Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-04-25
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY

! DICh AthIiHs Dig DoSS OF the
Double R ranch, plots with Buck
Bodine, new owner of the OLD
Webster place, to rob the Bas-
| ques in Paradise Valley of their
water supply. Jose Arrascada,
leader of the Basque genie, is
owner of the Rancho Buena Vista
and father of Mercedes, Este
ban and little blind Basilio. Blaze
Kildare, new arrival in Paradise
Valley, hires out to the Double A.
He becomes friendly with Merce-
des and Basilio
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
Kildare's horse had not moved
from the spot where Blaze had drop
ped the rein. He held his head
erect, ears eXpectant.
Blaze whistled so low that Mer-
codes barely heard it, Instantly the
horse came to him and allowed the
girl to stroke his head. Blaze lifted
Basilio into the empty saddle.
Hes safe up there" he assured
her. My Man likes children"
The hoof-beat of horse being
driven at furious speed interrupted
them. Mercedes got to her feet and
took Basilio' out Of the saddle.
This will be my brother Esteban."
The oncoming horse spiashed
through the water, covering hem
with a mist of silver spray. On his
back sat Esteban, a thin, why mar
row-hipped youth. He leaped to the
ground and, staring inimically at
Blaze, launched into a TRADE of ex-
citable Spanish. The girl saw that
he was upset and tried to restrain
him.
"Callarn she cried. flush! Have
you gone mad?"
Blaze had a fair smattering of
Spanish and of the universally
understood Mexican idioms which
the Basques had adopted, but he
was unable to follow the RAPID words
Esteban continued to shower upon
his sister. He did catch the reitar-
ated ell aqua (water), and 'ceiuia
madre mother-ditch,) 1t meant on.
ly one thing. The Basques did sus-
pect their danger.N
When her brother had finished,
Mercedes tried to tell him shat Blaze
was a stranger and to explain how
he had helped Basilio and her. Este
ban thanked Blaze with some show
of gratitude. He swung into his
saddle and caught the child up be-
side him Mercedes got on Cap
tain's back. With Esteban leading
the burro, they started off.
CHAPTER VI
The New Hand
Stretched ont a3ounG the TIM
fire in the willows, heads piIlowed
on their saddles, the four mou wait
ed. The long twilight was over"
Skip yawnod and got to hi fect
Late enough" he sighed. 'Thc
moons up. Let's go!"
In Indian file they left the shell
ter of the trees. Half an hour later
they forded the Little Washoc and
held north for the dry wash of the
Webster.
Skip held up his hand.
THAT fringe of dead willows
marks the wash, Kildare, Melody, /
you side him east always. Better let
him stick around Rebel Greek. It's |
the least likely place for any one to
come through. Chef will trail me.
III hang out around the Winncmac-
ca road. If we have any trouble,
tll be thero-freighter or somethln, |
III drop Chef about halfway over
He turned to Chef.
"You and Melody keep in touch
with each other. You can see a
ong ways in this light. Come on?'
lie wheeled his horse and Hoped
,ff after the receding Chef. Blaze
and Melody logged on.
They rode into a little arroyo.
Blaze snapped a match with his
humb.
Take a squirt at this picture,
Iclody. Is that Bodine?"
Melody shook his head. lie took
he monograph IN his own hands.
Nope" he repeated. Nature
idn't spare him any either, did she"
.e chuckled. mo! This fellow Bo-
line is tall and why. About the
ize Of the Big Boss l.
Ten minutes later they came to Il