The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-04-13

a level 1t was the only place maL
or horse could leave the valley for
the pass.
"Dick, here's your stand. II any
raider yides in range take crack at
him. Now I want the lend Of
your hoss."
"Blanco SolT exclaimed Gale. more
In amaze that Ladd should ask for the
horse than In reluctance to lend him.
"Will you let me have himT Ladd
repeated. almost curtly.
Certainly, Laddy."
A smile momentarily chased the
dark, cold gloom that had set upon
the rangers lean face.
"Shore / appreciate It, Dick. I
know how you care for that hoss.
guess mebbe Charley Ladd has loved
boss! An one not so good as Sol.
was only tryin' your nerve, Dick,
askln' 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 .4O5, 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 it?'
"No. It's great! But sup
pose raider comes out on Blanco
DIablo?"
aJ raoIxon that,o tbo ooa xyaal, vIo m
in my plan. But If they do, well, Sol
can outrun Diablo. An / 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, II I get
chance I'll make Blanco Sol run him
off his legsw
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 omlnous.
Gale securely tied the other horse
to a mesquite at hand, and took
position behind a low rock over which
he could easily see and shoot when
necessary. Ladd rode a quarter Of
mile out upon the fiat before anything
happened. Then whistle rent the
still, cold air. horse had seen or
scented Blanco Sol. The whistle was
prolonged, faint, but clear. II 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 1t was more likely a
move Of the raiders to make sure Of
retreat Undoubtedly Ladd saw this
galloping horseman. few waiting
moments ensued. The galloplng horse
man reached the slope, began to climb,
With naked eyes Gale saw puff Of
white smoke spring out Of theNrocks.
Then the raider wheeled his plunging
ing wildly down the valley.
The compact bunch of bays and
blacks seemed to break apart and
spread rapidly from the edge Of the
mesqultes. 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
put thiCC iC-
ports rang out. A gap opened in the
dark line of advancing horsemen |;
then 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. lie
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 vnqueros. 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 still the jump OF heart
and pulse, and turned his eve again
on the nearest pursucr. This raider
q, o..