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

sudden JOY received q violent check,
then reSurged when he saw limp
form in jim LaSh's arms. Ladd was
supporting n horseman who wore
military uniform:
Gale shouted with Joy and ran into
the house to tell the good news. 1t
was the ever-thoughtful Mrs. Belding
who prevented him from rushing to
tell Mercedes.
Lash handed down ragged, travel
stained. wan girl into Belongs arms.
Dad! Mamma !"
1t was indeed repentant Nell, but
there was spirit yet in the tired blue
eyes. Then she caught sight of Gale
and gave him faint smile.
"Heilo-Dick."
"Nellw Gale reached for her hand,
held it tightly, and found speech diff
cult.
You needn't wOrry-about your old
horse" she said, as Bedding carried
her toward the door. "Oh, Dick
Blanco Sol is-gloriOus"
Gale turned to greet his friend. In
deed, it was but haggard ghost Of
the cavalryman. ThOrne looked i'll
or wounded. Gales greeting was also
a question full of fear.
Thorne'S answer was a faint smile.
He seemed ready to drop from the
saddle. Gale helped Ladd hOlG Thorne
upon the horse until they reached the
house. Belding came out again. His
welcome was checked as he saw the
condition of the cavalryman. Thorne
reeled into Dicks arms. But he was
able to stand and walk.
"Pm not - hurt. Only weak -
starved" he said. as Mercedes
Take me to her."
"She'l be well the minute she sees
him." averred Belding, as he and Gale
led the &lvalryman to Mercedes
room. There they left him; and Gale,
at least, felt his ears ringing with the
girls broken cry Of joy. %
When Beldlng and Gale hurried
forth again the rangers were tending
the tired horses. Upon returning to
the house jim Lash calmly lit his
PIPE, and Ladd declared that, hungry
as he was, he had to tell his story.
ashore, Beldin'," began Ladd, "that
wGs funny about Diablo catchin'
BlancO Sol. Funny amt the word. I
nearly laughed myself to death. Well,
/ rode in Soils tracks all the way to
Casita. Never seen a rebel or a
raider I'll ! ct 10 town. l went
straight 20 the camp Of the cavalry
men. an found them just coolin' off
an 6reSt:n' down their hoSSes after
whGt locked TO lie like big ride
"Seme soldier took me to an officers
tent. Eeli was there, some white an
all IA She just said 'LaddyI !,
Thorne was there, too, an he was
bein' worked over by the camp doc
tor. 1 didn't ask no questions, be-
cause I seen quiet was needed round
that tent. After satisfying myself
that Nell was all right, an Thone
in no danger, 1 went out.
"Shore there was so darn many fel-
lers who wanted to an tried to tell
me what'd come off, I thought I'd
never find out. But I got the story
piece by piece. An here's what hap
pened;
Nell rode BlancO Sol a-tearin' into
camp, an had Il crowd round her III
q .iiry. She told who she was, where
she'd come from, an what she wanted.
We'll, it seemed q day or so before
Nell got there the cayalrymen had
heard word Of IHone. You see,
ThOrne had left camp on leave Of alb
SOnCe some time before. In few more
days it turned out pretty sure that for
some reason RoiaS was hOldln' Thorne.
"NOw, it happened when this news
came Colonel Weede was in Nogales
with his staff, an the officer left in
charge didn't know how to proceed.
ROjaS' camp was across the line in
Mexico an ridin' over there was seri-
Gus business. 1t meant whole lot
more than just scattcrin' one Greaser
camp. ThOrne's feller soldiers was
anxious TO, get him out Of bad fix,
but they had to wait for orders.
"When Nell found out Thorne was
bein' starved an beat in do6e shack
no more'n two mile across the line,
she shore stirred up that cavalry
camp. Shore. She told them soldiers
ROias was holdin Thorne-torturin'
him to make him tell where Mercedes
was. An she begged the cavalrymen
to rescue Thorne.
"From the way it was told to Inc
I reckon them cavalrymen went up
in the air. Fine fiery lot Of young
bloodS. l thought achin' for scrap.
But the officer in charge, bein' in
ticklish place. still held out for higher
orders.
"Then Nell broke loose YOu-nll
know Ncll's tongue is sometimes like
q ChOya thorn. I'd have give some
thin to see her work up that soldier
outfit. Can't you fellers see her on
Blanco Sol with her eyes turnin'
hlGck?'