Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-16

utg at II ia-n, III De gao OF your
company until Scotty and the other
boys arrive from CulIacan. II you ge;
In bad, remember. l gave you the
straight dope on this proposition. and
don't blame me-"
\ careful search Of the premises dis
closed no pseudoInsurrectos In am
bush.
Williams. much relieved. permitted
IIt"ndra 10 aid In carrying a supply Of
canned food TO his own house. a stout
adobe building somewhat higher than
the others. with It's back against the
hill His horse was plckefed along
side. where the thick grass cnrpeted
the slope. and a brook beyond obyiated
the necessity Of fetching water up the
steep ascent from the bed of the creek
far below.
The two ate rHyen0usly. but Jiten-
dra scrupulously abstninei from any
thing except vegetables. lie glanced
ut the American and fingered a can
Of condensed milk lUng!ugly.
Take it-thsre's lots more in the
stoTehouse," said Williams kindly.
Jitendra bowed his thanks and
ripped OF the top with Nh opener. In
my country" he observed. we drink
the milk OF the goat"
But Buck Williams. worn and
weary, only half understood him. He
relaxed In his chair and slept as sleeps
n man who feels at last IA degree of
comparative safety after many perils.
Once he fancIcd he heard the notes
Of fifc. but drowscd OF ugaIn. to
dream Of the inyincibie spirit OF the
men Of 20, who rcbellcd against op-
preston. laying down their lives that
their descendants might enjoy the
blessings OF liberty.
He saw yiyldly an army OF soldiers
In bun 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 fed
preClpitHtely.
But the dream passed: at least the
phantasmagoria OF the Continental
army. with Washington at its head.
! faded, while oddly enough. the fea.
4 lures OF Pacheco persisted. Something
was gripping his arms cruelty. Buck
I Williams tried to rise.
! He half leaped 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 curiously intent expression.
Welcome to FL Tigre, Senior Will
linms," sneered the ex-foreman. II
have been expecting you for some
days"
Buck Williams struggled futilely.
A rawhide RATA had been looped
around his elbows behind his back.
throwing his shoulders SO far out Of
place that the pain was frightful An
plnioned his wrists. his knees and
ankles being left free.
Naturally man of strong Impulses,
Williams ceased to wrench at the in
exornble thongs. hut cursed his for.
mer mine foreman with cXpIctives Of
u hlgh 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.
II 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?" I'm.
periousiy demanded FL Tigre's owner.
''The commandante Mt Zapatillo de-
sires your presence. senor," leered
Pacheco.
'Tll get you for this, you greaser
| dog" exclaimed the American.
For answer Pacheco drove his hor Sc
between the animal Williams was rid
ing and Jitendra's mount, leaned over
ana Struck the American heavy blow
across his unprotected face.
Although half-blinded with rage at
the blow, Williams an instant later felt
strange thrill of some event out of
the ordinary. Pacheco drew back. his
british face wreathed in a grin of te-
rocious triumph; but the smile sud-
denly stiffened.
He reeled in his saddle; a second
later his eyes almost started from their
sockets with agony. His cigar-colored
features grew purplish and fleck OF
foam rose to his gasping lips.
His bridlehand relaxed; convulsive-
ly his legs drove the spurs on the aigt.
topped boots into the sides of the horse
he was riding. The animal reared
paving the air with peculiar and un.
accountable terror. and would have