Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-06-16
CHAPTER VIII.
Following un the Trail

lowed Young Eds incivlity. not only
for his own sake. but for the So ke of
Alaire. After all, he argued, il was
barely possible that Ed had spoken the
truth. There We're many sorrel horses;
the evidence of those rain-washed hoof-
prints was far from conclusive; even
the fact that Urbiud belonged to the
Tad Lewis outfit was no more than
suspicious circumstance. And yet. ear
nestly as he strOve to convince himself
of these possibilities, the Ranger could
not down the conviction that the ranch
err had lied and that be himself was on
the right track.
1t was late when he arrived at his
destination, but Lewis house was dark.
and it required some effort to awaken
the owner. When Tad at last APP
peared, clad in undershirt and trou-
serS, he greeted the Ranger with lev-
eled rife; but when Dave had
made known his identity, he invited
him in, though with surly reluctance.
Lewis was a 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 a
good prOperty-and a bad reputation.
Just how or why he had prospered
was a mystery which his neighbors
never tired of discussing.
Tad. It seemed. resented any inter
ruption of his rest. and showed the
fact plainly.
Yes, he employed a fellow named
Urbina. What was wanted of hlm2
Law explained briefly
"Why, he's one of my best men ~
laughed the rancher. HE wouldn't
steal nothing"
"Well, l had to shoot another good
man of yours" Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back a step. (Which one?
Who?' he inquired quickly.
"Pino CARA" Dave told Of the
meeting at the branding fire aud its
outcome. He was aware, meanwhile
that Lewis family were listening, for
| behind q half-open bedroom door he
could hear an excited whispering.
''KllIed the first shot, eh?" Tad was
dumfounded. "Now, l 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
l let Pine 90, 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
/ pF n G.
couldn't Of been AdolfO Urbina; he
was over to Las Palmas all the after
noon"
Did you SEMI 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, Il
you say so"
| But Ad0Ifo Urblna 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
Austins Law had stopped at a rancho
for bite to eat, but he could forgive
himself for the delay If, as he sur
m,sed Urbna had been warned by
wire of his coming
That's too bad, amt ~" Lewis
said. But he'll be around again ia 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 Urbna'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 Jonesylile.
II was after daylight when he dis
mounted stifly at Blazes gate. Re
was wet to the skin ano despatched
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 anu Paloma, Of course. were
tremendously interested in his story.
Say. now, that's quick work" the
latter exclaimed, heartily. "Your re
some thief-buster, Dave, and If youl
Just stay around here little calves can
grow up with some comfort"
When Dave rode to JonesviIle. after
breakfast, he found that the body OF
his victim had been brought In during
the night and that the town was all
ready huzzing with news Of the encouu-
ter. During the forenoon Don Ricardo
and his sons arrived. bringing adli-
tionaI information, which they prompt
IL impaired 10 the Ranger. The Guz-
mans were people Of action. All three
Of them had spent the night on horse
back. ana Pedro had made d discovery.
On the day previous CARA had been
seen riding ia company with a man
astride sorrel pony, and this man
had been recognized as Adolfo Crbiua
PedrO's witness would swear it.
Their distance from Las Palwas at