Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-02-23


belt dropped to the ground. "And you,
compadre, do the same. Mind you,
the left hand! Now face about and
walk to the charco, both of you.
Good !"
Law stepped into view, his Winehes-
the three discarded weapons, then,
walking to Anto's horse, he removed
the second carbine from beneath the
saddle-fiap and elected its shells into
his palm.
This done, he addressed the stranger.
"Now, friend, who are you, and why
are you riding with this fellow"
"My name is PanfilO Sanchez, senior.
Before God, have done nothing" The
speaker was tremendously excited. In
the midst of his incoherent protesta-
lions Mrs. Austin appeared.
"He is telling you the truth, Mr..
Law" she said, quietly. "He is one of
my men,"
Both Mexicans looked blank At
sight of the speaker their mouths fell
open, and Panfilo ceased his gesticula-
! ton.
Mrs. Austin went on: "He is my
horse-breaker's cousin. He couldn't
have had any part in that murder in
Jim Wells county, for he was at Las
/ Palmas when left"
Panfilo recovered from his amaze
ment, removed his sOmbrerO. and
! blessed his employer eXtravagantly I;
then he turned triumphantly upon his
captor. Behold !" cried he. There
you have the truth. | am an excellent,
Woodworking man and as honest as
God"
"Surely you don't want him" Alaire
appealed to Law. "He was probably
helping his cOuntryman to escape-but
they all do that you know"
"All right! If he's your. man, that's
enough" Dave told her. ''Now then,
need some supper before we start. 1t
won't hurt AntoS horse to rest q bit,
either. You are under arrest" he add
ed, addressing the latter. II won't tie
you unless"
mo, senor!" Anto understood per-
fectly, and was grateful.
/ well, then, build q fire, and you,
PantilO, lend a hand. The sonora will
need a cup of tea, for we three have
a long ride ahead of u.s.
No time was lost. Both Mexicans
| fell to with viii, and in surprising
| ly short time water was boiling. When
| it came Laws turn to eat, Alaire, who
. was eager to be gone, directed her EN-
| plOyee TO fetch the rangers horse. Pan
flo acquieSced readily and buckled on
his cartridge belt and six-shooter. He
was about to pick up his rifle, too. but
finding Laws eyes inQuiringIy fixed up
| on him, he turned with a Shrug and
, disappeared down the arroyo. 1t was
plain that he considered his friendly
relations well established and resented
the rangers suspicion.
! SLOW long has that fellow been
working for you?" Law jerked his head
in the direction Panfilo had taken.
| mot long. don't know much
about him." Alaire confessed. Then,
as if in answer to his unspOken ques-
ton, "But I'm sure he's all right"
us he looking up range for your"
"N-no! I left him at the ranch.
don't know how he came to be here,
unless 1t is rather strange"
Dave shot swift, interrogatOry
glance at panfilo's travelling compan-
hVIt Stn hiS
black eyes were fixed upon the fire.
With an abrupt gesture Law flung
aside the contents of his cup and strobe
to Panfilo's horse, which stood defect
edIy with reins hanging.
- "Where are you-going" Alaire rose
neryouSly.
1t was nearly dark now; only the
crest of the ridges were plain against
the luminous sky; in the brushy bot
tom of the arroyo the shadows We're
deep. Alaire had no wish to be left
alone with the prisoner.
With bride rein and carbine in his
left hand, the ranger halted, then,
STOPPING for Anto's discarded cartridge
belt, he Topped it over his saddle-horn.
He vaulted easily into the seat, say
| ing:
Il hid that mare pretty well. Your
man may not be able to find her" Then
he turned his borrowed horses head
toward the brush.
Anto had squatted motionless until
this moment; he had pot even turned
his eyes; but now, without the slight
est warning, he uttered a loud call
1t might have served equally we'll as
summons or as an alarm. but ii
changed the rangers suspicious into
certainty. Dave uttered an angry ex-
clamation, then to the startled woman
he cried:
watch this man, He can't hurt
you, for I've got his Shells" To his
prisoner he said, sharply: "Stay where
you are. Don't move,'' The next in
slant he had Hoped into the brush on
the tracks of Panfilo Sanchez. squirting
the tired gray pony into vigorous ac-
ton.
1t was an uncomfortable situation in
which Alaire now found herself. Law