The Lamar register., 1920-06-23

utfcr dos0infiun. unrelieved by either
Shrub or tree-an apparently endless
ocean of sand, in places ieveled by the
Wind and elsewhere piled into fun
iastir heaps. The breeze slacsened
1mcwhat rs the sun reddened the
east, and the ponies threw up their
lea1s and whinnied slightly, increas-
ing their speed. Westcott saw the
marshal arouse himself, straighten III
The saddle. and stare about, his eyes
stnl duh and heavy.
cone HI of a view, Jim," he said
diseustedly, but reckon we can't be
n Sroat ways from that spring. We've
been rldin' right smart"
"Ifs not far ahead the ponies sniff
water Ali there's a bunch o. green
ahead; thatll 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
nus no wood to be had. although they
found evidence of several camp-hres.
and consequently they We're obliged 10
content themselves with what they
could ind catuble in their bag Except
Tor few sentences neither spoke un-
tii brennan. having partially satisfied
his appetite. produced the note given
him by Miss La Rue, and deliberately
-ldsied open the sealed envelope.
"In the name of the law" he said
arimly, hauling out the inclosure
,ow well see what's the row. Hoi,
smoi,ci IFS In SPANISH Here Jim, do
you read that lingof'
81 know words here and there" and
Westcott bent over the pane1. his
hrows wrinl.iing. Lets see; IT'S not
quite clear but the sense Is hat Men
dcz win be paid n thousand dollars for
someibiug--l cant make out what.
only % has 10 do with prisoners. IA y
says hen he there to confer with him
some time tonight"
''Lacy write ltT"
'.Yes; 40 least he signed It,"
''Well. If Lacy aims to meet Mendez
tonight, he ought to be along here
soon after nightfall. How'd it do to
hide In these sand hills and waltz
I'VE can do that. Dan. If we don't
hit any trail" said Westcott, leaning
over, his hand on the others knee,
but II we can get there earlier. I'd
rather not waste time. There's no
knowing what devll like Mendez may
do. Let's take scout around. any
how"
They started. the one going east, the
other west, and made Il semicircle un-
m they met, a hundred yards or so.
south OF the spring. having found moth
Ing. Again they circled out, plowlng
their way through the sand. and all mt
once Brennan lifted his hand Into the
air and called. Westcott hurried over
TO where he stood motionless, staring
down Mt the track of wagon wheel.
II had slid along slight decllvlty. and
left a mark so deep as not yet to be
obllterated They traced 1t for thirty
feet before It entirely disappeared.
''Still goln' SOUTH affirmed the mar
shal, gazing in that direction. Don't
look like there's nothin' out there, but
we might try. Let's saddle up"
1t was a blind trail. 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 enslly for nearly a quarter of
II 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 WIS desperately slow work. and
beyond that ridge Of rock they discov-
cred no other evidence. An hour
passed, and not the slightest sign gave
eucouragemont Could the wagon have
turned in some other direction? In
the shadow Of sand dune they halted
finally to discuss the situation. should
they 20 on? Or explore further to the
west7 Might 1t not even be better to
retrHce their way to the springs, and
vait the coming Of Lacy?
Brennan was for turning back.
arguing the uselessness of going fur
ther, and the necessity of water for
the ponies.
Come on. jim" he urged. BE sem
sible. we've lost the trail and tbat's