The Huttig news., 1917-03-10

mas and La Feria rahehes meets Dave Law, Texas Ranger, at water hole and ] is compelled to spend the night there with him, as he is in ambush for murderer and cannot leave his post.
 CHAPTER II-Next day at evening the murderer appears with a companion.
 With bridle rein and carbine in his left hand, the ranger halted, then. stopping for Anto's discarded cartridge belt, he looped it over his saddle-horn. He vaulted easily into the seat, say ing:
 "I hid that mare pretty well. Your man may not be able to find her" Then he turned his borrowed horses head toward the brush.
 Anto had squatted motionless until this moment; lie had not even turned his eyes but now, without the slight est warning, he uttered Il loud call. It might have served equally well as a summons or as an alarm, but ii changed the rangers suspicious into certainty. Dave uttered an angry ex- clamatien, then to the startled woman he cried:
 " dttii tiiiS iliu1 lbt Ndll | iuli you, for I've got his shells" To his prisoner he said sharply: Stay where you are! Don't move!" The next in- stant he had loped into the brush on the tracks of Panfilo Sanchez, spurring the tired gray pony into vigorous ae- tion.
 II was an uncomfortable situation in which Alaife now found herself. Law was too suspicious. she murmured to herself he was needlessly melodfa- matic; she felt exceedingly ill at ease as the pony's hoof-beats grew fainter She was startled by hearing other hoof- beats now their drumming came faint but unmistakable. Yes, there Were two horses racing down the arroyo. Anto the fugitive, rose to his feet and stared into the dusk.
 "Sft downi" Alaire ordered, sharp ly. He obeyed. muttering beneath his breath. but his head was turned as If in an effort ts follow the sounds of the pursuit.
 Next came the distant rattle of loosened stones-evidently one horse was being urged toward the open high ground-then the peaceful quiet eve ming was split by the report of Laws thirty-thirty. Another shot followed, and then third Both Alaire and her prisoner were on their feet, the woman shaking in every limb, the Mexican straining his eyes into the gloom and listening intently.
 Alaire had begun to feel the strain of the situation and wasstrying to decide what next to do, when David Law came riding out of the twilight. He was astride the gray; behind him at the end of a lariat was Bessie Belle, and her saddle was empty.
 Mrs. Austin uttered sharp cry.
 Law dismounted and strode to the prisoner His face was black with fury he seemed gigantic in his rage. Without word he raised his right hand and cuffed the Mexican to his knees. Then he leaped upon him. as dog might bounce 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 his riata secured the fellows wrists; ris- ing, he set the knot with another heaye that dragged the prisoner to his knees. Next he booted Anto to his feet.
 'I've a 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 n aemoniac expression as Law turned upon her. The mans face was con torted, his eyes were blazing insanely, his chest was heaving, and for an in stant 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 regained in some degree his self-controi.
 .That hombre of yours-didn't look right to me" he said, finally. Laying his cheek against Bessie Belle's neck, as a woman snuggles close to the man ! of her choice, he addressed the mare l: q reckon nobody is going to steal you, eh? Not if I know it. No. sir; that hombre wasn't any good, was hep
 Alaire wet her lips. "Then you shot him?"
 T didn't say I shot him. he told her, gruffly. "I warned him first, and he turned on me--blew smoke in my face. Then he took to the brush, afoot, and cut down on him once more to help him along"
 ''Ie got away?"
 'sI reckon so.'
 "Oh, oh r, Alaire's tone left no doubt of her relief. "He was always q good man"
 Good? Didn't he steal my horseI