied the rusty old
fighter as he swung quickly around.
"Where is that dirty old rascal7 I'll
bet he's sneaked back TO the hacienda"
Looks ter me as though he's taken
some lunch with him, too" remarked
Steve Dudley, one Of the bravest men
that ever patroIled the border. "There's
about a dozen of them sticks Of dyna-
mite missln'."
"UnIess Tn pretty badly mistaken. IS
interrupted Bill Larabee. as he SLOUGH
ed over to where the Major stood
''he's maxim all that thunder down
there in the canyon"
with that the Major and n few
of the rangers approached the edge
OF the cliff and looked down, as their
eyes searched the depths of the can
yon.
"By God, there he Isl" shouted Bill
as he pointed TO the figure of Pedro
far beneath them. At that moment
~ o
AS they watched him he thrust one
hand into the bosom of his shirt and
brought forth a long narrow object
and hurled II with all his strength
straight at a group of dark figures
that FASTENED to get under the cover
OF huge rock. An instant later
another terrible rumbllng noise re-
sounded through the canyon, and.
again the ground beneath them
trembled. as a cloud of smoke rose
upwards.
"He's flghtIn' them with dynamite 7"
exclaimed the Major as he gazed far
below.
THAT'S Lopez and his bandI" cried
BIZ.
With that the Major and the boys
returned TO their work and resumed
drilling the rock which was almost
ready for the dynamite.
It was now daybreak. All night
long Rutledge and his men had been
drilling, while the Major, tired from
his strenuous ride, had thrown him
self down on one OF the blankets and
snatched some sleep. However. Just
before dawn he had insisted on re-
lleving the Captain.
But, while Rutledge sought to quiet
the Major. and rolled himself up in
his blanket. he made certain that one
Of his eyes was continually open. For.
he recalled he had an engagement at
daybreak TO kill a greaser, and he
was particularly anxious to keep the
appointment.
AS Rutledge faced the sky thinking
of these things his opponent was fl
his tent. few feet away examlnIr e
his sheath-knife. His eyes cleaned
with hate for the ranger.
Just as the sun showed its nose
above the eastern horizon, Manuel
stepped from his tent As he did so,
Rutledge. who had already seen him,
reached for his knife, and, after
stretching his legs walked straight
over to the spot where the Mexican
stood.
NOW then. you liver-colored
puerco," he said as his eyes flashed
fire, take good look at that sun
rise, for i'm be the last one you'li
see around these parts for some time"
With a curse, Manuel grabbed his
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