The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-01-04
SYNOPSIS

ca%sFon: e. ssDl,natioas aDDss:e
ave, Cameron discovers gold. but too
Sts; both men are dying. Cameron leaves
os M 81
CHAPTER I.-Richard Gale, adven-
urer, in Casita, Mexican border town,
Ds0co aS T. ths
ns spanss s srs s1 'axs hs asnesd
wife. from Rotas. Mexican bandit.
CHAPTER II.-Gale .roughhouses"
Rojas and his gang. with the help of
nS % Thorns escape DG bugIs ns caii from
the fort orders Thorne to his regiment.
He leaves Mercedes under Gales pro-
tection.
CHAPTER III..The pair, aided by the
Escape. Charlie Ladd and Jim Lash, ar
rive In safety at a ranch known as For
1orn River. well across the border.
CHAPTER Iv.-The are at
Tom Belding's home Belding is immi-
his wife and etepdaughter. Nell Burton.
Gale. with Ladd and Lash. take service
Beiding the cause of his being a wanderer,
ta Misunderstanding with his father con-
corning the sons business abilities.
CHAPTER v.-Mercedes gets word to
Thorns of her safety. Dick also writes
es them aod o hss s
kindness, attract Gale
CHAPTER vI-Riding the range. Gale
falls in with party of three Mexican
Watching his opportunity to oust them.
he sees two Indians ride into the camp
One of them. a Yaqui. is evidently badly
wounded, and the Mexicans seek to kill
him in cruel way. Dick drives them
Belongs ranch.
CHAPTER vII-The Indian is taken
in, cared for and remains in Belongs 8
services. becoming Dicks ardent admirer.
Gales admiration for Nell increases. and
tions. Belongs horses, thoroughbreds.
the pride of his life, after his wife and
stepdaughter. are run off by Mexicans.
"Soon as It's light enough in the
mornin'. That Greaser outfit will hang
It'll tomorrow. There's no sure water
ahead for two days, you remember"
The rangers stole back from the
vantage point and returned to their
horses. which they unified and left
farther round among broken sections
Of cliff. For the horses 1t was q dry.
hungry camp. but the rangers built q
nre and had their short though
strengthening meal.
Jim Lash rolled In his saddle
blanket, his feet near the fire, and
went to sleep. Ladd told Gale to do
likewise while he kept the fire up and
waited until 1t was late enough for
Jim to undertake circling round the
raiders. When Gale awakened, Jim
vUD hfc
was talking low.
With Ladd leading. they moved
away into the gloom. Advance was
Exceedingly slow, careful. silent. Final
ly the trail showed pale In the gloom,
and eastern stars twinkled between
the lofty ramparts of the pass.
Ladd halted and stood silent mo-
ment. Luck againl" he whispered.
THE winds in your face, Jim. The
horses won't scent you. Try to get up
as high as this at the other end. Wait
till daylight before riskin' a loose
slope. I'll be ridin' the Job early
That's ALL"
Ladd's cool, easy speech was scarce
ly significant Of the perilous under
taking. Lash moved very slowly
away. leading his horse. Then Ladd
touched Dicks arm. and turned back
up the trail.
Together they picked a way back
through the winding recesses Of cliff.
The campfire was smoldsring. Ladd
replenished 1t and lay down to get a
few hours sleep, while Gale kept
watch. The after part Of the night
wore on till the palIng Of stars. the
thickening of gloom indicated the
dark hour before dawn. Ladd awoks
before the faintest gray appeared.
Inc rangers ate and drank. When the
plack did tighten to gray they sad.
uied the horses and led them out Il
the pass and down to the point where
lney had parted with Lash. Here
fhey awaited daylight.
Tho valley grew clear of gray
nadow except under leaning walls on
ne eastern side. Then a straight col
mn Of smoke rose from among the
nesQuites. Manifestly this was what
add had been awaiting. He took the
png .4O5 from Its sheath and tried
ne lever. Then he lifted q cartridge
cit from the pommel of his saddle.
very ring held shell and these
nelis were four inches long. He
nckled the belt round him.
"Come on, Dick"
LAID led the way down the slope
ntii ne reached position that com.
ahded the rising Of the trail from
levei 1t was the only place a man
morse could leave the valley for
be pass.
M LICK. here's your stand. II any