The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-04-26

but unmistnkablc. Yes, there were two
hcrses racing down the arroyo. Anto.,
the fugitive. rose to his feet and stare,i
into the dusk.
"Sit down." Alairc ordered. sharp,
ly. He obeycd. muttcring beneath his
breath, but his head was turned as If
in an effort to follow the sounds OF the
| pursuit.
Next came the distant rattle of
loosencd StoncS--evidently one horse
was being urged toward the open high
ground-thpn the peaceful quiet eve
ming wns split by the report of Laws
thirty-thirty. Another shot followed
and then a third. Both Alare and her
prisoner were on their feet, the woman
shaking in every limb, the Mexican
struining his eyes into the gloom and
! listening intcntly.
Alairr had begun to feel the strain Of
the situation and was trying to decide
what next to do, when David Law
! came riding ont of the twilight. He
was astridc the gray; behind him at
the end of lariat was Bessie Belle.
and her saddle was empty.
Mrs. Austin uttered Il sharp cry
Law dislmountcd and strobe to the
prisoner. His face was black with
| fury; he seemed gigantic in his rage
| Without Il word he raised his right
hand and cutfed the Mexican to his
knees. Then he leaped upon him, as
Il dog might pouncc upon rabbit,
rolled him to his face, and twisted the
! fellows arm into the small of his back
Anto cursed. he struggled. but he was
like child in the rangers grasp. Law
knelt upon him. and with jerk of hi.
RATA secured the fellows wrists; ris.
ing. he set the knot with another heavr
that dragged the prisoner to his knees.
Next he booted Anto to his feet.
i've notion to bend 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
demonlac expression as Law turned
upon her. The mans face was con-
Ntorted. his eyes We're blazing insnnely.
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 regalned in
some degree his self-control
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
reckon nobody is going to steal you
| en-! Not If know it. No, sir; that
hombre wasn't my good, was he?"
Alnire wet her lips. 'Then YOU
shot him?"
Il didn't say shot him." he told her
srutiiy. II warned him first, and he
turned on mc-blew smoke in nv face
Then he took to the brush, afoot, md
cut down on him once more to ho,r
him along"
"He got away?"
II reckon So"
"Oh, OH" Alaire's tone left nc
doubt of her relief. "He was always 8
good man"
GOOD? Didn't he steal nv horse,
Didnt he aim to get me at the first
chance and free his compadre? That's
why he wanted his Winchester. Snvl
reckon hc-needS killin' about rs
much as anybody I know"
Il can't understand It," Aloire sat
down weakly. "Onc of my men, too"
This follow behaved himself whi,o
was gone, eh?" Law ierked his head
IN Anto's direction. 81 was afraid bc
he'd try something. If he had-,
Such possibility. oddly enough
seemed to choke The speaker, and th,
ferocity of his unfinished throat cousod
Mrs. Austin. to look up at him curious
~. There was n moment of silence
then he said, shortly: "Wcll. we've
got horse apiece now. Let's go.'
The stars had thickened and bright
ened' rounding the night sky into q
sIittering dome. Anto, the murderer
win MS ankles lashed beneath his
horses belly, rode first; next, in a sul.
zen silence. came the ranger, his chin
upon ms breast; and in the rear fol-
) lowed Alairc Austin.
Ohder the stars, at the break Of the
arroyo three hundred yards below the
water h0le, coyote was Sinking in q
VIDE circle around the body of PnnA,o
Sanchez.
=--==---z====-=.=-====: z===--==-======:-,