The Raymer enterprise., 1917-06-14


pcarcd, clad in undershirt and trou-
sers, he greeted the Ranger with lev
eled rifle; but when Dave had
made known his identity, he invited
him In, though with surly reluctance.
Lewis was n sandy-complexioned
man of about forty. with colorless
brows and mean. shifty eye. For
merly cowboy, he had by the exer-
else Of some natural ability acquired a
good property-and bad reputation
just how or why he had prospered
was q mystery which his neighbors
never tired Of discussing.
Tad, 1t seemed. resented any inter-
ruptlon Of his rest, and showed the
fact plainly.
Yes, he employed a fellow named
Urblna. What was wanted Of him?
Law explained briefly.
"Why. he's one OF my best men 7"
laughed the rancher. "Iie wouldn't
steal nothing"
well, | had to shoot another good
man Of yours Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back step. (Which one? ?
Whol" he inquired quickly.
"Pino Garza." Dave told OF the
meeting at the branding fire and Its
outcome. He was aware, meanwhile,
that Lewis family were listening, for
behind half-open bedroom door he
could hear an excited whispering.
"killed the first shot, eh;" Tad was
dumfounded. Now, | never thought
Pine was that bad. But you never can
tell about these Greasers, can you?
They'll all steal II they get q chance.
| let Pine 90, bout week back; but
he's been hangin' around, amin to
visit some Of his relatives up In the
brush country. II was probably one
of them old Guzman saw. Anyhow, 1t
couldn't OF been Adolfo Urblna; he
was over TO Las Palmas all the after
noon"
'ih s'u tHtlts
"Snre. Ed Austin can tell you"
"Where Is Trhina nowi"
q reckon he's asleep somewhere.
Wen dig him up and talk TO him, IL
you say so.'
But Adofu Urbina was nowhere 10
be found. No one had seen him since
about seven o'clock. nor could II be dis
covered where he was spending the
night. Dave remembered that 1t had
been about seven when he left Las Pal
mas, and ascertained, indirectly, that
Tad had telephone. On his way from
Austln's Law had stopped at a rancho
for Il bite to eat. but he could forgive
himself for the delay II, as he sur
missed, Urbina had been warned by
wire OF his coming.
That's too bad, amt it?" Lewis
said. "But he'll be around again In the
morning, and I'll get him for you. You
leave 1t to me-"
There was plainly nothing to do but
accept this offer, since II could avail
nothing TO wait here for urblna's re-
turn. Unless the fellow gave himself
up, he probably could not be found.
now that the alarm was given, without
n considerable search in view of
which Dave finally remounted his bor-
rowed horse and rode away In the d.
rection of Jonesville.
II was after daylight when he dis
mounted stifily at Blaze's gate. He
was wet to the skin and bespattered
with mud; he had been almost con-
stantly In the saddle for twenty-four
hours, and Don Ricardo's COW pony
was almost exhausted.
Blaze and Paloma, of course, were
tremendously interested In his story.
Say, now. that's quick work." the
latter exclaimed, heartily. you're
some thlef-buster. Dave, and II you'll
Just stay around here little calves can
grow up with some comfort"
When Dave rode to Jonesyille, after
breakfast, he found that the body Of
his victim had been brought in during
the night, and that the town was al
ready buzzing with news OF the eneoun-
ter. During the forenoon Don Ricardo
and his sons arrived. bringing adii-
tional Information. which they prompt
~ impaired to the Ranger. The Guz-
mans were people of action. All three
of them had spent the night on horse
back. and Pedro had made discovery.
On the day previous CARA had been
seen riding In company with a man
astride a sorrel pony, and this man
had been recognized rs Adolf0 Urbina.
Pedro's witness would swear 1t.
Their distance from Las Palmas at
the time when they had been seen to-
gether proved beyond question that un-
less Urbinn had flown he could not
have arrived at the place In question
by noon, the hour Ed Austin had fixed.
This significant bit Of Information,
however, Dave advised the Guzmans
not to make public for the time being.
Toward midday Tad Lewis and three
of his men arrived with the news that