The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-02-08
SYNOPSIS

srt Cameron. solitary prospsctor.
man whom he later learns IL Jonas war
rem. father Of girl whom Cameron
.o,s 1Ss nt:r hack n M
warren. and the two proceed together.
Taking refuge from . sandstorm in .
ate; both men are dying. Cameron leaves
sf gold. and personal documents
CHAPTER I.-Richard Gale. adven-
turer. In Casita, Mexican border town.
meets George Thorne, lieutenant In the
Ninth cavalry. old college friend. Thorns
wife, from Ro3as. Mexican bandit
CHAPTER H.-Gaie ''roughhouses''
Rojas and his gang. with the help Of
tive american cowboysr and he. Msrcedes
8: he fort orders fsorns % Sis Tes,msnI
He leaves Mercedes under Gales pro-
tsction.
CHAPTER III.-!Ths pair, aided BY the
eowboys who rad assisted Gale IN the
rive In safety at = ranch known a. For
lorn River. well across the border.
CHAPTER Iv.-Th. are at
Tom Belding's home. Belding is immi-
Els wife and stepdaushter. Nell Burton.
Gale, with Ladd and Lash. take service
with Belding as rsngers. Gale telling
. misunderstanding with his father con-
csrning the sons business abilities.
CHAPTER v.-Mercedes gets word to
Thorns OF her safety. Dick also writes
@ his parent,, informing them Of his
kindness, attract Gale.
,a 4 gss 5s4y 8, ss sr.s sss
Watching his opportunity to oust them.
One Of them. a Yaqui. IL evidently badly
wounded, and the Mexicans seek to XIII
him in a cruel way. way. Dick drives y. IL them m
Belongs ranch.
CHAPTER vII-The Indian is taken
in, cared for and remains in Belding &
services. becoming Dicks ardent admirer:
Gales admiration for Nell increases. and
the pride of his life. after his wife and
stepdaughter, are run on by Mexicans-
CHAPTER vIII.-Gale, with Ladd. Lash
and the Yaqui. pursue the raiding party
Five of the six thieves are killed and the
party Of whites. with the recovered
horses. return to the ranch in triumph.
CHAPTER Ix.-Gaie secures from Mrs
Belding what he feels IL reluctant per-
wife. He Sesins his o courtship with ensrsy
confident that he can win her.
CHAPTER Knot getting word from
Thorne, whose period Of army service has
expired. Mercedes loses heart. Nell, al
;hcush fcrbiddep; A ride: & to cssita % to :esi. .
erecting his escape. bringing him to Mer:
Ssrcsdes % are married. Ro,as. with :
ding. and demands Msiesass be ;,s.,; ssI,
to stand on the bandits. It is arranged
that the three rangers. with the Yaqui
across the desert to Yuma. where she will
be In safety The party sets out
CHAPTER x1.-They f,nd the way to
Yuma blocked by their enemies and are
forced to take to the lava beds. Rojss,
Yndu is familiar ~th se conntly Is
fident they can beat him on. =
place of safety for Mercedes and the
fight begins. Three of the whites, Ladd
Lash and Thorne are badly wounded,
Mere, Mercedes. hiding place. is ih killed & by the
fleeing.
Ladd fell backward still holding the
.4O5. Gale. dragged him into the shell
ter of his own position. and dreading
to look at him. took up the heavy
weapon. 1t was with kind Of saw
age strength that he gripped the rife;
and It was with cold and deadly in
tent that he aimed and fred. The first
Greaser huddled low, let his carbine
20 Gathering down, and then crawled
behind the rim. The second and third
jerked back. The fourth seemed to
flop up over the crest of lava. A dark
oh fnv i'm, Int nd 10 10
tried to drag him up. II was In vain.
Wildly grasping at the air the bandit
fell. slid down steep shelf, rolled
over the rim. to go hurtling down out
Of sight
"Shore-rm d-n glad-them Greas-
ers mint usin' soft-noss buEets,"
drawled calm voice.
Swift as lightning Gale whirled.
'Laddyl thought you were done
for" cried Gale, with break In his
voice.
The rangers blouse was open at the
neck. and on his right shoulder under
the collar bone was small hole just
beginning to bleed.
"Sure it's high, Laddy," replied Gale,
gladly. "Went clear through, clean as
|. whistler"
He tore a handkerchief into two
parts, made wads. and pressing them
close over the wounds he bound them
there with Ladd's scarf.
"Laddy, I-Pm afraid Thorne's done
for" whispered Gale. Hes lying
over there in that crack. can see
part of him. He doesn't move"
II was wonderin' If I'd have to tell
you that. Dick, he went down hard
hit, fallin'. you know, limp an soggy.
1t was mortal cinch one Of us would
get 1t in this fight; but G-dl I'm
sorry Thorne had to be the man."