The Jasper news., 1919-09-04

'hiS uHUi me nOle ann tHe sCftSunch
proceeded OIL an uneventful voyage to
the fishing port where Lopez had
reited the vessel.
Landing and finding their automo-
pile safe where they had left II, no
time was wasted In placing the treas
IRE In the car and provisioning 1t for
the trip across the desert and home.
scarface they left securely bound near
the dock, but when their attention
vas elsewhere the widow of Lopez
| happened along and hearing his story
released the outlaw. who made his
way back from the settlement, much
10 the relief of his captors, who did
not relish his company and who felt
I lhey had nothing more to fear from
him
Scarface started out alone across
/ the desert, coming to camp of Mexi-
can bandits, 7whOse leader recognized
MIN, and who, eagerly assented to the
outlaws plan to waylay the auto and
gel the treasure.
the treasure-hunters found 1t slow
travelling In that stretch of desert and
ne next noon camped on bluff over
looking another stretch of desert, on
which could be seen an outpost for
U. S. cavalry patroling the border.
The car and the one horse, ridden by
Tomas, were parked near the bluff
and dinner was being prepared when
they saw the approaching bandits and
M once realized they were about to
be attacked.
THE machine cannot skirt this bluff
and we can't leave the gold. We've
got to fight" declared Dick. Then, as
an afterthouglt. he said:
: "Tliere are United States troops
o'er there. If we could get word TO
Polly at once volunteered and point
ing at the horse, said:
II can't fight as we'll as you, but
can ride"
The others began TO demur,-, but.
Polly was in the saddle and snatching
kiss from Dick was away before
they could stop her.
Inc DanditS were taken aback by
the stiffness of the defense, and after
two of their men had been killed, their
leader and Scarface held confer
cnce, after which the latter made this
proposition to Dick:
Come out and let's decide 1t man
to man. If you beat me, you go
free with the treasure. If / beat you,
take all but your lives. We fight
with knives-guns barred"
Nainly 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
MP and every nerve and muscle in
his powerful frame was 'taut as q
harp string. The thought of all the
suffering thats Scarface had caused
Polly and the rest of the party, as
well as remembrance of their lost
comrade, Chu, was as oil to flame.
A dozen times had the outlaw sought
tc murder them in 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 periShing. Fiercely he pushed
the hands of his friends aside.
Let ME alone. This scoundrel Is
not fit to live, and 1t has been or
dained that | am The one to send
him to his just accounting. You need
not fear for me because / am his
master as man to man. But If through
accident the battle should turn against
me"
"Yes," they cried, drawing close
around him.
Tell Polly, God bless her, that I
loved her and died thinking only of
her." Pushing them aside he drew in
his belt, and telling the others to
stand ready with their rifles for foul
play, he advanced and closed in with
Scarface at the edge of the bluff. 1t
was terrific battle, but Dick soon
began getting the upper hand. He
hurled his foe to- the ground and
stepped back waiting for him to gain
his feet. when Scaiface, dropping his
knife, drew a pistol and fred. The
! bullet ploughed Dicks shoulder and,
In rage at the treachery he seized
the outlaw and hurled him over the
bluff to death.
The bandits started to rush the
autobarricade. Tomas fell dead, Teel
and Stebbins were overcome and Dick
was fighting alone when the troopers,