The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-05-19

better if the Lewis outfit was cleaned
up Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed.
| Guzman caught his enemy's name,
and nodded
All That sin YerguenZa He sells
arms to the Candeleristas and horses
to the POtOsistas. Perhaps he steals
my calves. Who knows?"
| "Senor Lewis doesn't need to steal
He has money" Jones argued.
| True But who is so rich that he
would not be richer? Lewis employs
men who are poor, and he himself is
| above nothing. I, too, am a friend of
the rebels. Panchito, the Liberator.
was saint, and 1 give money to the
patriots who fight for his memory.
But do not aid the tyrant PotOsi with
my other hand. Yes, and who is richer,
for instance, than. Senior Eduardo Aus
tin?"
You surely don't accuse him of
dOuble-dealing with the rebeIs?" Blaze
inquired curiously.
Il don't know. He is friend of
Tad Lewis, and there are strange sto-
ries afiOat
Just what these stories were, how
ever, Ricardo would not say, feeling,
perhaps that he had already said too
much. The three men spent that eve
ming together, and in the morning
Blaze rode home, leaving the Ranger
behind for the time being as Guzman's
guest.
Dave put in the next two days riding
the pastures, familiarizing himself
with the country, and talking with the
few men he met. About all he discOv-
cred, however, was the fact that the
Guzlnan range not only adjoined some
OF Lewis leased land, but also was
bounded for several miles by the Las
Palmas fence.
1t was pleasant to spend the DAYS
among the shy brush-cattle, with Bes-
sic Belle for company. The mare
| seemed TO enjoy the excursions as
much as her owner. Her eyes and ears
were ever alert; she tossed her head
and snorted when u deer broke cover
or jackrabbit scuttIed out of her
path; she showed a friendly interest
in the awkward calves which stood
and eyed her with such amazement
and then gaiIOped stiffiy off with tails
high arched. Law had many times I'M
dertaken to break Bessie Belle of that
habit of fiinging her head high at sud-
den sounds, but she was nervous and
inquiSitive, and this was the one thing
upon which she maintained a feminine
obstinacy.
On the second evening the Ranger
rode home through a drizzle that. had
materialized after a long, threatening
| afternoon and now promised to be-
come a real rain. Ricardo met him
at the door to say:
'YOu bring good fortune with you,
senior, for the land is thirsty. To-mor-
row, if this rain holds, we shall ride
together-yOu, Pedro and 1. Those
thieves do their stealing when they
leave no tracks"
The sky was leaden, the rain still
fell in the morning when Dave and
his two companions set out Until
afternoon they rode, their sIfckers
dripping, swaying to the tireless fox
trOt of their steaming horses, their
eyes engaged in a watchful scrutiny.
AT last Pedro. who was ahead,
refined in and pointed; the others saw
where the barbed-wire strands of the
fence they had been following were
clipped. A number of horse and calf
tracks led through the opening, and
after an examination Ricardo an
| nounced:
There are two men. They have
come and gone, with the calves tied
neck and neck"
THAT is Las Palmas, isn't ft?" Law
| indicated the pasture into which the
| trail led.
Father and son answered, Isl, Sc
nor
For time the Ranger lounged side
wise in his saddle, studying the coun-
try before him. Perhaps a half-mile
away long, narrow patch of woods.
with the tops of occasional oaks
showing, ran parallel with the fence
for considerable distance.
''They took them in yonder. TO
brand, he said. Strengthening him.
self. Maybe Wen be in. time"
Side by side the three men rode of
Guzman's land, following the tracks
to the nearest point of woods; there
Law stopped to give his directions.
Pedro, you ride down this side
Ricardo, you skirt the outside. I shall
keep to the middle Walk your horses.
for shall go slowly" With dubious
shake of the head Ricardo rode away.
while Dave. guided Bessie Belle into
the grove.