Evening journal., 1922-02-11
tContInucd From our I.nst Issnel
CHAPTER XVI

The girl writhed and twisted re-
gardless OF the pain. exerting every
muscle Of the strong young arm and
shoulder.
Let me goi" she cried. terror
rampant in her white face. Don't
touch mel"
There was a swift fash OF white
teeth. With a startled oath Doblo
snatched his arm away. Savage as
a tigress. Joyce had closed her teeth
on His forearm.
She fell back. got 20 her feet, and
He'd from the house. Doble was
after her on the instant. She lodged
round a tree, doubled on her course,
then detected toward the corral.
Swift and supple though she was.
his long strides brought him closer.
| Again she screamed.
you young hell-cat. I'm not gon-
na kurt you" he said. whats the
use o. actin crazy?"
There was a patter OF rapid feet.
small body hurled itself against
Doble's leg and clung there, beating
his thigh with a valiant little fist.
you le' my sister gol You le' my
sister gol" the boy shouted. repeat
y ing the words over and over.
n Doble looked down at Keith.
n What the hell2" he demanded.
u amazed.
The Mexican came forward and
spoke in Spanish rapidly.
The outlaw was irritated. All this
clamor Of fear annoyed and dis
& turbed him. This was not the scene
he had planned in his drink inspired
reveries.
8 peel this kid off'n my leg and hit
d the trail. Juan. I don't care where
Il you leave him so long as you keep
an eye on him till afternoon.
With difficulty the Mexican swung
TO the saddle, dragged Keith up in
= front Of him, and rode away at a
"A iog-trot The youngster was scream
ri ing az the top OF his lungs.
As his horse climbed toward the
notch, Otero looked back. Doble
had picked up his prisoner and was
81 carrying her into the house.
An hours riding through the
8 &watershed far above the Jackpot.
Otero picked his way to the upper
lend Of a gulch.
Ia 'Leestcn. muchaco. Go down
down-down. First the guich. then
canon, then the Jackpot You go
lon thces trail"
A He dropped the boy 20 the ground,
4lwatched him start, then turned away
4 |kat a Spanish trot.
'H The trail was a rough and pre-
Ncipitous one. Stumbling as he walk
Aaed. Keith went sobbng down the
X(gulch. He had wept himself out, and
Xsis sobs had fallen to a dry hic-
7cough A forlorn little chap. tired
3 and sleepy, he picked his way among
Z he mesquite. following the path
Malong the dry creek bed. The cat
T. rlaw tore his stockings and scratched
him. Stone bruises hurt his tender
Xfeet. He kept travelling, because he
l< was afraid to give up.
y He reached the junction Of the
& .ulch and the canon. A small stream
( which had survived the summer
.; drought trickled down the bed o.
n me latter. Through tangled under
81 brush Keith crept 20 the water. He
av down and drank. after which nc
5 a. on a rock and pitied himself. In
- five minutes he would have beer
. aslcop IL a sound had not startled
w sim. Someone was snoring on tho
,thor side Of a mesquite thicket.
f# Keith jumped up pushed MS way
S.; through. and almost stumbled over
~ sleeping man. He knelt down ano
"a began 90 shake the snorer.
s. wake up. man!' Keith SHOUTED
- his ear In the interval between
W shakes.
Tho vounrster reused the man
H. by throwing water In his face
IS shorty sat up. at the same tim'
3 dragging out a revolver. His gaz
o rastoned on the boz, after one swif
\slance round.
4 "Whadya doin' hereF
Il. 'I want my daddy"
.swho is yore daddy2 What's yor
& name"
8 Keith Crawford
81 shortly bit of an oath OF surprls'
s. How come you here?'
"A man brought me.
As far as ne understood them, IN
81. nov told the story Of the nights ad
NJ yenures. shorty's face grew grin
|1 Te APPRECIATED the meaning back q
hem far better than the little fe
"a ow. ,,,,,-
lie jumped to his feet. I'VE
no, kid"
III CHAPTER XVII
Joyce tainted for the first time ]
3SAcr life.
M when she recovered consciousness
.Dobie was splashing water in he
5H ace She was lying on the bun
SE rom which she had fed few MIL
8N "a earlier The girl made me
TM IN 10 rise and he put a heavy han
m her shoulder.
W Don't be fool" he told her II
M .itablv. "I amt gonna hurt 20
,one-if you behave reasonable"
NJ She tried to slip by him and h
&v hrust her back.
let me go!" she demanded. a
Nincei"
W you're not gonna 60" he tol
Ter natly "You stay here-wit
3nc. For keeps Unerstand p
m Have you gone crazy?" she aske
wildly her heart futtering like
frightened bird I'm cage. Don
7ou know my father viii search II
whole country for mo?"
TOO late. We travel south 500
IS it's dark" Hc leaned forwar
nd put a hand on her knee, regard
ess OF the fact that she shrank bac
tuivcring from his touch. "Liste
iii -uNn q