The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-21

RhAillf FtFH AHtfWMfN NiN ~ NJ
pointed 10 tho dry bed OF tho Rebel
above the place whore Il Joined the
Webster His mouth became just a
great saEginE Earh as compre-
honsion OF the fact that tho Rebel
was as dry aa tho Webster daWncd
on him,
Bewildcred. flodlRe rotied his head
from side 90 side
"Acklin," he muttered slowly:
he's fooled us all"
"AcklnrT
A rumhllng murmur passed thru
the crowd as Il echoed Esteban's
question
The hoy turned ON Blarsi
us that right. Kildare 7'
Tho crowd shifted Us attention to
the Double 4 man, Blaze met their
stare calmly.
We've been up beyond tho peak
for almost three weeks We haven't
seen a Double A man since we left"
You ought 10 know" Melody
snapped hack. too late for Blaze TO
check him.
Side by side tho two parties moved.
slowly az first: but a. they found
nothing 20 reward them. their pace
quickened until Il became a mad
scramble. as n each was trying 20 b
the first 60 ind the answer 20 the
mystery.
And then. as they rounded tho
bend where the creek narrowed Rn II
came dRshing out Of Martin Canon.
tho truth struck them aa tho they
were but one man, High across the
chasn before them bulked the
mighty dam. the top OF tho solid
mass Of masonry bathed in the last
days OF the setting sun.
a heart-rcnding cry OF anguish
across from their lipa
They had crossed frowning HSasi
preached high hills and lovcled
them. they had wreutcd from tho
desert a grudginK toothold. and the
fight had been bitter one. They
had faced the loss OF their dear ones.
wept their tears. and ploddcd on
again. Nothing had daunted them.
Now they looked on Adkins handi-
work and their hearts sank II was
the cunning OF the devil that con-
fronted them.
Es:sban recalled the words tho Bis
Boss had often used 10 thoms
Possession Is nine points OF tho
law"
He had possession now. This gave
Il 10 him.
A feeling OF fatality graspcd his
comrades. This shlug OF rock and
concrete crushed and destroyed their
spirit. Like the law and tho ways o.
God. .Achlin and his dam we're not
understandable TO their primitive
minds.
Some OF them got 10 their knees
and prayed. others raised their
hands to heaven and moaned or bias
phsmed. But above all sound arose
the croaking voice O, old orteEa as
he repeated his oraculsr -it Is a
visitation OF God upon US for our
sinai
The establishment OF thu Double A
men waa equal to that OF the
Basaucs To Melody. tho dam wa.
only another evidence OF Ackiin's
ability to get what no went after.
In kildare II awakened strange
emotions For one thing. II revealed
thu big Boss aA no had seen him;
hard. incorporating. ruthless But
a sense OF loss, feeling OF sadness.
that auits otitweiGhsd any considsra-
ton OF Ackiiu. filled him. Over and
over he asked himself what she was
going 20 do now. A glance a, her
brothers face brought his question
housA even more pointsdiy. wha,
would Mercedes do nowf
lilo had no thought Of himself or Of
Melody And yet he must have real
ized how desperate was their plight.
Out Of all this. however. there came
one sustaining thing: the utter coll
lapse OF Bodlne, lie Was thru.
double crossed. and in the very man
ner In which Kent had predicted be
would be.
Blaze watched him. The man had
ilmnounted and was pacing w and
down tho dry croek-bod. Every 10
or IL steps no would turn suddenly
and. shaking his fist at the giant
wall. pour out string Of curses and
threats that burned the air. He would
have killed Ackiln on sight In HIS
present mood Whenever he recalled
that he. the blundertnE. stupid idiot.
had pulled this coal out OF tho fire
for tho Double a. he rayed like
madman.
Esteban spurrod up 10 the big fell
low The manner in which Bodlue had
given way filled him with disgust.
DRY up that noise" he called out.
That kind Of talk won't get you
anything"
Blaze felt silent admiration for
the young fellows grit Bodine also
caught the tone OF authority In his
voice.
We'll. what are we goin' to dor
he demanded
You forget that We stuff. Bodino.-
Esteban said holly. what my peo-
pie do. they'll do without any help
from you. We're not forgetting. you
double-crossed stool-plgeonl Acklln
has played you for fool. but you'd
have driven US out II you could"
A cultural chorus approved his
words.
Have II your own way" the big
fellow roared. I'D "a lined up with
you: we'd "A give Acklin taste of
his own medicine He couldn't lick
us all. You go ahead. and see where
you get off. You got two Of his pets
right here. what you goin' to do
with them7"
Bodine was playing 10 the crowd
now There was n quick movement
toward the Double a men. Blaze
and Melody backed IN against the
stone wall Estehan got In front Of
them. He faced his own people with
his gun raised.
Urine amigosl" he cried TO them
In their own tongue. This man let
mo eot nwav tho night I first cnune