Macon beacon., 1917-06-01
CHAPTER VIII.
Following un the Trail.


barely possible that Ed had spoken the
truth. There were many sorrel horses;
the evidence of those rain-washed hoof-
prints was far from conclusive; even
the fact that Urbina 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
er had lied and that he himself was on
the right track.
1t was late when he arrived at his
destination, but Lewis house was dark,
and it required some effort to awaken
the owner. When Tad at last ap-
peared, clad in undershlrt and trou-
sers, he greeted the Ranger with a lev
eled rifle; but when Dave had
made known his identity, he Invited
him in, though with surly reluctance.
Lewis was sandy-complexioned
man of about forty, with colorless
brows and mean, shifty eye. For
merly a 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 mystery which his neighbors
never tired of discussing.
Tad, 1t seemed, resented any inter
ruption of his rest, and showed the
fact plainly.
Yes, he employed a fellow named
Urbina. What was wanted Of him?
Law explained briefly.
"Why, he's one of my best men =
laughed the rancher. ale wouldn
steal nothing"
"Well, l had to shoot another goot
man of yours" Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back step. (Which one
Who?" he inquired quickly.
"Pino Garza." Dave told of thu
meeting at the branding fire and it
outcome. He was aware, meanwhile
that Lewis family were listening, fo
behind half-open bedroom door h
could hear an excited whispering.
"Killed the first shot, eh?" Tad wa
dumfounded. "Now, l never though
Pine was that bad. But you never caI
tell about these Greasers, can you
They'll all steal if they get a chance
let Pine 60, bout week back; bu
he's been hangin' around, aimin' t
visit some Of his relatives up in tn
brush country. It was probably on
Of them old Guzman saw. Anyhow,
couldn't of been Adolfo Urbina; h
was over to Las Palmas all the after
nOon."
did you send him there?"
"Sure. Ed Austin can tell you"
"Where is Urbina now?"
II reckon he's asleep somewhere
Well dig him up and talk to him,
you say So"
But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere t.
be found. No one had seen him sine
about seven o'clock, nor could 1t be dis
covered where he was spending tn
night. Dave remembered that 1t ha
been about seven when he left Las Pal
mas, and ascertained, indirectly, tha
Tad had telephone. On his way fror
, Austin's Law had stopped at ranch
for bite to eat, but he could forgiv
himself for the delay II, as he SUI
missed, Urbina had been warned b
/ wire Of his coming.
: THAT'S too bad, amt it?" Levi
said. "But he'll be around again in tn
, morning, and I'll get him for you. Yo
leave 1t to me-"
There was plainly nothing to do bu
accept this offer, since 1t could AVA
nothing to wait here for Urbina's re
turn. Unless the fellow gave himsel
up, he probably could not be founC
= now that the alarm was given, withou
! a considerable search in view @
which Dave finally remounted his bon
: rowed horse and rode away in the d
} rection of JOnesville.
1t was after daylight when he dis
= mounted stiffly at Blaze's gate. H
} was wet to the skin and bespattere
: with mud; he had been almost cor
= stantly In the saddle for twenty-fou
hours, and Don Ricardo's cow pom
was almost exhausted.
/ Blaze and Paloma, Of course, wer
2 tremendously interested in his story.
: "Say, now, that's quick work." tn
) latter exclaimed, heartily. "Your
some thief-buster, Dave, and If you
3 just stay around here little calves ca
: grow up with some comfort"
t When Dave rode to Jonesville, afte
breakfast, he found that the body G
] his victim had been brought in durin
: the night, and that the town was a
t ready buzzing with news of the encour
9 ter. During the forenoon Don Ricard
and his sons arrived, bringing add
I tional information, which they promp
e ly impaired to the Ranger. The Gu;
j mans were people Of action. All thre
Y of them had spent the night on horse
back, and Pedro had made discover,
I On the day previous Cara had bee
seen riding In company with ma
astride a sorrel pony, and this ma
? had been recognized as Adolfo Urbin,
Pedro's witness would swear 1t.
D Their distance from Las Palmas o
N 4 L