Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-04-21

you'll be knifed!" cried Thorne.
an take a chance. Maybe I car
surprise that slow Greaser bunch anC
get away before they know what's
happened. You be ready
watching at the window. When the
row starts those fellows out there ir
the plaza will run into the saloon
Then you slip out, go straight through
the plaza down the street. It's a dark
street, remember. I'll catch up with
you before you get far"
Thorne gasped, but did not say a
word. Mercedes leaned against him,
her white hands now at her breast,
her great eyes watching Gale as he
! went out
In the corridor Gale stopped long
enough to pull on a pair of heavy
gloves, to muss his hair, and disar-
, range his collar Then he stepped
into the restaurant, went through, and
halted in the door leading into the
saloon. No one appeared to notice
him. Gales rowing glance soon fixed
upon the man he took to be Rojas
The Mexican's face was turned aside
He was in earnest, excited colloquy
with a dozen or more comrades, most
of whom were sitting round a table.
They were listening, talking, drinking.
The fact that they wore cartridge belts
crossed over their breasts satisfied
Gale that these were the rebels. He
became conscious Of an inward fire
that threatened to overrun his cool
ness Other emotions harried his self
control. 1t seemed as If sight of the
man liberated or created a devil in
Gale. And at the bottom of his feel
ings there seemed to be a wonder at
himself. a strange satisfaction for the
something that had come to him.
He stepped out of the doorway,
down the couple of steps to the floor
of the saloon, and he staggered a
little Stimulating drunkenness. He fell
over the pool tables, jOstled Mexicans
at the bar, laughed like a maudlin
fool and, with his hat slouched down,
crowded here and there. Presently
his eye caught sight Of the group Of
cowboys whom he had before noticed
with such interest.
They were still in a corner some
what isolated. With fertile mind !
working, Gale lurched over to them.
If he were to get any help from these
silent aloof rangers 1t must be by |
striking fire from them in one swift |
stroke. Planting himself squarely be- !
fore the two tall cowboys who were |
standing, he looked straight into
their lean, bronzed faces He spared
a full moment for that keen, cool
gaze before he spoke.
''I'm not drunk. Pm throwing
bluff, and l mean to start a rough
house. I'm going to rush that id
bandit Rojas It's to save girl-to
give her lover, who is my friend
chance to escape with her She's in
the house. Rojas is here to get her.
When start q row my friend will try
to slip out with her. Every door and
window is watched. I've got to raise
hi to draw the guards in.
Well, you're my countrymen. We're
In Mexico. A beautiful girls honor
and life are at stake. Now, gentle
men, watch mel"
One cowboys eyes narrowed, blink
ing a little, and his lean jaw dropped;
The others hard face rippled with
1eeting smile.
Gale backed away, and his pulse
capped when he saw the two cowboys,
rs If with one purpose, slowly stride
after him. Then Gale swerved, stag
yering along, brushed against the
ables, kicked over the empty chairs.
The hum of the many voices grew
ouder, and when Dick lurched
against a table, overturning it and
splitting glasses into the laps of sew
,ral Mexicans, there arose shrill cry.
lie had succeeded In attracting at
ention; almost every face turned his
way. One of the insulted men,
little tawny fellow. leaped to confront
5ale, and in a frenzy screamed a vol
ey of Spanish, Of which Gale distin-
.ulshed "Gringoi" Dick swung his
eg and with a swift side kick knocked
he fellows feet from under him,
vhirling him down with a thud.
The action was performed so sud
enly, so adroitly, it made the Mexi-
an such a weakling, so like tumbled
enpin, that the shrill jabbering
ushed. Gale knew this to be the
ignifcant moment
Wheeling, he rushed at RoJas. It
7as his old Undertaking plunge Mel :
her ROjas nor his men had time to
love. The black-skinned bandits
ace turned a dirty white; his jaw '
ropped; he would have shrieked if (
Iale had not hit him. The blow
wept him backward against his men. +
hen Gales heavy body, swiftly fol /
wing with the momentum of that {
lsh, struck the little group of rebels
hey went down with the table and ]
hairs in a sliding crash. b
Gale, carried by his plunge, went