The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-11-15
ranger'S Shoulder.

ranger SuOulucl.
daddy. Don't kill Diablo unless
it's to save your life"
"All right. But by Cd, if I get
a chance I'll make Blanco Sol run him
off his legs!'
He spoke no more and set about
changing the length of Soils stirrups.
When he had them adjusted to suit. he
mounted and rode down the trail and
out upon the level. He rode leisurely
as if merely going to water his horse.
The long black rifle lying across his
saddle, however. was Ominous.
Gale securely tied the other horse
to mesquite at hand, and took
position behind low rock over which
he could easily see and shoot when
necessary. Ladd rode a quarter Of a
mile out upon the fiat before anything
happened. Then a whistle rent the
still, cold air. A horse hal seen or
scented Blanco Sol. The whistle was
prolonged, faint, but clear. 1t made
the blood thrum in Gales ears. Sol
halted. His head shot up with the
old, wild, spirited sweep. Gale leveled
his glass at the patch Of mesQuites.
He saw the raiders running to an open
place, pointing, gesticulating. Then
he got only white and dark CLEANS OF
moving bodies. Evidently that moment
was one Of boots, guns and saddles
for the raiders.
Then Gale saw a rider gallop
swiftly from the group toward the far
Their outlet of the valley. This might
have been owing to Characteristic
cowardice; but it was more likely a.
move Of the raiders to make sure of
retreat. Undoubtedly Ladd saw this
galloping hOrseman. A few waiting
moments ensued. The galloping horse
man reached the slope, began to climb,
With naked eyes Gale saw puff OF
white smoke spring out Of the rocks.
Then the raider wheeled his plunging
horse back to the level, and went rae
ing wildly down the valley.
The compact bunch Of bays and
blacks seemed to break apart and
spread rapidly from the edge Of the
mosquitoes. P1affs of white smoke in
Dictated firing, and showed the nature
Of the raiders excitement. They were
far out of ordinary range; but they
spurred toward Ladd, shooting as they
rode. The raiders bullets, striking
low, were SIX ippinS along the hard,
bare floor of the valley. Then Ladd
raised the long rifle. There was no
smoke, but three high, spansing re-
ports rang oTt A gap opened in the
dark line of advancing hOrsemen
then a riderless steed sheered off to-
the right. Blanco Sol seemed to turn
as on pivot and charged back
toward the lover end of the valley.
He circled over to Gales right and
stretched out into his run. There
were now five raiders in pursuit, and
they cane sweeping down, yelling and
shooting, evidently sure of their
quarry. Ladd reserved his fire. He
kept turning from back to front in
his saddle.
Manif estly he intended to try to
lead tn e raiders round in front of
Gales position, and, presently, Gale
saw he was going to succeed. The
raiders, riding like vaqueros, swept
on in Q. curve, cutting off what dis
lance they could. Blanco Sol pound.
ed by, his rapid, rhythmic hoofbeats
plainly to be heard. He was running
easily.
Galei tried to still the jump Of heart
and ulse, and turned his eye again
on tn c nearest pursuer. This raider
was crossing in, his carbine held
muzzle up in his right hand, and he
was coming swiftly: 1t was long
shot,. upward of five hundred yards.
Gale had not time to adjust the sights
Of tle Remington, but he knew the
gun and, holding coarsely upon the
sw' 4ftly moving blot, he began to shoot.
TT le rifle was automatic; Gale needed
OF lily to pull the trigger. Swiftly he
worked it. Suddenly the leading
lorse leaped convulsively, not up nor
aside, but straight ahead, and then
he crashed to the ground, throwing his
rider like a catapult. and then slid
and rolled. He half got up, fell back.
hlIhcu DuI llucl ucNCI mONCI.
The other rangers sawed the reins
OF plunging steeds and whirled to
escape the unseen battery. Gale
slipped fresh clip into the maya !
zine of his rifle. He restrained him.
self from useless firing and gave eager
eye to the duel below. Ladd began to
shoot while Sol was running. The |
.4O5 rang out sharply-then again.
The heavy bullets streaked the dust
all the way across the valley. The |
traders spurred madly in pursuit.
loading and firing. They shot ten
times while Ladd shot once. and all
in vain; and on Ladd's sixth shot
raider toppled backward. threw his
carbine and fell with his foot catching
in a stirrup. The frightened horse
plunged away, dragging him in path
Of dust.
Ladd had emptied magazine, and
now Blanco Sol quicSened and length
ened his running stride. He ran away
from his -pursuers. Tben it was that