The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-05-31
CHAPTER Viii,
Following Up the Trail,

TOT MS own sake, but for the sake of
Alnirc. After ALL he argued. ii was
barely possible that ed had spokrl thc
truth There were many sorrel horses
ne evidence OF those min-washed hoor-
prints was far from conclusive: cyrn
he TACT that Urbina belonged to the
Tad Lewis outfit was no more thnn ~
suspicious circumstance. And yet, ear
h'St'S as he strove to convince himself
OF these possibilities the Ranger could
not down the conviction that the ranch
cr 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.
ana 1T required some effort to awaken
the owner. When Tad at last up-
pcared, clad in underShrt anu trou-
serS he greeted the Ranger with n lev.
eled rifle; but when Dave had
| made known his identity, he invited
h'm In, though with surly reluctance.
Lewis was ii sandy-complexioned
man of about forty, with colorless
orows and mean, shifty eye. For
merly cowboy, he had by the exer.
else Of some natural ability acquired Il
good propcrty-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
Crhinn. 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, had to shoot another good
man of yours" Dave said quietly.
Lewis fell back Il step (Which one ?
Who?" he inquired quickly.
"PdO GarZa." Dave told of the
meeting at the branding fire and its
outcome. Hc 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
dumfoundcd. "Now, never thought
Plno was that bad. But YOU never can
i tell about these Grensers, can YOU
They'll nll steal If they get chance
let Pino go, bout Il week back: bu
g he's been hangln around, aimin' t,
e visit some Of his relatives ND in tn
8 brush country. 1t wns probably on
F. or them old GuZmnn saw. ANYHOW.
d couldn't Of been Adofo Urbina: n
was over to Las Pulmas all the after
o noon"
Did you send him there?"
= sure. Ed Austin can tell YOU"
e "Whcre IS Urbna now?"
}, Il reckon he's asleep somewhere
: Wen dig him up and talk to him. If
l YOU say So"
But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere to
F. D" found. No one had seen him since
about seven o'clock, nor could il be dis
covered where he was spending the
night. Dave remembered that it had
bern about seven when he left Las Pal
mas ana asccrtained indirectly, that
lad mad telephone. On his way from
Austln'S Law had stopped nt rancho
Tor Il bite To eat, but he could forgive
himself for the delay if, as he sur
missed, Crhna had been warned by
wire of his coming.
THAT'S too bad. amt it?" Lewis
Sald. "But he'll be around again in the
morning, and I'll get him for you. You
leave it to me-"
lhrre was plainly nothing to do but
! accept this offer. since it could avail
nothing to wait here for Urbna's re-
! turn Unless the fellow gave himself
up ne probably could not be found,
now that the alarm was given, without
considerable search = in view OF
which Dave finally remounted his bor-
rowcd horse md rode away in the d.
rection OF Joncsvllle.
lt was after Daylight when he dis
mounted stiffly at Blaze's gate. He
was wet to the skin and bcspattercd
with mud; he had been almost con
stantly in the saddle for twcnty-fo,lr
hours. and Don Ricardo's cow pony
was almost exhausted.
Blaze and Paloma, Of course, were
tremendously interested in his story.
SAY, now, that's quick work." the
latter exclaimed, heartily. you're
some thief-bustcr, Dave. and If you'll
Just stay around here little calves can
grow up with some comfort"
When Dave rode to Jonesville, after
breakfast, he found that the body OF
his victim had been brought in during
the night, and that the town was al
ready buzzing with news Of the encoun-
ter. During the forenoon Don Ricardo
and his sons arrived, bringing addi-
tional information. which they prompt
ly impaired to the Ranger. The Guz-
mans were people Of action. All three
Of them had spent the night on horse
back. and Pedro had made n discovery
On the day previous Cara had been