Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-06-25

canned food to his own house, stout
adobe building somewhat higher than
the others, with it's back against the
hill. His horse was picketed along
side, where the thick grass carpeted
the slope, and brook beyond obviated
the necessity of fetching water up the
steep ascent from the bed of the creek
far below.
The two ate ravenously, but Jiten-
dra scrupulously abstained from any
thing except vegetables. He glanced
at the American and fingered can
of condensed milk longingly.
stake it-there's lots more in the
stOrehouse," said Williams kindly.
Jitendra bowed his thanks and
ripped off the top with an opener. ''In
my country" he observed, tive drink
the milk of the goat"
But Buck Williams, worn and
weary, only half understood him. He
a man who feels at last q degree Of
comparative safety after many perils.
Once he fancied he heard the notes
of a fife, but drowsed off again, to
dream of the invincible spirit of the
men of '76, who rebelled against op-
preston, laying down their lives that
their descendants might enjoy the
blessings of liberty.
He saw wildly an army of soldiers
in buff and blue, with cooked hats,
marching across the muddy Rio
Grande, and before the stern and in
domitable man who led them Manuel
Pacheco and his ragged bandits fled
precipitately.
But the dream passed; at least the
phantasmagoria of the Continental
army, with Washington at it's head,
faded, while oddly enough, the fea-
lures of Pacheco persisted. Something
was gripping his arms cruelty. Buck
Williams tried to rise.
He half Ieaped from the comfort
able chair in which he had been sit
ting. His heavy eyes widened.
Opposite him sat Manuel Pacheco
himself, on his face an evil leer; and
trussed like a chicken in the corner
was the Hindu, gazing mutely at him
with a curiously intent expression.
"Welcome to Ell Tigre, Senior Will
liams," sneered the eX-fOreman. Il
have been expecting you for some
days."
Buck Williams struggled futilely.
A rawhide RATA had been Topped
around his elbows behind his back
throwing his shoulders so far out of
place that the pain was frightful. An
other twist of the same lariat had
pinioned his wrists, his knees and
ankles being left free.
Naturally man OF strong impulses,
Williams ceased to wrench at the in
exOrable thongs, but cursed his for
mer mine foreman with explosives OF
a high dynamic quality.
Pacheco merely adjusted his heavy,
gOld-fringed epaulets and cOmplacent-
ly patted away an imaginary wrinkle
in the neat blue coat he wore as he
Signaled to the other mozOs, standing
respectfully but curiOusly beyond the
door.
assist Senior Williams and his
servant to horses" he CURLY directed.
1t was already sunrise. Outside the
house the two were securely bound TO
the animals, and the party started
down the trail toward the coast. At
the fork of the highway leading on the
left to Culiacan, they debouched to the
right.
"Where are you taking us?" im-
periously demanded Eel Tigre's owner.
'"The commandante at Zapatillo de-
sires your presence, senor," leered
PachecO.
'T'll get you for this, you greaser
dOg!" exclaimed the American.
For answer Pacheco drove his horse
between the animal Williams was rid
ing and Jitendra's mount, leaned over
and struck the American a heavy blow
across his unprotected face.
Although half-blinded with rage at
the blow, Williams an instant later felt
a strange thrill of some event out of
the ordinary. Pacheco drew back, his
british face Wreathed in a grin of fe-
rOciOus triumph; but the smile sud-
denly stiffened.
He reeled in his saddle; q second
later his eyes almost started from their
sockets with agony. His cigar-colored
features grew purplish and a tleck OF
foam rose TO his gasping lips.
His bridle-hand relaxed; convulsive-
ly his legs drove the spurs on the high
topped boots into the sides of the horse
he was riding The animal reared,
paving the air with peculiar and I'M
accountable terror, and would have
bolted had not one of the command
grasped it by the reins.
Buck Williams gazed mutely at the
retribution which had struck down the
bandit. The cutlery of the privates he
scarcely heard. He did not need their
chorus of alarm to know that Pacheco
was dying-was dead.
Yet there had been nothing-absO-
lutely nothing-save only the quick
bending of Jitendra's lean body in the
captains direction-a swift inclination
of the turbaned head at the instant