Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-29
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES

position to forget that he had other
fish to fry.
What do you know OF your neigh
bors?" he asked.
"Not much" admitted Bruce. "And
yet enough to sabc what you're driving
Mt. The nearest are twenty miles away.
Mt the Montczunla ranch. The boss of
the outfit Is your old friend Ruiz Rios.
told you that in my letter. I haven't
the dead wood on him, but it's open
and shut that he ii as soon chip In on n
cattlo- stealing deal as anything else.
"He doesn't own the MontC5uma,
said kendric.
"It's the same thing. The owner is
woman. his cousin. I believe. But
she's AWAY most Of the time, and Rios
does as he plcascs.
"You don't know the lady, them
"Never saw her. Don't want to, since
she's got Rios blood in her.
Lets get down aud roll smoke and
talk" offered kcndric. They were on
a grassy knoll there were oaks and
shade and grass for the horses. Bruce
looked Mt him sharply, catching the
sober note. But he said nothing nntil
they we're lying stretched out under the
oaks. holding the tie ropes at the ends
of which their horses browscd..
cut ncr lOOSc, Jun, hS c"'u sN"N"'
Whats the story!'
Kcndric told him: OF his quest with
Twisty Barlow; of Toraida CasteImar
and her ambitions Of his own SITUATION
| in the household. a prisoner with TO-DAY
! granted him only in exchange Tor hiE
/ word to return by dawn; and finally OF
Betty Gordon.
Good God" gasped Bruce. They re
going il that strong? Out in the open
too! And laying their paws on a'
! American girl. Whcw
Kcndric added briefly an account ot
his being stopped in the pass: .,,
"It's n fair bet" he concluded, That
vour raiders get their word straign'
from the Montczuma ranch. " hirl
means. straight FROM the lips OF Zoralda
Castclmar.' A. dr.,
grass. frowniug. ~,
Funny thing. it strikes me. jim
that if you're right she should give you
the chance to tip me off. How do you
figure that out:
! II haven't figured it out here
what We do know: When | was dozcl
milcs from her place and naturally
yould suppose that, If chose. ! wa'
free TO play out of my own hahi' VI
poppel those three men; rcinlhu'!
as plain as your hat, that through inc"
ewes ! was still under the eyes OF /"'
raida Castelmar. Further, as innocent
rs a fool, ! carried message 70 'h'"
i'm n cut and tied saddle string. nv
sage that was passport tor me- VIVA
other significance it carried. quicn Snbc
There's n red taSsCl on my horS"
hridlc: that might be another sign, n
Far os Won and | know. Tho Quirt Il
nv saddle horn. the chains III my hrid',
tho saddle itself or the folds of the sad
die blnnkct--hOw do we know they don
nil carry her word? An easy matter
If only tho signal is prcarrnngcd.
'"1he fine craft Of the Latin mIhd'
muttcrcd Bruce.
"Rathcr the subtlcty OF the old AZ
tees" suggested kcndric.
"Rut all this could have been done
we'll. and taking no chances, by on
of tho Montczuman riders.
cor course. Hence. the ono thin
clear is that il was desired that | shoul
see YOU. Since 1t was obvious that J.
tell you what I knew, that's the od
part % it,
"Why. it's madness, man. 1t give
us the chance. il no other. to get wor
bnck home about the little Gordon girl
I'D thought Of that. Just ho'
would we do il? \ letter in the neares
poStofficcf"
"You mean that the postmaster woul
he on the watch Tor IT, Ahd W"H'
play into hcr hands: We'll. suPpoS
we took the trouble to send c"wbo
to some other. further postoiucc: W
: by golly. TO send him all III" way TO IT,
; border: Or, if ! should so with the wor
myscIf?"
"AnsNcr: II you sent an Indian
how much would YOU bet that he d'
! not circle back to the Montezllnn Tanc
with the letter? If you went Yourself
, how far do YOU suppose you'd ever gct :!
Rrurc's eyes widened.
"Io vou suppesc they re going thG
strong. ,Jim?"
"I don't know. Bruce. But toll mo
If II seemed the wise thing 10 do, cnnI
Won drop everything hero and make
trv 70 get through with the wOrd:"
Rruca looked worried.
"jt's nv hunch,' he answered. "tha
ni--.would be cheaper play for inc t
INV the twcnty-fiyc thousand dolls
ransom and bc done with 1t, You don
'Um WON'T NV and came back il would b"
= find thnt ii been cleaned. No, II
not cxnggerntIng. And with tho mort
eaQc on the plnce. tho next thing
H"rld tnoy &ns TINT, i, was forocInsc
> orJ IN Tho cnL I'd lose everything +,
T.. got -
..From which 7 rother Won don't n,
= ,,,,Im lot nf corGJenrc in vour cn,r
!. hors%'
y ~ 'T;bat,s the nIain hell Oft, \,
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