St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-11-11

or day, or any time. Shore, there's
Americans who'd take her in an fight
for her, If necessary. But 1t amt wise
to 1isk that. Lash, what do you sayr'
cts been gettin' hotter round this
Greaser corral for some weeks" re-
piled the other cowboy. IF that
two-bit of garrison surrenderA
there's no tellin' wnat'll happen, an
bein' across the u. 8. line few
inches or so don't make no hi OF q
difference. My advice Is, don't let
Miss Castaneda ever set foot in Casita
again."
"Looks like you've shore spoke
sense" said Ladd. II reckon, Gale,
you an the girl ought to come with US.
We know people who'll take care Of
the senorita till your friend can come
for her"
Dick warmly spoke his gratefulness,
and, inexpressibly relieved and happy
for Mercedes, he went toward the
clump Of cactus where he had left
her. She stood erect, waiting, and,
dark as 1t was, he could tell she had
lost the terror which had so shaken
her.
He led her into the road up to tho
cowboys, who now stood bareheaded
In the starlight They seemed shy,
and Lash was silent while Laid made
embarrassed. mintelligible reply to
Mercedes thanks.
There were FIVE horses-twO saddled,
two packed and the remaining one
carried only q blanket. Ladd short.
ened the strips on his mount, and
helped Mercedes up into the saddle.
From the way she settled herself and
took the few FESTIVE prances OF the
mettlesome horse Gale Judged that
she could ride. Lash urged Gale to
take his horse. But this Gale refused
to do.
"rn walk" he said. "1'm used to
walking. know cowboys are not"
Once started with protection assured
for the girl and real objective point
In view, Gale relaxed from the tense
strain he had been laboring under.
How glad he would have been to &C
quaint Thorne with their good for
tunel Later, Of course, there would
be some way to get word to the cav
alryman. But till then what tor
ments his friend would suffer
It seemed to Dick that very long
time had elapsed since he stepped of
the train; and one By one he went
over every detail of incident which
had occurred between that arrival and
the present moment. His meeting
with Thorne; the wonderful black
eyes Of Spanish girl; her appeal to
him: the hate inspired by Rojas, and
the rush, the blow, the action; sight
Of Thorne and Mercedes hurryin9
safely away; the girls hands pressing
his to her heaving breast; the sweet
fire Of her kiss; the fact Of her being
alone with him, dependent upon him
all these things Gale turned over and
over in his mind, only to fall OF any
definite conclusion as to which had
affected him so remarkably, or to tell
what had really happened to him.
Had he fallen In love with Thorne'i
sweetheart? The idea came in fash
Was he, all In an instant, and by one
of those incomprehensibler eversals OF
character, jealous Of his friend7 Dick
was almost afraid to look up at Mer
| cedes. Still he forced himself to Dc
so. and as 1t CHANGED Mercedes was
looking down at him. With a quick
graceful impulsiveness she put he1
hand upon his shoulder. Like her ap
pearance, the action was new, strange
striking to Gale; but 1t brought home
suddenly to him the nature OF graft
tude and affection in girl of hel
blood. It was sweet and sisterly. HI
knew then that he had not fallen II
love with her. The feeling that wal
akin to jealousy seemed to be OF thu
beautiful something for which Mer
cedes stood in Thorne,s life. Gal!
4