Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-07

turer, in Casita. Mexican border town,
meets George ThOrne, lieutenant in the
Ninth cavalry, old college friend: Thorne
tells Gale he is there to save Mercedes
Castaneda Spanish girl, his atflanGed
wife. from Rojas, Mexican bandit.
III the corridor Gale stopped long
enough to pull on pair of heavy
gloves, to muss his hair, and disar-
range his collar. Then he stepped
into the restaurant, went through, and
halted in the door leading into the
saloon. No one appeared t. notice
hin. Gales rowing glance soon fixed
upon the man he took to be ROias
The MeXican's face was turned aside
He was in earnest, excited cOlloquy
with q dozen or more comrades, most
Of whom were sitting round q table.
They were listening, talking, drinking
The fact that they wore cartridge belts
crossed over their breasts satisfied
Gale that these were the rebels lie
became conscious of an inward fire
that threatened to overrun his cool
ness. Other emotions harrieS his self.
control. 1t seemed as il sight Of the
man liberated or created devil in
Gale. And at the bottom of his feel.
Ings there seemed to be a wonder al
himself, a strange satisfaction Cor the
something that had come to him.
He stepped out Of the doorway,
down the couple Of steps TO the floor
of the saloon, and he staggered <
little, Stimulating drunkenness. He fell
over the pool tables, jostled MeXicanS
ct the bar, laughed like maudlin
fool, and, with his nat slOuched down
crowded here and there. Presently
his eye caught sight of the group OF
cowboys whom he had before noticed
with such interest.
They were still in a corner some
what isolated. With fertile mind
working, Gale lurched over to them.
If he were to get any help from these
silent aloof rangers it must be by
striking fire from them in one swift
stroke. Planting himself squarely be-
fore the two tall cowboys who were
STANDING, he looked straight into
their lean, brOnzed faces. He spared
n full moment for that keen, cool
gaze before he spoke.
I'm not drunk. I'm throwing
bluff, and I mean to start rough
house. I'm going to rush that id
bandit Rojas. It's to save girl-to
give her lover, who is my friend,
chance to. escape with her. She's in
ne house. Rojas is here to get her.
When start n row my friend will try
to slip out With her. Every door and
window is watched. I've got to raise
HI to draw the guards in.
Well, you're my cOuntrymen. We're
in Mexico A beautiful girls honor
and life are at stake. Now, gentle
men, watch mew
One cowboys eyes narrowed, blink
ing a little and his lean Jaw dropped;
the others hard face ripIled with a
fleeting smile.
Gale backed away, and his pulse
leaped when he saw the two cowboys,
as if with one purpose, slowly stride
after him. Then Gale sweved, stag
gering along, brushed against the
tables. kicked over the empty chairs.
The hum of the many voices grew
louder, and when Dick lurched
against table, oyerturning 1t and
spilling glasses into the laps Of sew
eral MeXiCanS, there arose a shrill cry.
He had succeeded IN attracting at
tentiOn: almost every face turned his
way. One Of the insulted men,
little tawny fellow, leaped to confront
Gale. and in a frenzy screamed a vol
ley of Spanish. Of which Gale dstin-
guished "Cringow Dick swung his
leg and with a swift side kick knocked
the fellows feet from under him,
whirling him down with thud.
The action was performed so sud
denly, so adrOitly. it made the Mcxi-
can such q weakline, so like y tumbed
tcnpin. that the shrili jabbcring
hushcd. Gale knew this to be the
significant moment.
Wheeling, lie rushed at ROjas. 1t
WIS HIS tlu IlLt-bl ttlhlAgs p4u4SS' -Nti-
thcr Rojas nor his men had time to
move. The black-skinned bandits
face turned a dirty white; his jaw
dropped; he would have shrieEed If
Gale had not hit him. The blow
swept him backward against his men.
Then Gales heavy body, swiftly fol-
lowing with the momentum of that
rush, struck the little group of rebels.
They went down with the table and
chairs in sliding crash.
Gale. carried by his plunge, went
with them. Like cat he landed on
+cp. AS he rose his powerful hands
fastened on Roias. He jerkcd the
little bandit off the tangled pile of
struggling, yelling men, and, swinging
him with terrific force, let 20 his hold.