The Dermott news., 1919-07-31

face first gained courage to dash to the hatch, but he was too weak to pull himself up and Dick saw him and hauled him on deck.
 Where is Screweye." he demanded Scarface weakly pointed below. re plying:
 He done It. The fires his fool ldea."
 Dick leaped back into the hold and reapPeared with the body of the out law, which he laid on the deck His get of chivalry was in vain. however, for Screweye was dead
 The fire had hardly been extin- guiShed when Tomas. leaning over the side of the vessel, noticed how lew she sat.
 Dick looked e. Scarface, who weak eaed and indicated where the hole vas, and over the side Dick dove, 10 reappear shortly with the order:
 Hand me the smallest boat fender, quick
 Again diving he succeeded in forcing this into the hole, and the schooner proceeded on an uneventful voyage to the fishing port where Lopez had rented the vessel
 Landing and finding their automo- hile safe where they had left il, no time was wasted In placing the treas ure in the car and provisioning it for
 h,a t14fr, Searface they left securely bound near the dock, but when their attention Has elsewhere the widow of Lopez happened along and hearing his story released the outlaw. who made his way back from the settlement. much to the relief of his captorS. who dtd not relish his company and who felt they had nothing more to fear from him
 Scarface started out alone across he desert. coming to camp of Mexi- can bandits, whose leader recognized him. and who eagerly asSented to the outlaws plan to waylay the auto and get the treasure.
 The treasure hunters found it slow travelling in that stretch of desert and 'Ae next noon camped on a hiufr over looking another stretch of desert, on which could bc seen an outpost for T.. \ cavalry patroliug the border The ear and the one horse, ridden by Tomas. were parked near the hluff ard dinner vaN being prepared when they saw the approaching bandits and at once realized they were about to he attacked
 "fhe machinc cannot skirt this blur
 aud We cant leave the gold. We've sot to tight." declared Dick. Then. as an afterthought, he said
 There are United States troops oyer there. If we could get word h them"
 Polly at once volunteered and point 'ng Tt the horse. said
 T can't fight as well as you. but cuh ride
 The others began to demur. hut Polly was Tn the saddle and Snatching n kiss from Dick was away before they could stop her.
 The bandits were taken ahack by fhe stiffness af the defense. and after two of their men had been killed. their 'cader and Scarface held confer ence. after which the latter made this Co Dick:
 Come out and lets decide it man to man, If you beat me, you 20 I take all but your lives. We fight with knives-guns barred"
 Naiuly Dicks companions strove to dissuade him from engaging in so desperate and needless struggle. but they might as well have talked to the wind Dicks fighting blood was up and every nerve and muscle in his powerful frame was taut as a harp string. The thought of all the suffering that Scarface had caused Polly and the rest of the party. as well as remembrance of their lost comrade. Gnu. was as oil to flame. \ dozen times had inc outlaw sought ;o murder them n cold blood and even now he did not know that Polly in her brave ride to save them had not been lost in the desert and was slowly perj@hing Percely he pushed the hands of his friends aside
 Let me alone This scoundrel Is not ht to live. and il has been or dained that nm the one 10 send him to his just accounting. You need not fear for me because l am his master aS man to man. Hut If through accident the battle should turn against ne"
 Yes they cried, drawing close around him.
 Tell Polly. God bless her. that l loved her and died thinking only of her Pushing them aside he drew in nis belt. and telling the others to stand ready with their rifles for foul play. he advanced and closed in with SCarfaee at the edge of the bluff. II was terrific battle, hut Dick soon \ t It