Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-06-30

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again. The retreating bandit seemed
TO run full into an invisible obstacle
then fell lax, inert, lifeless. RoJas
sped on unmindful Of the spurts OF
dust about him. Yaqui, high above
Ladd was also firing at the Dahult'
Then both rifles were empted. RoJas
turned at a nigh break in the trail'
He shook q defiant hand, and his ex-
ulting yell pealed family to Gales
ears. About him there was something
desperate, magnificent. Then he clam
bered down the trail.
Ladd dropped the .405, and rising,
gun in hand, he staggered toward the
bridge of lava. Before he had crossed
it Yaqui came bounding down the
slope, and in one splendid leap he
cleared the fissure. He ran beyond
the trail and disappeared on the lava
above. Rojas had not seen this sud
den, darling move of the Indian.
Gale wondered, fearfully, what had
become of Lash Presently, when
Rojas came out of the cracks and
ruts of lava there might be chance
of disabling him by long shot. His
progress was now slow. But he was
making straight for Mercedes hiding
place. What was it leading him there
An eagle eye, or hate, or instinct?
Why did he go on when there could
be no turning back for him on that
trail? Ladd was slow, heavy, stag
gering on the trail; but he was re-
lentless. Only death could stop the
ranger now. Surely Rojas must have
known that when he chose the trail.
From time to time Gale caught
glimpses of Yaquis dark figure steal
ing along the higher rim Of the crater.
He was making for a point above the
bandit.
Laid staggered along the trail; at
times he crawled. The Yaqui gained
he might have had wings; he leaped
from jagged crust to Jagged crust; his
sure-footedness was wonderful thing.
But for Gale the marvel of that
endless period of watching was the
purpose of the bandit Rojas. He had
now no weapon Gales glass made
this fact plain. There was death be-
hind him, death below him, death be-
fore him, and though he could not
have known 1t, death above him. He
never faltered-neyer made a misstep
upon the narrow, fiinty trail When he
reached the lower end of the level /
ledge Gales poignant doubt became |
a certainty. Rojas had seen Mercedes. |
It was incredible, yet Gale believed II. /
Then, his heart clamped as In an icy |
wise, Gale threw forward the Reming- |
ton, and sinking on one knee, began I
to shoot. He emptied the magazine. !
Puffs of dust near Rojas did not even
make him turn.
Gale wheeled, rigid now, steeling /
himself to one last forlorn hope-that
Mercedes could defend herself. She
had a gun. He doubted not at all that
she would use it. But, remembering
her terror of this savage, he feared
for her. Rojas reached the level of
the ledge He halted. He crouched.
It was the act of a panther. Mani
testify he saw Mercedes within the
cave. Then faint shots patted the air,
broke in quick echo. Rojas went
down as If struck by a heavy blow.
He was hit. But even as Gale yelled
In sheer madness the bandit leaped
erect. He seemed too quick, too sup
pie to be badly wounded. A slight,
dark figure flashed out of the cave.
Mercedes She backed against the
wall Gale saw puff of white
heard a report But the bandit
unged at her. Mercedes ran, not to
.ry to pass him, but straight for the
,reclpice. Her intention was plain
But Rojas outstripped her, even as
The reached the verge. Then pierre
ng scream pealed across the crater
/ scream of despair.
Gale closed his eyes. He could not
year to see more.
Thorne echoed Mercedes scream.
Sale looked round just In time to leap
nd catch the cavalryman as he stag
cred, apparently for the steep slope.
md then, as Gale dragged him back,
9th fell. Gale saved his friend, but
e plunged into choya. He drew
is hands away full Of the great glis-
ening cones of thorns.
For Gods sake, Gale, shoot
hoot XIII heri XIII herl
u-see-Rojas-'
Thorne tainted.
Gale, stunned for the instant, stood
nth uplifted hands, and gazed from
horne across the crater. Rojas had
OF killed Mercedes. He was over
owering her His actions seemed
low. wearing, purposeful Hers were
iolent. Lake a trapped she-wolf,
Iercedes was fighting. She tore,
truggled, flung herself.
Rojas' intention was terribly plain.
In agony now, both mental and
hysical, cold and sick and weak, Gale
ripped his rifle and aimed at the
-ruggllng forms on the ledge. He
ulled the trigger. The bullet struck !
p a cloud of red dust close to the !.
.ruggling couple. Again Gale fired |
Oping to hit Rojas, praying to kill !.
-ercedes. The bullet struck high. A
rd-fourth-fifth time the Reming- d.
IN spoken vain The rifle fell from
ales racked hands.
How horribly plain that fiend's in !