Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-03-30

tons almost at the same moment, to
find the Ranger with his face buried
in his horses name.
"Caramba! What is this?" The old
man flung himself from the saddle
and came running. "YOu are injured?"
Pedro, too, bent over the officer his
brown face pale with apprehension.
Mother of God!" breathed the latter.
SIT was wild thing to do, to ride
alone"
"Pm all right" Law said rising
stiffiy, whereupOn both Mexicans
voiced their relief.
"The saints be praised"
"Si! What happened? There was
shot! Did you see nothing?"
Law jerked his head in the direc-.
ton of the fallen man at his back and
Pedro uttered a loud cry.
"LOok ~ Father and son ran through
the grass, then recOiled and broke
into a jargon Of oaths and exclama-
tons.
Fright in the MOUTH The fellow
was ia death before he realized it."
"See! It is az we thought, Pedro;
one of Lewis! Use! Use! Tsel
What q sight!"
"NNho is hep" queried the officer.
"Pino Cara, one of the worst!"
chimed the two Guzmans.
Ricardo was dancing in his excite
ment 81 told you that Lewis knew
i something. The other one got past
me- but [ cannot shoot like-this."
1t was difficult to secure q connected
story from Ricardo, but he finally
made it plain that at the first report
the other thief had fled, exposing him.
self only long enough for the old man
to take q quick shot in his direction.
Ricardo had missed, and the miscre.
ant was doubtless well away by this
time. He had ridden q SOrrel horse
that was all Ricardo could remember
Law looked only briefly at the grue.
some results of his craftsmanship
then he turned back to the body of his
beloved mare. Ricardo noticed al
length that he was crying; as the
Ranger knelt beside the dead thor.
oughbred, the old Mexican whispered
to his son:
"Valgame Dios! This is a strange
fellow. He Weeps like a woman. He
must have loved that horse as a man
loves his wife. Who can understand
these gringOsW After q time he ap.
preached cautiously and inquired:
'What shall we do with this hombre,
senior? Pedro has found his horse"
Law reused himself With his own
hands he gently removed Bessie Bellies
saddle, bride and blanket, then he
gave his orders.
''I'll take your horse, Ricardo, and
you take-that fellows. Get a wagon
and move him to Jonesville."
"And you?"
'Tm going to follow that man on the
sOrrel."
The dead mans saddle was left be-
side the body; then when the ex.
change of mounts had been effected,
and all was ready, Law made a re-
quest that amazed both father and son.
IF I'm not back by morning, I want
you to bury my mare" His voice
broke; he turned away his face. BURY
her deep, Ricardo, s0-the coyotes
can't dig her up; right where she fell.
I'll be back to see that it's done right.
Understands
"Bueno I understand perfectly.
She was a pretty horse. She was your
bonita, eh? Well, you have a big
heart, senior, as q brave man should
have. Everything shall be done as
you wish; I give you my hand on it."
Ricardo reached down and gripped
Laws palm. owe will name our pas
ture for her, too, because it is plain
you loved her dearly. So, then, until
tomorrow"
Law watched his two friends ride
away, then, with a miserable ache in
his throat, he mounted and rode off
to pick up the trail OF the man on the
sOrrel pony
The fellow had ridden in the direc-
ton of Las Palmas, which Dave judged
must be fully twelve miles away, and
when they continued to maintain this
! course the Ranger became doubly in
tereSted. Ee risked his own interpre-
tation of the riders intent and pushed
on without pausing to search out the
trail step by step. At the second gate
the signs Indicated that his man was
little more than an hour ahead of him.
The prospect of again seeing the
ruddy-haired mistress of Las Palmas
stirred Law more deeply than he cared
to admit. Nevertheless, he was uncom-
fortably aware that she had a hus.
band. Not only so, but the sharp CON
trast in their positions was disagree
able to contemplate; she was unbeliev-
ably rich, and a person of influence in
the state, while he had nothing except
his health, his saddle and his horse
No; no horse now, she was gone.
The mist and an early dusk prevent
I'd him from seeing Las Palmas itself
until he was well ia among the irri-
gated fields. A few moments later,