Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-16
CHAPTER VII.
Following Up the Trail.


lowed young Eds" incivlity, not only
for his own sake. but for the sake of
Alaire. After all. he argued. 1t was
barely possible that Ed had spoken the
truth. There were many sOrrel horses !;
the evidence nf those rain-waShed hOOf-
prints was far from conclusive; even
the fact that Urhina belonged to the
Tad Lewis outfit was no more than a
suspicious circumstance. And yet, ear
nestly as he strOve to convince himself
of these possibilities. the Ranger could
not down the conviction that the ranch
or had lied and that he himself was on
the right track.
1t was late when he arrived at his
destination, hut Lewis house was dark,
and 4 required some effort to awaken
the owner. When Tad at last APP
peared. clad in undershirt and truu-
sers. ne 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 y-cOmplexiOned
man of about forty. with colOrless
merly cowboy he had by the exer-
else of some natural ability acquired n
good prOperty-and a bad reputation.
Just how or why he had prospered
was a mystery which his neighbors
never tired of discussing.
Tad, it seemed, resented any inter-
ruption of his rest. and showed the
fact plainly.
Yes, he employed fellow named
Urbina. What was wanted of him?
Law explained briefly.
"Why. he's one of my best men!"
laughed the rancher. "He wouldn't
steal nothing"
"Well, I had to shoot another good
man of yours" Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back step. (which one?
Who?" 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 Nov, ! never thought
Pine was that bad. But you never can
tell about these Greasers, can you?
They'll all steal If they get chance.
let Pine go, bout week back; but
he's been hangin' around, Amin to
visit some of his relatives up In the
brush country. 1t was probably one
of them old Guzman saw. Anyhow, It
couldn't of been Adolfo Urbina; he
was over to Las Palmas all the after
nOOn."
did you send him there?"
"Sure. Ed Austin can tell you"
where Is Urbina now?"
Il reckon he's asleep somewhere. |
Wen dig him up and talk to hun. If
you say So"
But AdOlfO Urbina was nowhere to
be found. No one had seen him since |
about seven O'Clock, nor could it be dis
covered where he was spending the
night. Dave remembered that 1t hard
been about seven when he left Las Pal
mas, and ascertained. indirectly, that
Tad had telephone. On his way from
Austin's Law had stopped at a rancho
for 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
and I'll get him for you. You
leave 1t to me-"
There was plainly nothing to do but
accept this offer, since it could avail
nothing to wait here for Urbina's re-
turn. Unless the fellow gave himself
up, he probably could not be found.
now that the alarm was given. without
4 considerable search in view of
which Dave finally remounted his Dor
owed horse and rode away in the d.
'ection of Jonesville.
1t was after daylight when ne dis
mounted stiffly at Blazes gate. He
vas wet to the skin and despatched !
With mud: he had been almost con- I
'tantly In the saddle for twenty-four
hours, and Don Ricardos COW pony
vas almost exhausted. {
Blaze and Paloma, of course were
interested In his story. t
"Say, now, that's quick work." the S
after exclaimed, heartily. you're I
ome thief-buster, Dave, apd If you'll t
ust stay around here little calves can
row up with some comfort" (
When Dave rode to Jonesville. after f
reakfast, he found that the body of r
is victim had been brought in during
he night, and that the town was al
eady buzzing with news of the encoun-
err During the forenoon Don Ricardo
nd his sons arrived, bringing addi-