The Raymer enterprise., 1917-05-10
beats now: their drumming came faint

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.
"Slt down." Alaire ordered, sharp
ly. He obeyed, muttering beneath his
breath, but his head was turned as II
In an effort to follow the sounds Of the
pursuit.
Next came the distant rattle Of
loosened stones-evldently one horse
was being urged toward the open high
ground-then the peaceful quiet eve
ming was split by the report Of Laws
thirty-thlrty. 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 was trying 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 lariat was Bessie Belle,
and her saddle was empty.
Mrs. Austin uttered sharp cry.
Law dismounted and strobe 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 pounce upon a 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 bis
RATA 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'ye notion to bend a gun over
your head Law growled. "Cleyer lit.
tie game, wasn't it?"
where? Did you-kill hlm?" the
woman gasped.
Alalre had never beheld such o
demoniac 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
slant he seemed to include her In his
anger. Ignoring her inquiry, he wen,
to his mare and ran his shaking hands
over her as II In search Of an injury
his questioning palms covered every
inch of glistenlng hide from forelock
to withers, from shoulder to hoof, and
under cover Of this task he regained In
some degree his self-control.
THAT hombre Of yours-didn't looh
right to me- he said, finally. Laying
his cheek against Bessie Bellies neck
as woman snuggles close to the mar
Of her choice, he addressed the mare
Il reckon nobody is going to steal you
ehi Not II | know 1t. No, sir; thai
hombre wasn't any good. was he7"
Alaire wet her lips. "Then you
shot him?"
Il didn't say ! shot him." he told her
gruffiy. II warned him first, and b,
turned on me-blew smoke In my face
Then he took to the brush, afoot, and
| cut down on him once more to bel,
him along"
He got awayr
II reckon So"
| "Oh, oh" Alaire's tone left n,
doubt of her relief. He was always {
good man"
"Goodi Didn't he steal my horse
Didn't he aim to get me at the firs
chance and free his compadref That,
why he wanted his Winchester. Say
I reckon he-needs killln' about a,
much as anybody know"
Il can't understand It." AlaIre "a
down weakly. zone Of my men, too"
"Thls fellow behaved himself while
was gone, ehl' Law jerked his hea,
In Anto's direction. Il was afraid h,
he'd try something. II he had
Such a possibility, oddly enough
seemed to choke the speaker, and th,
ferocity Of his unfinished threat cause,
Mrs. Austin to look up at him curious
ly. There was moment of silence
then he said, shortly: swell, we'v,
got horse apiece now. Let's co."
The stars had thIckened and bright
ened, rounding the night sky into
glittering dome. Anto, the murderer
with his ankles lashed beneath hi
horses belly, rode first; next, In a sui
len silence, came the ranger, his chil
upon his breast; and in the rear fol
lowed Alalre Austin.
Under the stars, at the break of tn,
arroyo, three hundred yards below tn,
water hole, coyote was sinking in ,
wide circle around the body of Panf,l,
Sanchez.