The Huttig news., 1917-03-24

| see! II IS us we thought, Pe0fO {, one of Lewis! Tse! Tsel Tse 1 What a sight ,''
 "Who is he?' queried the officer.
 "Pino Garza, one of the worst l" chimed the two GuZmans.
 Ricardo was dancing in his excite ment. "I told you that Lewis knew something. The other one got past me. but I cannot shoot like-this."
 It was difficult to secure a connected story from Ricardo, but he finally made 1t plain that at the first report the other thief had fed exposing him. self only long enough for the old man to take a quick shot in his direction. Ricardo had missed, and the miscre ant was doubtless well away by this time. He had ridden a sorrel horse. that was all Ricardo could remember
 Law looked only briefly at the grue some results of his marksmanship, then he turned back to the body of his beloved nlare. Ricardo noticed at length that he was crying; as the Ranger knelt beside the dedd thor. oughbred, the old Mexican whispered to his son;
 'Valgame Dios! This is strange fellow. He weeps like woman. He must have loved that horse as a man loves his wife. Who can understand these gringos?" After a time he ap- proached cautiously and inquired: l: What shall we do with this hombre, senor? Pedro has found his horse"
 Law reused himself. With his own hands he gently removed Bessie Belle's saddle, bridle and blanket, then he gave his orders.
 "Fll take your horse, Ricardo. and you take-that fellows. Get wagon and move him to Jonesville."
 And you?"
 I'm 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.
 lf 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, so-the coyotes can't dig her up right where she fell. I'll be back to see that it's done right. Understand"
 "Bueno! I understand perfectly She was pretty horse. She was your bonita, eh? Well, you have a big
  have. Everything shall be done as you wish; l give you my hand on it." Ricardo reached down and gripped Laws palm. "We 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 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. He 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- fortabiy aware that she had 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 ed him from seeing Las Palmas itself until he was well in among the irri- gated fields. A few moments later, when he rode up to the outbuildings, he encountered a middle-aged Mexican, who proved to be Bento Gonzalez, the range boss.
 Dave made himself known, and Be nito answered his questions with ap- parent honesty. No. he had seen noth- ing of sorrel horse or strange rider but he had just come in himself. Doubtless they could learn more from Juan, the horse-wrangler, who was somewhere about.
 Juan was finally found, but he proved strangely recalcitrant. He ad- mitted that he had seen horse of the description given. Probably 1t be- longed to some stranger.
 Dave changed his tactics. "Oiga :" he said, sternly. Do you want to go to iail?" Juan had no such desire. "Then tell the truth. Where is the horse now?"
 Juan insolently declared he didn't know and didn't care.
 "Oh, you don't, eh?" Law reached for the boy, and shook him until he | yelled. You will make a nice little | prisoner, Juanito, and we shall find way to make you speak"
 Gonzalez was inclined tO reSent such |