The Lamar register., 1923-02-28

amI,led. The Naqui waved. TOO, and
Gale saw in the action an urgent
signal
Hastily taking up cautecn and
rifles, Gale put supporting arm
around Thorne.
Come, old man. Can you walk
Sure you can walk Lean on me, and
we'll soon get out of this. Don't look
across. Look where you step. We've
not much time before dark Oh.
Thorne I'm afraid Jim has cashed in
And the last | saw Of Laddy he was
badly hurt"
Gale was keyed up to a high pitch
OF excitement and alertness He
seemed to be able 10 do many things.
But once or the ragged notched lava
into the trail he had not such difficulty
with Thorne. and could keep his
Keen gaze shifting everywhere for
sight of enemies
Listen. Thornel What's that ?"
asked Gale, halting as they came to
place where the trail led down through
rough breaks In the lava. The silence
was broken by strange sound. al
most unbelievable considering the
time and place. A voice was drOning:
Turn the lady. turn! Turn the lady
turn, Aamon left All swing: turn
the lady. turn"
Hello. Jim" called Gale. dragging
Thorne round the corner of lava
where are you? oh. you son of
gun | thought you We're dead. oh,
I'm glad I" see youl Jim, are you
hurt?'
Jim Lash stood In the trail leaning
over the butt Of his rifle which evil
IDENTIFY he was utilizing as crutch
lie was pale but smiling. His hands
were bloody. A scarf had been bound
tightly round his left leg just above
the knee. The leg hung limp. and the
foot dragged
Il reckon / amt Injured much" re-
piled Jim. But my leg hurts like
HI, II you want to know"
"Laddyi OH where's Laddy?"
Hes just across the crack there
I was trying to get to him. We had
II hot an heavy down here. Laddy
was pretty bad shot up before he tried
to head RoIas of the trail.
Dick. did you see the Yaqui go after
RoInsf'
"Did ~" exclaimed Gale grimly.
THE finish was all that saved me
from runnin' loco. reckon our
chances are against indln' Laddy
alive. tell you. boys, Rojas
was h-lbent An Mercedes was
game. I saw her shoot him. But
nirbhe bullets couldn't stop him then.
n didn't sweat blood when Mercedes
was fightin' him on the clifrl Then
the finish Only Il Yaqui could have
lone that. Thorne. how about
you? Dick, Is he bad hurt7"
"No, he's not. A hard knock on the
skull and scalp wound" replied
Dick. Here. Jim let me help you
over this place"
Step by step Gale got the two In
iurrd men down the uneven declivity
and then across the narrow lava bridge
over the hssure Here he bAde them
rest while he went along the trail on
that side TO search for Laddy. Gale
found the ranger stretched out, face
downward reddened hand clutching
n gun. Gale thought he was dead.
Upon examination, however. II was
found that Lndd still lived, though he
had many wounds Gale lifted him
and carried him back to the others.
"He's alive, but that's ALL" said
Dick. as he laid the ranger down. ''Do
what you can. Stop the blood. Lad
dy's tough as cactus. you know. I'll
hurry back for Mercedes and Yaqui."
Gale like fleet. sure-footed noun
tain sheep. ran along the trail He
came upon Mercedes and the Yaqui.
She ran right into Dicks arms, and
then her strength. II not her courage.
broke. and she grew lax.
Mercedes, you're safel Thorne's
safe It's all right now"
"Rojas," she whispered.
Gone, To the bottom OF the
crater, A Yaqui's vengeance. Mer-
cedeS"
lie. heard the girl whisper the name
of the Virgin. Then he gathered her
up In his arms,
Come. Yaqui."
The Indian grunted He had one
hand pressed close over bloody place
In his shoulder Gale looked keenly
at him. Yuqui was inscrutnble. as of
old. yet Gale somehow knew that
wound meant little to him. The In
LAND BOUGHT AND SOLD-Money