The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-01-18
Presently Relding called his rang.

ers TO him, and then ThOrne.
Listen to this" he said earnestly
'I'll go out and have a talk with Ro-
Jas. I'll try to reason with him; tell
him to think a long time before he
sheds blood on Uncle Sans soil. That
he's now after an Americans wife,
I'll not commit myself, nor will re-
fuse outright to consider his demands
nor will show the least fear of him
I'll play for time. II my blum goes
through well and good
After dark the four of you, Laddy. Jim.
Dick and Thorne. will take Mercedes
and my best white horses. and. with
Yaqui as guide, circle round through
Altar valley to the trail, and head for
Yuma. l want you to take the Indian.
because In case of this kind he'll
be godsend. If you get headed or
lost or have to circle off the trail.
think what it'd mean to have a Yaqui
with you. He knows Sonora as no
Greaser knows 1t. He could hide you,
find water and grass, when you would
absolutely believe 1t Impossible. The
Indian is loyal. He has his debt to
pay. and he'll pay 1t. don't mistake me.
When you're gone I'll hide Nell so
Rojas won't see her II he searches the
place. Then think ! could sit down
and wait without any particular
worry"
The rangers approved Of Beldings
plan. and Thorne went to the side of
his wife.
Mercedes. we've planned to outwit
Rojas. VIII you tell us what he
wrOte?"
'Rojas swore-by his saints and his
virgin-that II I wasn't given-to him
in twentyfour hours-he would set
fire to the village-kill the men-car-
ry off the women-hang the children
on cactus thorns ~
A moments silence followed her
last halting whisper.
Then the Yaqui uttered a singular
| cry. Gale had heard this once before
and now he remembered It was at the
Papago we'll
Look at the Indian" whispered
Belding. hoarsely. "D-n If l don't
believe he understood every word Mer-
cedes said. And, gentlemen, don't mis-
take me, If he ever gets near Senior
Rojas there1l be some CORY Aztec
knife work"
Yaqui had moved close to Mercedes,
and stood beside her as she leaned
against her husband. She seemed i'm
PEELED to meet the Indians gaze, and
evidently 1t was so powerful or hyp-
motto that 1t wrought irresistibly upon
her. But she must have seen or di-
vined what was beyond the others,
for she offered him her trembling
hand. Yaqui took it and laid 1t
against his body In strange motion,
and bowed his head. Then he stepped
back into the shadow of the room.
Belding went outdoors while the
rangers took up their former position
at the west window. Each had his
own somber thoughts. Gale imagined
and knew his own were dark enough
He saw Belding halt at the corras
and wave his hand. Then the rebels
mounted and came briskly up the
road, this time to rein in abreast.
Wherever Rojas had kept himself
upon the former advance was not
clear; but he certainly was prominent
~ In sight now. He made a gaudy,
almost a dashing figure. Rojas dis
mounted and seemed to be listening.
Belding made gestures, vehemently
bobbed his big head. appeared to talk
with his body ~ much AZ with his
tongue. Then Rojas was seen to reply,
and after that 1t was clear that the
talk became painful and dificult. 1t
ended finally In what appeared to be
mutual understanding. Rojas mount
ed and rode away with his men.
while Belding came tramping back to
the house.
As he entered the door his eyes
were shining, his big hands were
clenched, and he was breathing au-
dibly.
you can rope me II I'm not To-
coedl" he burst out. 1T went out to
conciliate red-handed little muir
derer and d-n me II I didn't meet
a-n-well, I've no suitable name
handy. l started my blum and got
tion that Mercedes was Thorne's wife
And what do you think7 RoJns swore
he loved Mercedes-swore he'd marry
her right here in FOrlOrn River
swore he would give up robbing and
killing people. and take her away
from Mexico. He has gold-jewels
He swore II he didn't get her moth
ing mattered. He'd die anyway with
out her. And here's the strange
thing. l believe him He was cold
qs ice. and all HI inside. Never saw
Greaser like him. Anyway, without
my asking he said for me to think IL
over for day and then we'd talk
| again."
Shore we're horn lucky" ejacu.
lated Ladd.
Il reckon Rojas'll be smart enough
to string his outfit across the few
trails out of Forlorn River" remarked
| Jim.
THAT needn't worry u.s. All we