The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-12-07
CHAPTER III
A Flight Into the Desert.

his ear TO tpo SOFT wind. Presently
he heard, or imagined he heard, low
beats. IN Il moment he was certain
the sounds were the padlilc steps Of
.hoofs In yielding sand. The regular
tramp was not that Of grazing horses
n the instant, made cautious and
stcalthy by alarm, Gale drew Mer.
ccdes deeper into the gloom OF the
'shrubbcry. The sounds of hoofbeats
grew louder. Gale made out dark
moving mass against a background OF
dull gray. There was line of horses
lie could not discern whether or not
all the horses carried riders The
murmur Of a voice struck ms ear
then low laugh. 1t made him tinglc
FOR 1t sounded American Eagerly he
listened.
ut shore was, Laddy, 1t shore was"
came voice out Of the darkness
Rough house! Laddy, since wire
FENCES drove us out Of Texas we ain't
seen the like Of that An we never
had such Il call"
call? 1t was 4 hurnin' roast" re-
Piled another voice. II felt low down
Iie vamoosed some sudden, an hone
he an his friends shook the dust Of
Casita. That's q rotten town, jim"
Gale Jumped up In JOY. What luck
The speakers We're none other than
the two cowboys whom he had accost-
eh in the Mexican hotel.
Hold on, fellows" he called. and
strobe into the road.
The horses SnOrtcd and stamped
Then followed swift rustlng sounds
clinking OF spurs, then silence. The
figures loomcd clearer in the gloom
Gale saw five o: six horses, two with
riders, and ono other, at ,2a.;:, carry
ing a pack. When Gale got within
fifteen feet Of the group the foremost
horSrmnn said:
81 reckon that's close enough
stranger"
Something in the cowboys hand
glntch Garkly bright in the starlight
YOU'D recognize me, if it wasn't so
dark replied Gale, halting. 81 spoke
to YOU q little while ago-in the sa-
loon back there"
"Comc over an let's see YOU" said
the cowboy, curtly.
Gale advanced till he was close to
the horse. The cowboy leaned over
the saddle and pcered into Gales
face. Then. without word he
sheathcd the gun and held ont his
hand. Gale met a grip of steel that
warmed his blood. The other COW
boy got OF his nervous. spirited harsc
and threw the bride. He, too pcered
closely into Gales face.
"A1y names Ladd," he said. "Rcckon
Tim some glad to meet You again"
Gale felt another grip as hard and
strong us the other had been. He
realized he had found friends who
belonged to a class Of men whom he
had deSparcd Of ever knowing
"Gale-Dick Gale is my name" he
began, swiftly 81 dropped into Casita
tonight hardly knowing where was.
boy took me to that hotel. There I
met an old friend whom had not
seen for years. He belongs to the
cavalry stationed here He had be-
friendcd Spanish girl--fallcn in love
with her. Roias had killed this girls
fathcr-tricd to abduct her.
You know what took place at the ho-
tel. Gentlemen, IL it's ever possible,
III show you how I appreciate what
you did for me there. | got away.
found my friend with the girl. We
hurried out here beyond the edge of
town. Then Thorne had 10 make a
break for camp. We heard bugIc calls,
shots, and he was away without leave.
'That left the girl with me. don't
know what to do. Thorne swears Ca
sita is no place for Mercedes at
night"
1.-THE girl amt no peon, no common
'Greaser?" interrupted Ladd.
mo. Her name is Castancda. She
belongs to an old Spanish family, onco
rich and influential"
"Reckoned rs much," replied tbo
cowboy. There's more than Roios,
wantin' to kidnap pretty girl. shore
he does that every day or So Mnst
he .somethin' political or fee,,n,
against class. Well Casita, aln't No
'plare COR your friends girl at n,cht
ot az, or any time. Shore, there's
Americans who'd take her in nm, f,rht
for her, If necessary. But It amt wise
to risk that. Lash, what do YOU saw"
Its been gettin' hotter round this
Greaser corral for some weeks" re.