San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-23
Go on With the Story.

star. Val asks to go with them.
Go on With the Story.
"Oh," he said. Il told him it would
be-better for his health if he came
along quietly"
"Gun-man?" asked Val, laughing.
Instantly Vclantrie sobered.
Not exactly" he said, in his slow
soft speech, though l might be on
OCCASION"
YES" said Val. Il know. 1 might
| be. too. My dad is"
"Two-gun?" asked Velantrie with
| interest.
NO one" she answered proudly,
the best and quickest shot in this
country. When rustlers drive from
this range they leave Paradise alone.
That is, until lately"
Velantrie looked at the browE
hand on her pOmmel.
Yes" he said, II think you might
be, also. Are YOU like your dad!"
Chip off the old block. Look like
him. think like him. act Lille him."
Then he's a mighty quick man,
decided and strong" said Vclantrie,
admiringly.
You're dead right he is" said Val,
warmly. John lannon's the best
and biggest man, all ways, III these
| parts"
! Like him lot, / take it," and
I the speaker smiled while his blue
eyes searched her features.
81 sure do, and so does Belle.
That's my mother" she explained,
and they're all bound up i'll each
other"
Never in her life before had she
| told stranger, or any one else, 50
much about the sheltered life at
Paradise.
A little silence fell between them
and the girl looked off across the
stretches to the south, while the man
looked at her. =.
Then they fell to talking of the
cattle country and the long dry spell,
and Val told him that the springs
were holding out pretty well, and that
her father hoped to drive early and
get the best from the stock he could.
And the sun went swiftly down the
heavens and the purple wells began
TO weave their magic on the stretches
while they sat beside the Little An
telope and forgot that Time was,
after the manner of youth since the
world began.
My gracious said Val at last,
startled. its getting late! I'll have
to run for it now"
Looks like you could do it on this
horse said Nelantrie, admringly,
81 with | had my own mount here.
I'd like YOU to see The Comet
What's he like" -,
Il couldn't describe Ism. You'd
have to see him to know
Il could say the same" said Val,
0uicIy, for | said that rustlers
never struck at Paradise-untll late
~. They took the greatest horse that
ever ran these plains Il short time
back-and Id kill the man who did
it like | would snake"
"Rusters?"
"Yes-they say the Black Rustler
himself has been seen i'll Santa Le-
andra this summer. and / make no
doubt it was he who lifted Rcdstar.
Redstar," unused Velantrie, You
| call HIM Redstar."
YES"
And mines The Comet. That's Il
coincidence. isn't it? Both meaning
light-the heavens-a star"
why, so they do" cried Val, "and
from our own words they are both
great horses. What color is this
Comet?"
deep blood bay
with smoky black cloud across
his shoulders. and dim black dap
pies shining through"
The smile faded slowly from the
mans face.
"A perfect description he said.
"have you seen The Comet Mt Father
Hillaire's when l was there?"
She shook her head.
mo. I'm telling you Of Redstar.
well, you might be telling of the
other"
"Can he rum" persisted Val.
-Four years back" said Nelantrie.
"he was within two seconds of the
worlds record at New Orleans-hc
and another
"Ties?"
"Ties-and blood brothers.
81 know" cried Val. "for we have
pair like that-Firebrand and The
Flame. We own the Red Brood. you
know. and Redstar was its king
Have you had him long,"
81 grew up on him." said the CIR
simply, and thought she spoke the
truth, for it had seemed far back il
her short life. that day in spring
when the Boss of Paradise had rid
den the red king in.
Velantric, who had Strengthened
I'M in his saddle. relaxed again and
drew Il deep breath of something
like relief.
Miss Harmon" he said, Mis-
Harmon"
"Yes?" said Val. obediently.
Velnntrie swept off his hat and tn,
sweat had started on his forehead
This is my last visit to the range
land" he said desperately. "Tn
leaving this part of the country"
WHY brenhed Val, straight
forwardly.
because 7 must"
"Why:" she asked again.
"Why ?-wcllA-pcrhaps I'm needle,
down yonder." and he waved an aru
toward the distant south.
Walls fingers frightened on the sad
die horn.
"Perhaps you're needed here. too.
she said simply. "you seem. some
bow. to belong here. I-somehow-
like to meet you in the padre's gar
den. to hear you speak"
The man shook his head.
"No." he said. at is best that
don't ride this way again. Some
time ask Father Hillaire-he'll tel
you why"
All the light was gone from III
girls face. faint palcness come il
stead.