Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-12-05

ndluST nINSo lI naISS arN~ q
, Crack at Him."
in amaze that Ladd should ask for the
horse than in reluctance to lend him.
"Will you let me have him?' Ladd
repeated, almost curtly.
Certainly, Laddy."
! A smile mOmentarlly chased the
dark, cold gloom that had set upon
the rangers lean face.
, "ShOre 1 appreciate it, Dick. !
know how you care for that hOsS. 1
guess mebbc Charley Ladd has loved
hosS! An one not so good as SOL
was only tryin' your nerve, Dick,
askin' you without tellin' my plan.
! Sol won't get q scratch, you can
gamble on that I'll ride him down
! into the valley an pull the GreaSers
out into the open. They've got short
rarged carbneS. They can't keep out
of range of the .4O5, an I'll be takin'
the dust of their lead. They can't gain
OH Sol, an he'll run them down when
/ want Can you beat it?"
"No. It's great! But sup.
pose a raider comes out on Blanco
Diablo?"
81 reckon that's the one weak place
In my plan. But if they do, well, Sol
can Outrun DiablO. An can always
kill the white devilw
Ladd's strange hate of the horse
showed in the passion Of his last
words, In his hardening jaw and grim
set lips.
Gales hand went swiftly to the
rangers shoulder.
daddy. Don't kill Dlablo unless
it's to save your life"
"All right. But by Cd, if get
chance I'll make BlanCo Sol run him
off his legs!"
He spoke no more and set about
changing tho length of Soils StirrupS
When he had them adjusted to suit, hl
mounted and rode down the tran and
out upon the level. He rode leisurely
as if merely going to water his horse.
The long black rifle lying across his
saddle, however, was ominous.
Gale securely tied the other horse
to a mesquite at hand, and took
position behind low rock over which
he could easily see and shoot when
necessary. Ladd rode n quarter of
mile out upon the fiat before anything
happened. Then a whistle rent the
still, cold air. A horse had seen or
scented Blanco Sol. The whistle was
prolonged, faint, but clear. 1t made
the blood thrUm in Gales ears. Sol
halted. His head shot up with the
old, wild, spirited sweep. Gale levcled
his glass at the patch of mesQuites.
lie saw the raiders running to an open
place, pointing, geSticulating. Then
he got only white and dark CLEANS OF
moving bodies. Evidently that moment
was one of boots, guns and saddles
for the raiders.
Then Gale saw rider gailop
swiftly from the group toward the far
ther outlet of the valley. IHlS IIIShL
have been owing to characteristic
cowardicc; but it was more likely a
move of the raiders to make sure OF
retreat. Undoubtedly Ladd saw this
galloDing horSem&. A few waiting
moments enSued. The gallOping horse
man reached the slope, began to climb,
With naked eyes Gale saw a puff OF
wl&e smoke spring out of the rocks.
Then the raider wheeled his plunging
horse back to the level, and went rae
Ing wildly down the valley.
The compact bunch Of bays ond
blacks seemed to break apart and
sprcad rapidly from the edge Of the
mesouitcs. PuffS of white smoke in
dicated firing, and showed the nature
Of the raiders excitement. They were
far out of ordinary range; but they
snurred toward Ladd, shooting as they
rode. The raiders bullets, striking
low. we're skipping alsng the hard
bare floor of the valley. Then Ladd