Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-03-02

say IT'S my tavorlte form OF ex-
arcise." Laws blue gray eyes were ex-
pressionless, his face was bland.
"Why?"
81 have a great many books at Las
Palmas. You might enjoy some OF
them
"Now that's nice of you, ma'am.
Mebbe I'll look into this cattle-stealin
n your neighborhood and if I do I'll
sure come borrOwin."
ooh, I'll send you a boxful when l
get back" said Alaire, and Dave
thanked her humbly.
Later, when he went to move his
mare into a shady spot, the Ranger
chuckled and slapped his thigh with
ls hat. Bessie Belle, we're going TO
improve our minds" he said aloud.
We're going to be literary and read
Pilgrims Progress and Alice in
Wonderland 1 bet We'll enjoy 'em,
al? But-doggone She's a nice lady,
and your coat is just the same color
IS her hair"
Where the shade was densest and
he breeze played most freely, there
Dave fixed a comfortable couch for his
guest, and during the heat Of the fore
noon she dozed. But one cannot sleep
Well with q tropic sun in the heavens,
md since there was really nothing for
Ter to do until the heat abated, Alaire,
when she awOke, obliged the Ranger
% amuse her.
AS the morning progressed Law
proved himself an interesting cOmpan-
on, and in spite of the discomforts of
he situation the hours slipped rap
dly. Luncheon was q disagreeable
neal, eaten while the arroyo baked
ana the heat devils danced on the
Hills; but the unpleasantnesS was of
)rief duration, and Law always man
lged to Danish boredom. Nor did he
seem to waste q thought upon the ma
.ure of that grim business which
brought him to this place. Quite the
contrary, in the afternoon he put his
mare through her tricks for AIaire's
4diticatiOn, and gOssiped idly of what
eyer interested his guest.
Then as the sun edged 70 the west
md Mrs. Austin became restless, he
;addled Bessie Belle and led her down
he gulch into safer covert. Return
NJ, he carefully obhterated all traces
Of the camp. He Watered the ashes of
lie fire, gathered up the telltale scraps
If paper and fragments of food, and
hen when the place suited him fell to
examining his rifle.
Alaire watched him with interest.
where shall l CO." she asked, "and
What shall I do?"
you just pick out q good cover be-
7Ond the water hole and stay there,
na'am. 1t may be q long wait, Tor
something may have happened. If so,
We'll have to lie close. And don't wOr-
y yourself none, ma'am; he won't
make no trouble"
With the sunset the water hole lay
sleeping.
Alaire's retreat was far from COM
:ortable; there was an ants nest some
where near her and she thought Of
moving; but suddenly her breath
taught and her heart jumped uncon-
reliably. She crouched lower, for di-
:ectly opposite her position, and out
ined against the sky where the sharp
.idge cut it, was the figure of
mounted man. She was conscious that
keen and hostile pair of eyes was
searching the cOverts surrounding the
.harcO.
Then, as silently as it had appeared,
he apparition vanished beyond the
idgc Alaire lay close, as she had
)een directed, praying that the horse
nan had been warned but shortly she
heard again the rustic of stiff
branches, ana out into the opening rode
| Mexican. He was .astride Wiry
gray pony. and in the strong twilight
Alaire could see his every feature-the
warthy cheeks, the rowing eyes be-
heath the black felt hat. A carbine
ay across his saddle horn, a lariat
vas cOiled beside his leg. a cartridge
)elt circled his waist. There was
something familiar about the fellow
but at the moment Alaire could not
determine what it was.
After one swift, appraising glance
the newcomer rode straight to the
verge Of the water hole and dismount-
ed; then he and his horse drank side
by side.
1t was the moment for complete
and effective surprise, but nothing
hanDened. Why didn't Law act? Alaire