The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-11-16

II found her. Dick. and when saw
her-I went stark, staring. ravlng mad
over her. She Is the most beautiful.
wonderful girl ever saw. Her name
Is Mercedes Castaneda, and she be-
longs to one Of the old wealthy Span
ish families. She has lived abroad
and In Havana. She speaks French
as well as English. She is-but !
must he brief.
"Dick, think, think With Mercedes
also 1t was love at first sight. My
plan is to marry her and get her far
ther to the interior. away from the
border. 1t may not be easy. She's
watched. So am I. Rojas must have
got word to hts friends here; yester.
day his gang of cutthroat rebels ar
rived, and today he came When
learned that, l took my chance and
left camp; hunted up priest. He
promised to come here. It's time he's
due. But I'm afraid he'll he stopped
You see. we're over the tine"
Are we In Mexican territory now 2"
queried Gale. sharply
II guess yes. old hoy. That's what
complicates it. Roias and his rebels
bave Casita In their hands. If Mer.
cedes Is really watched-lf her i,len-
tity is known, which I am siye is the
case-we couldn't get far from this
house before I'd be knitted and she
seized"
Good heavens Thorne. can that
sort of thing happen less than q
stones throw from the United States
liner asked Gale, incredulously.
ut can happen, and don't you forget
1t. You don't seem to realize the
power these guerrilla leaders, these
rebel captains, and particularly these
bandits, exercise over the mass of
Mexicans. I've seen Rojas. He's
handsome, bold, sneering devil, vainer
than any peacock. He decks himself
In gold lace and silver trappings, In
all the finery he can steal. He spends
gold like he spills blood. But he Is
chiefly famous for abducting women.
The peon girls consider 1t an honor
to be ridden of with. Rojas has
shown a penchant for girls Of the bet
ter class"
Thorne wiped the perspiration from
his pale face and bent dark gaze
out Of the window before he resumed
his talk.
Consider what the position of Mer-
cedes really is. Rojas can turn all the
hidden underground influences to his
ends. Unless / thwart him he'll get
Mercedes as easily as he can light a
cigarette. But I'll kill him or some
Of his gang or her before l let him
get her. This is the situation,
old friend. I've little time to spare.
face arrest for desertion. Rojas is
in town. 1 think I was followed to
this hotel. The priest has betrayed
me or has been stopped. Mercedes is
here alone, waiting, absolutely de-
pendent upon me to save her from
from She's the sweetest, love
liest girl! In few moments
sooner or later therell be hell here
Dick, are you with me?"
Dick Gale drew long, deep breath.
A coldness, a lethargy, and indiffer-
ence that had weighed upon him for
months had passed out Of his being
On the instant he could not speak,
but his hand closed powerfully upon
his friends. Thorne's face changed
wonderfully. the distress. the fear, the
appeal all vanishing III q smile Of
passionate gratefulness.
Then Dicks gaze attracted by some
slight sound, shot over his friends
shoulder to see face at the window
"a handsome. bold. sneering face.
with glittering dark eyes that flashed
in sinister intentness.
Dick stiffened in his seat. Thorne,
with sudden clenching Of hands,
wheeled toward the window.
"Rojas" he whispered.
y