The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-04-05

heats now their drumming came faint
hut unmistaknblc. Yes, there were two
horses racing down the arroyo. Anto,
the fugitive. rose To his feet ana stared
into the dusk.
"Sit down" Alairo ordered, sharp
ly. lie obcyed, muttcring beneath his
breath, hut his head was turned as IL
In an effort To follow the sounds OF the
pursuit.
Next came the distant rattle OF
looscncd stoncs-cvidently one horse
was being urged toward the open high
ground-thcn the peaceful quiet eve
ming VAS split by the report of Laws
thirty.thirty. Another shot followed.
and then II third. Both Alairc and her
prisoner were on their feet. the woman
shaking In every limb, the Mexican
Straining his eyes into the gloom and
listening intcntly.
Alnirc had begun to feel the strain Of
the situation and was trying Ia decide
what next 10 do. when David Law
came riding out Of the twilight. He
was nstridr the gray behind him AT
lh" end at II lariHt was Bessie Belle.
and her saddle was empty.
Mrs. Austin uttered II sharp cry.
Law dismounted and strobe to the
prisoner. His face was black with
fury; he seemed gigantic IN his rage.
Without y word he raised his right
hand and cuncd the Mexican 10 his
knees. Then he lenpcd upon him. ms
a dog might puunc" upon u rabbit.
rolled him tn his face. aud twised the
fellows arm into IN" small of his back.
.Anto cursed. he struggled. hut he was
lik" II child In the rangers grasp. Law
kn"lt upon him, and with II jerk of his
riuta secured the fellows wrists: ris.
tug, h" set IN" Knot with another heave
that dragged the prisoner To- his knees.
Next he booted Anto Il his feet.
I've II notion To bend n gun over
your h"nd,' Law grnwlod. "CIcvcr lit.
tie game. wasn't IT,"
"Wh"ro--? Did you-kill him?" the
woman guSpod.
Alair" had never hchcld such a
d"mnniac expression rs Law turned
upon her. The mans face was con.
t"rtcd, his eyes were blazing i%nSanrly,
his chest was hoaving. and for an in.
stunt he seemed ~ include her I'm his
anger. Ignoring her inquiry. he went
10 his mare and ran his shaking hands
over her nS II in search or m injury:
his questioning palms covered every
inch of gliSt"ning hid" from fornlock
Il" with"rS, from shoulder t" horf. and
under cover of this task he rcgainud In
some degree his Scif.c0ntrur.
THAT humhre of yuur>-didn't look
right 10 me-" he said. finally. LAYING
his cheek against RcSSie Bellies neck.
as a woman %snugglrS close To the man
Of her choice, he addressed the mare:
i reckon nobody Is going to steal You.
"hf Not If ! know It.. No, sir: that
homhr" wasn't any good, was he;"
Alaire wet her lips. "Then YOU
shot hlmf"
Il didn't say ! shot him." he told her,
crufliy. 81 warned him first. and he
turned on me-blew smoke In my face.
Then ne took 10 The brush. nfoot, and
| cut down on him once more to help
him along
He got awayf"
81 reckon So"
"Oh, oh :" Alairc's tone left no
doubt ~ her relief. HE was always n
good mun-"
Good? Didn't he steal my horse;
Didn't he aim 10 get mo M the first
chance and free his compadre? That,
why he wanted his Winchester. Say!
reckon hr-n""dS KILN about as
much rs anybody | know"
II can't understand IT," Alaire sat
down weakly. "On" of my men, too
This fellow behaved himself while |
was gone, ohf' Law lcrk"d his head
In Antu.S direction. IL was afraid he
he'd Try something. If he had"
such n possibility, oddly enough,
seemed 10 choke tn" speaker. and the
t"r"ciIy uf his unfinished threat caused
Mrs. Austin Ia look up AZ him curious.
~. Their" was II mom"ut Of silence,
then h" said, shortly: "W"ll. we've
got II hor>" uplcc" now. Let's 60"
TIL" stars had thlckcnod ANA bright.
"n"d, rounding III" might sky into II
glit'"ring dome. Anto, IA" murderer.
with his ankles dashed beneath his
horses belly, rode first next. in n sui
i"n silence, "Hluc the ranger. his chin
upon his breast and In the rear fol-
lowed Alalr" Austin.
Under the stars, AT the break of the
arroyo, tire" hundred yards below he
water hole, n royotc was sinking I'm fl
] vida HirtlA tp,,ttl ,I,. Id. 4. a.,
sanchez.