The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-11-20

ing the girl!
He stayed; them was the orders,
while l was to bring back the team !;
but l reckon he won't need to do no
guardin to speak Of, fer we run inter
bunch o. fellows"
How many are they?'
Maybe dozen; don't just know"
What was done with the young
ladyT
Moore spat vindictively into the
sand, digging hole with his heel He
had talked already more than he in
tended, but what was the difference?
"Cateras took her." he admitted,
''but don't know whar. tried ter find
out whar she was, but nobody'd tell
me. Then had ter pull out"
Westcott interjected a question.
whats the valley like, an how do
you get into it?"
"Well, I'd say it was just sort o.
sink in the desert, a kinder freak.
Anyhow, / never saw nuthin' like 1t
afore. The walls is solid rock, almost
straight up an down, but thar's con-
siderable stream flowin' down thar
that just bursts out a hole in the
rock, an plenty O. grass fer quite a
bunch of steers"
How do they get down into it?"
Long a windin' trail on the west
side. 1t used to be mighty rough. I
reckon, an only good fer mixers, but
they fixed it up so they can drive cat
tie down, an even a wagon if yer take
it easy"
"And there is no other way to the
bottom except along this trail?"
That's bout all"
Brennan and Westcott looked at
each other, both uncertain as to the
next step. What were they to do with
their prisoner? And how could they
proceed toward effecting the rescue of
the helpless girl? 1t was problem
not easy to solve, If what Moore told
them was true. The latter shuffled his
feet In the sand, lifted his eyes shrewd-
ly, and studied the faces of his cap
tors. He was figuring his own
chance.
"You fellows want ter get down in
ter the valleyT' he asked at last.
"Yes," and Brennan turned again
quickly, III It can be done. OF course
thar's only two Of us. an it would be
sort O. foolish tryin' ter fight a way
through, even ag'in' Mexicans. Fiji
teen ter two is some odds, but faint in
my nature, or Jim's here, ter turn
round an leave that girl in the hands
o. them cusses-is 1t. Jim?"
II never WILL" replied Westcott
earnestly. mot If have to tackle the
whole outfit alone"
"You won't have to do that. What's
the idea, MooreY'
ooh, was just thinkin'," he an
swered, still uncertain. IF show yer
way, what is thar in it fer meY
Brennan stiffened, his features ex-
pressing nothing.
what do you mean? I'm an officer
O. the law!"
II know it; l amt asking yer ter
make no promise. But yer word will
go a HI ov ways if this ever gets in
court. If help yer I've got to be pro-
tected frum Bill Lacy. He'd kill me
as Quick as he'd look at me. Then
I'd want yer ter tell the judge how 1t
all happened. I know ye're square,
Dan Brennan, an whatever yer says
goes"
The marshal stuck out his hand.
"That's the gospel truth, Matt" he
said gravely, IAN I'm with yer till the
cows come home. What Is 1t you
known
"Well." with a quick breath as he
took the plunge, tits like this. mar
shall: there is just one place out yon-
der" and he waved his hand to indi-
cate the direction, ION the east rim o
the valley, where yer might get down.
Ye,d have ter hang on tooth. an toe
nail: but both Of yer are mountain
mon an I reckon yer could make the
trip If yer took it careful an SLOW
like"
westcott asked: "How can we get
there safely? Can you guide usY
Moore swept his eyes over the dull
range of sand, expectorated thought
fully. and rammed his hands deep into
his trouser-pockets. He was slow
about answering but the two men
waited motiOnless.
IF it was me-" he said finally, I'D
take it on foot. It'll be a jaunt ov
near on TO three miles, unless yer
want fer risk bein' seen by them
Mexes on the main trail. You couldn't
90 straight, but would have ter circle
ont an travel mostly behind that ridge
O. sand thar to the left. Coin that
away nobody's likely ter get sight O
yer on foot. You couldn't take no
boss. though. Here'd be my plan:
Lead this we're outfit O. mine an your
Monies back inter them sand dunes
whar nobody ever goes. They're tired
,nough ter stand, an there amt any
thing fer 'em to Craze on. Then we
kin hoof it over ter the place I'm tell
i'm yer about, an yer kin sorter size
It up fer yerselves. That's fair, amt
it?"
They went at 1t with will. The
team was driven into the security OF
tbe sand drifts and unhitched. The
saddles were taken from the backs OF
the ponies, and what grain Moore had
in the wagon was carefully appOr-