The Jasper news., 1919-07-31
Thu MANuf.flI6HT
HALHERT F. smith mH
ZYRuS T1WNSEND GRADY
Ph0t0 Play Pr0dnrEd by Vit7g5raph EA

Greatly to their chagr1n they TOunu
that those whom they sought had de-
parted and the place was empty. The
trail of the horses, however, was still
easy to be followed, and climbing into
their car which held the machine gun
they again went dashlngA across the
desert.
But 1t so happened that Dame For
tune had other tricks up her sleeve
which she was to play before the hunt
for the treasure could proceed by
either of the rival parties. SO far
the contest had been between Dick
and his party and the scoundrelly
gang of Scarface, but now n third
party entered upon the scene to fur
ther complicate the matter.
Unseen by the treasure hunters, n
lone Mexican bandit had watched the
progress of the car from the ravine,
and hatred of them showed in his
face as he muttered:
"Gringoes Americanos !"
Hurrylng back into the woods, he
came TO a bandit camp, where n score
of MeXicans were lounging about
fire. Greatest excitement prevailed as
they heard the report of their scout,
and Selling rifles they mounted and
rode fast down the trail.
Unconscious also of the near pres
ence of the bandits .Scarface and his
gang were proceeding leisurely along,
planning a new attack on the treasure
hunters whom Scarface through his
glasses caught sight of the MeXicans
riding hard toward them. Realizing
his men could not hope to stand
and was taking back trail when
Dick and his party were seen ap-
preaching fast in the car.
For moment Scarface was at
loss to know what 1t meant. He did
not believe that this new band which
had so suddenly appeared upon the
scene had anything to do with Dicks
party, therefore he quickly came to
the conclusion that they were an in
dependent outfit that had gotten some
clue of the treasure and, therefore,
were to be fought off at all hazards.
| With enemies upon both sides he was
In n desperate plight indeed.
Trapped" he exclaimed, seeing re-
treat was cut off. His men for the
moment were panic-stricken. but Scar
face at once set about locating a po.
sition Of defense. To the front and
left, the country was heavily wooded {;
to the right, high and rocky, with
towering cliffs. Behind, stretched open
country, almost desert. Scarface
discovered a deep niche in the face
of a cliff, in front of which huge
rocks had fallen, forming a natural
fort. Dashing across an open space,
the outlaws dismounted and hid the
| lorseS.
"There," exclaimed Scarface with
an oath of satisfaction. "If they want
us they will have to come in and get
lis, and while they are doing that I
reckon We'll have something to say
about it,"
All looked to their weapons and
sought to strengthen their defenses as
the Meyicans rode from the woods.
Dismounting, they opened fire from
turning shot for,shot. Then, leaving
the horses, they began to advance
more rapidly from rock to rock. 1t
was apparent that they would soon
overwhelm their foes, and Scarface
was quick to realize this, as he said
to his men:
They're bound to get us sooner or
later, unless we get help"
Calling Dlaz to him he whispered
a few words, and the Mexican, leav-
Ing the barricade, made his way to
the attacking line, where he showed
his wounded shoulder, explaining he
had been II prisoner of the Gringoes
and had been wounded in escaping. His
captors accepted his story and sent
him back to care for the horses.
Meantime, Dick, hearing the shoot
Ing, had hurried along in his car
finally approaching the open, where
he could get clear view of the bat
tie, with the Mexicans about ready
TO rush the fort and the return firt
from their foes getting noticeably
weaker. Dick was quick to act.
bad as Scarface is, he is a whit,
man, as against MeXicans. Besides
we want that other piece of flag. Arr
you with me?"
Realizing that Dick meant an at
tack on the bandits, all in the ca
shouted their approval. The machin,
gun was quickly set up and with Tee