The Lamar register., 1923-01-24


the Eastern Wall.
yond belief that horse. burdened OF
unburdened, could find footing and
hold It upon that wall OF narrow
lodges and Inverted, slanting gullles.
But he climbed on sure footed AS
mountain goat, and. surmounting the
last rough steps. he stood moment
silhouetted against the white sky.
Then he disappeared. Ladd sat
astride Bllnco Sol gazing upward.
How the coWb boy must have honOred
that raiders brave steed!
Gale, who had been too dumb to
shout the admiration he felt. suddenly
leaped up. and his voice came with
shrek:
Look out. Laddyr'
A big horse, like a white streak. was
bearing down TO the right OF the
ranger. Blanco Diabloi A matchless
rider swung with the horses Gotlon
Gal. was stunned Then he remem-
bered the first raider. the one Lash
had shot AT and driven away from the
outlet. This fellow had made for the
mesquite and had put a saddle on
Beldlng's favorite. In the heat Of the
excitement, while Ladd had been in
tent upon the climbing horse. this last
rnider had come down with the speed
of the wind straight for the western
outlet. Perhaps. very probably. he
did not know Gale was there to block
IL: and certainly he hoped to pass
Ladd and BlancO Sol.
A touch OF the spur made Sol lunge
forward to head OF the raider. Diablo
was I'm his stride. hut the distance and
angle favored Sol. The raider had no
carbine He held aloft a gun ready
to level IL and fire. He sat the saddle
rs II II were stationary seat. Gale
saw Ladd lean down and drop the
.IO5 in the sand He would take no
chances OF wounding Belding's best
loved horse.
Then Gale sat transixed with sus-
pended breath watching the horses
Numbering toward him Blanco Dia-
bio was speeding low. fleet as an an
telope. fierce and terrible in his dev-
ilish action. horse for war al d blood
and death. He seemed unbeatable
Yet to see the magnificently running
Blanco Sol was but to court a doubt
Plain II was the raider could not make
the opening ahead Of Ladd He saw
Il and sweryed TO the left. emptying
his six-shooter as he turned.
Blnnco Sol Numbered across. Then
the race became straight away up the
valley. II was fleet beautiful. mag
n.flcent race. Gale thrilled and ex-
ulted and yelled as his horse settled
into II steadily swifter rur and began
TO gain.
The gap between Diablo and Sol
narrowed yard by yard. All the devil
that was in Blanco Dlablo had Its run
ming on the downward stretch. The
strange. cruel urge OF bit and spur
the crazed rider who stuck like burr
upon him, the shots and smoke added
terror to his natural violent temper
He ran himself of his feet. But he
could not elude that relentless horse
behind him.
Then. like one white flash following
another, the two horses CLEANED down
the bank Of wash and disappeared
In clouds OF dust.
Gale watched with strained and
smarting eyes The thick throb In
his ears was pierced by faint sounds
Of gunshots. Then he waited in al
most uncomfortable suspense
suddenly something whittier than the
background of dust appeared above
the low roll of valley floor. Gale lev
eled his glass. In the clear circle
>hone Blanco Soils noble head with Its
long black bar from ears to nose
Soils head was dropping now Another
second showed Ladd stlll In the saddle
The ranger was leading BlancO
p.abln - spent - Droken-dra gginS-
rldefIess.