The Lamar register., 1923-02-07

Belding looked at whatever II was
he held In his hand, shook his burly
head. and started swiftly for the
house. He came stridlng into the
room holding piece Of sOiled paper.
Cant read II now and don't know
a, want to-" he said Savagely.
MOI one of the men was able tn
,.nnslate the sarhled scrawl
shore Mercedes can read IT," said
add
Thorne opened door and called
her She came into the room followed
~ Nell and Mrs. Belding.
MY dear. we want you TO read
hats written on this paper" said
rhorne, as he led her TO the table.
Mercedes gave the writing one swift
lance. then tainted In Thorne's
lrms. lie carried her to u couch. and
with Nell and Mrs. Belding began Ia
ork over her.
Belding looked at his rangers.
'Iaddy, It's RojaS all right How
any men has he out thereT'
"Mebbe twenty. Not more"
I'VE cnn lick twice that many
reasers."
shore"
Him Lash removed his pipe long
anough 10 sneak. Lets stave the
Greaser OF iii dark. Then Laddy an
me an Thorne win take Mercedes an
hit the trail for Yuma"
"Camlno del Dlablol That awful
trail with q woman Jim, do you for
get how many hundreds Of men have
perished on the Devils roadT'
IL reckon ! amt forgettin' nothin,"
replied Jim. The waterholes are full
now. There's grass. an we can do the
Job In six days"
ITS three hundred miles to Yuma"
"Bsidin'. Jim's idea hits me as
pretty reasonable" interposed Ladd.
Lord knows that's about the only
chance we've got except fghtin'."
But suppose We do stsve Rojas on,
and you get safely away with Mer-
cedes. Isn't Rojas going to hnd 1t
out quick1 Then what'il he try TO do
to us who're left herer'
81 reckon he'd md out by daylight"
replied Jim. But. Tom. he ain't
a-goin' to start a scrap then. You see,
I'm tiggerin' on the crazy Greaser
wantin' the girl. But he's too smart
to fight you for nothln'. Rojas may
he nutty about women. but he's afraid
Of the U. s Take my word for IL.
he'd discover the trail In the mornin'
an light out on 1t. | reckon with ten
hours start we could travel comfort
able"
Belding paced up and down the
room. Jim and Ladd whispered to
gether Gale walked to the window
and looked out at the distant group
OF bandits. and then turned his gaze
to rest upon Mercedes She was con-
sclous now. and her eyes seemed all
the larger and blacker for the white
ness OF her face. No one but Gale
saw the Yaqui in the background look
ing down upon the Spanish girl. All
OF Yaqu's looks were strange; but
this was sIngularly so. Gale won
dered II the Indian were affected by
her loveliness. her helplessness. or her
terror.
Presently Bedding called his rang
ers TO him, and then Thorne.
Listen to this" he said. earnestly
I'll go out and have a talk with Ro-
jas. I'll try 10 reason with him; tell
him TO think long time before he
sheds blood on Uncle Sans soil. That
he's now after an Americans wife
I'll not commit myself. nor will re-
fuse outright to consider his demands.
nor will show the least fear Of him.
I'll play for time. II my blufr goes
through well and good.
After dark the four of you. Laddy, Jim.
Dick and Thorne. will take Mercedes
and my best white horses. and. with
Yaqui as guide, circle round through
Altar valley to the trail and head for
Yuma. | want you to take the Indian
because In a case OF this kind he'll
be a godsend. II you get headed or
lost or have to circle of the trail.
think what it'd mean to have a Yaqul
with you. He knows Sonora as no
Greaser knows It, He could hide you.
fnd water and grass, when you would
absolutely believe 1t impossible. The
Indian is loyal. He has his debt 10
pay, and he'll pay 1t, don't mistake me.
When you're gone I'll hide Nell so
RoJas won't see her II he searches the
place. Then l think could sit down
and walt without any particular
worry"
The rangers approved of Belongs
nd 81, IA