The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-20
lContinued from Last iuus)

charge didn't know how to proceed.
Rojas' camp was across the line s.in
Mexico, an ridin' over there was seri-
Gus business. It meant whole lot
more than Just scatterin' one Greaser
camp. Thornes feller soldiers was
anxious to get him out Of bad fix,
but they had to wait for orders.
when Nell found out Thorne was
beln' starved an beat in dobe shack
no moren two mile across the line,
she shore stirred up that cavalry
camp. Shore! She told them soldiers
Rojas 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 me
I reckon them cavalrymen went up
in the air. Fine fiery lot Of young
bloods, 1 thought, achin' for scrap.
But the officer in charge, bein' in
ticklish place. still held out for higher
orders.
"Then Nell broke loose. You-all
know Nell's tongue Is sometimes like
, thin to see her work up that soldier
outfit. Can't you fellers see her on
Blanco Sol with her eyes turnin'
hlack?"
Ladd mopped his sweaty face with
his dusty scarf He was beaming. He
was growing excited, hurried in his
narrative.
Fright out then Nell swore she'd
20 after Thorne. If them cavalrymen
couldn't ride with Il western girl to
save brother Amerien-let them
hang back! One feller, under orders,
tried to stop Blanco Sol. An that
feller invited himself to the hospital.
Then the cavalrymen went f1yin' for
their hosses. 1t didn't take long for
every man in that camp to get wind
Of what was comm off. Shore they
musta been wild. They strung out
after Nell in a thunderin' troop.
"Rojas and his men vamoosed with
out shot. That amt surprisin'.
There wasn't shot fred by anybody.
The cavalrymen soon found ThOrne
an hurried with him back on Uncle
Sans land. Thorne was half naked,
black an blue all over, thin as a rail.
He was given food an drink. Shore
he seemed a starved man. But he
picked up wonderful, an by the time
jim came along he was wantin' to
start for Forlorn River. So was Nell.
BY main strength as much as per
suasion we kept the two men quiet
till next evenin' at dark.
"Well, we made as sneaky start
in the dark as Jim an me could man.
age, an never hit the trail till we
was miles from town. Thorne's nerve
held him up for while. Then all at
once he tumbled out Of his saddle.
We got him back, an Lash held him
on. Nell didn't give out till daybreak.'
AS Ladd paused in his story Bedding
began to stutter. and finally he ex.
ploded. His mighty utterances were
incoherent. But plainly the wrath he
had felt toward the willful girl was
forgotten. Gale remained gripped by
silence.
"Laddy. what knocks me is Rojas
holding Thorne prisoner. trying to
make him tell where Mercedes had
been hidden said Belding.
"Shore. It'd knock anybody"
"The bandits crazy over her. That's
the Spanish of IT," replied Bedding
his voice rolling. "Rojas loves Mer
cedes as he hates her. He wants this
girl only to have her, then kill her
It's d-n strange, boys, and even with
Thorne here our troubles have just
begun"
'Tom, you spoke correct" said Jim
Ladd, in his cool drawl.
ashore I'm not sayin' what think." "
added Ladd But the look Of him was
not indicative Of tranquil optimism.
Thorne was put to bed in Gales
room. He was very weak, yet he
would keep Mercedes hand and gaze
at her with unbelieving eyes. Then,
fighting sleep with what little strength
he had left, at last he succumbed.
For all Dick could ascertain his
friend never stirred an eyelash nor a
finger for twenty-seven hours. When
he awoke he was pale, weak, but the
old Thorne. -,a,
Hello, Dick; I didn't dream 1t,
then,' he said '"There you are, ana
my darling with the proud, dark
eyes-shes here? Mercedes is we'll
safe! Oh! But say, haven't
dollar to my name. I had lot OF
money, Dick, and those robbers stole
it, my watch-everything. On that
little black Greaser!'
"Cheer up. Belding will make you
proposition presently. The future
smiles, old friend. If this rebel busi-
ness was only ended!'
'"Dick, you're going to be my savior
twice over. Well, now, listen
Ito me-" His gay excitement changed
to earnest gravity. Il want to marry