St. Tammany farmer., 1922-12-16

kdAtMk1
"Dick, Here's Your Stand. IL Any
Raider Rides In Range Take a
Crack at Him."
in amaze that Ladd should ask for the
horse than In reluctance to lend him.
"Will you let me have him?' Ladd
repeated, almost curtly.
| Certainly, Laddy."
A smile momentarlly chased the
dark, cold gloom that had set upon
the rangers lean face
"Shore I appreciate it, Dick.
know how you care for that hoss l
| guess mebbe Charley Ladd has loved
a boss! An one not so good as Sol.
| I was only tryin' your nerve, Dick,
askin' you without tellin' my plan.
Sol won't get scratch, you can
gamble on thatl I'll ride him down
into the valley an pull the Greasers
out into the open. They've got short
ranged carbines. They can't keep out
Of range Of the. .405, an I'll be takin'
the dust of their lead. They can't gain.
on Sol, an he'll run them down when
want. Can you beat itT'
"No. It's great! But sup
pose a raider comes out on Blanco
Dlablo?"
Il reckon that's the one weak place
in my plan. But If they do, well, Sol
can outrun Diablo. An 1 can always
kill the white devil!"
Ladd's strange hate of the horse
showed In the passion of his last
words, in his hardening jaw and grim
set lips.
Gales hand went swiftly to the
rangers shoulder.
'Laddy. Don't kill Diablo unless
It's to save your life"
"All right. But by Cd, If I get
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 a
position behind low rock over which
he could easily see and shoot when
necessary. Ladd rode a quarter of q
mile out upon the fiat before anything
happened. Then whistle rent the
still, cold air. A horse had seen or
scented Blanco Sol. The whistle was
prolonged, faint, but clear. It 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 rider gallop
swiftly from the group toward the far
ther 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 a 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
mesquites. Puffs Of white smoke in
dicated 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 skipping along the hard,
bare floor Of the valley. Then Ladd
raised the long rifle There was no
smoke, but three high, spanging re-
ports rang out. 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 lower 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 came sweeping down, yelling and
shooting, evidently sure Of their
quarry. Ladd reserved his fire. He
kept turning from back to front In
his saddle
Manifestly he intended to try to
lead the raiders round in front OF
Gales position, and, presently, Gale
saw he was going to succeed. The
raiders, riding like vaqueros, swept
on in a curve, cutting off what dis
tance they could. Blanco Sol pound
ed by, his rapid. rhythmic hoofbeats
plainly to be heard, He was running
easily.
Gale tried to sstijs The jump Of heart
and pulse. and turned his eye again
on the nearest pursuer This raider
was crossing in. his carbine held
mtzzle up in his right hand, and he
was coming swiftly It was long
shot, upward of five hundred yards.