The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-05-13
Thp MANuff lI6HT
| MAL BERT E.SMlTH and
EYRuS TOWNSEND GRADY
Photo Play Pruduced BY Ntssraph


Greatly to their chagrin they found
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 dashing 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 third
party entered upon the scene to fur
Their complicate the matter.
Unseen by the treasure hunters, a
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
Hurrying back into the woods, he
came to bandit camp, where score
Of Mexicans were lounging about a
fire. Greatest excitement prevailed as
they heard the report Of their scout,
and ssizing 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 when Scarface through his
glasses caught sight Of the Mexicans
riding hard toward them. Realising
his men could not hope to stand
against such force, he wheeled about
and was taking a back trail when
Dick and his party were seen APP
preaching fast In the car.
For a moment Scarface was at a
loss to know what it 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 of at all hazards,
With enemies upon both sides he was
In 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 a desert. Scarfact
discovered deep niche In the face
Of cliff, In front Of which huge
rocks had fallen, forming natural
fort. Dashing across an open space
the outlaws dismounted and hid the
forses.
All looked to their weapons ant
sought to strengthen their defenses a,
the Mexicans rode from the woods
Dismounting. they opened fire from
behind their horses, the outlaws re
turning shot for shot. Then. leaving
the horses, they began to advance
more rapidly from rock to rock. Il
was apparent that they would soor
overwhelm their foes, and Scarfac,
was quick to realize this, as he sale
TO his men:
They're bound to get US sooner OF
later. unless we get help"
Calling Diaz to him he whispere.
few words. and the Mexican, leav
ing the barricade, made his way t,
the attacking line, where he shove,
his wounded shoulder, explaining h,
had been prisoner of the Gringoe
and had been wounded In escaping. hi
captors accepted his story and sen
him back to care for the horses.
Meantime, Dick, hearing the shoot
ing, had hurried along in his cal
finally approaching the open, wher
he could get clear view Of the bal