The daily Alaskan., 1920-07-24

ahead; that'l likely be Badger springs"
 Assured they were beyond pursuit. the two unSaddled and turned the ponies out to crop the few handfuls of wire grass which the sweet water buhbling up from a slight depression had cOaxed into stunted growth. There was no wood to be had, although they found evidence of several Camp-tires, and consequently they were obliged to content themselves with what they could find eatuble in their bag. Except for a few sentences neither spoke, un- til Brennan, having partially satisfied his appetite. produced the. note given him by Miss La Rue, and deliberately slashed open the sealed envelope.
 "In the name of the law" he said crlmly, hauling out the lncloSurG. 'rNow we'll see what's the row. Holy smoke! It's in Spanish! Here, Jim, do you read that ljngoY
 "I know words here and thcre," and WeStcOtt bent over the paper, his browS wrinkljug. 'T.et'S see; it's not quite clear, but the sense Is hat Men, dez will be paid a thousand dollars for something--I cant make out what, only it has to do with prisoners. Lay says he'll be there to confer with him some time tonight"
 UT gt
 "YeS: at least he signed it."
 "WeIl. if Lacy aims to meet Mendez tonight, he ought to he along here soon after nightfall. How'd it do to hide in these sand hills and waltz"
 We can do that, Dan. if we don't hit any traiI," said WeStcott, leaning over. his hand on the others knee, but if We can get there earlier, I'd rather not waste time. There's no Knowing what devil like Mendez may do. Let's take a scout around, any how"
 They started. the one going east, the other west. and made a scm!circ!c un- til they met, a hundred yards or so, south of the spring. having found noth. ing. Again they circlcd out, blowing their way through the sand, and all at once Brennan lifted his hand into the air aul called. Westcott hurried over to where he stood motionlcSS, staring down at the track of wagon wheel. It had slid along slight declivity, and left a mark so deep as not yet to be obuteratcd. They traced it for thirty feet before it entirely disappeared.
 Still goin' south, affirmed the mar- Shal. gazing in that direction. Don't look like there's nothIu' out there, but we might try. Let's saddle up.'
 It was blind rraii, and progress was slow. The men separated, riding back and forth. leaning forward In the saddles, scanning the sand for the slightest sign. Twice they encoun- tered an undoubted wheel mark, and once traces of the whole four wheels were plainly visible. These could be followed easily for nearly a quarter of a mile, but then as quickly vanished as the wagon came again to an outcrOp- ping of rock Yet this was assured the outfit had headed steadily south ward.
 This was desperately slow work, and beyond that ridge of rock they discov- cred no other evidence. An hour passed and not the slightest sign gave encouragement. Could the wagon have turned in some other direction? In the shadow uf a sand dune they halted finally to discuss the situation. Should they go on? Or explore further to the west? Might it not even be better to rCtrace their way to the springs, and wait the coming of Lacy?
 Brennan was for turning back, arguing the useIessncsS of going fur ther and the nececsity of water for the ponies.
 Come on, JIm," hH urged. 'Re sen Sible; we've lost the trail. and that's no fault O ours. An Apache Indian couldn't trace herd O steers through this sand And look ahead thar! It's worse. an more of it. I'm for stalking Lacy at the springs" He stopped sud denly, staring southward as though la had seen a vision. Holy smoke! What's that? By God It's a wagon, Jim; an it come right up out of the earth. There wasn't no wagon there a second ago."
 For a moment both men suspected that what they looked upon was a mirage-itS actual existence there in that place seemed impossible. Yet there was no disputing the fact that wonder in the very midst of that desO- latiOn of sand a wagon drawn by straining horses was slowly moving directly toward them. Westcott was first to grasp the truth, hastily jerking the marshal back to where the tired ponies stood with dropping heads be- hind the protection of the dune.
 (ContinUed oh Saturday.