The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-18
CHAPTER XVI
Passing of Old Irunsides

Tho day or Juae'a funeral dawncd
bright and clear Little duat-clouds
rose In hundred places from the
desert roads. as the widely cattcrcd
people from the Little washoc coun-
try aud the valley north ~ the Hum.
boldt gathered 10 do honor 90 their
murdered leader.
Quito In contrast with them was
the tall. thin man hunehed over the
wheel OF an outlandish contraptlon
that he called an automobile But the
alleged automobile. for all It's lack or
paint and It's uneoncralcd vitals. was
like Us owner. thoroly efficient The
man was Brand. coming all the way
from Winnemuoca.
Aeklin was proving, az that mo-
ment. his keen interest I'm Josc'A
passing, lie was In bis office. and
Morrow and kildare were with him
The la,tcr's face wore a suilon look
Acklin was saying People In gen.
cral don't know YOU. kildare. That's
why l want you 10 20 You can drop
10 az the church. or mix In with the
crowd AT tho cemetery"
Blaze nodded HIS head little and
pulled his hat lower over his eyes lie
had been carefully kcrutinirlng a
rlrlc that stood behind Acklin's dcsk.
He reached over and picked II up
and broke Il open. ], was an almost
new automatic. lie threw a shell eut
Of the chamber.
u reckon I'd better take this" he
murmurvd off hAndcdly. Tho old
iron you gave me when came bucks
about every second shot This Is a
real rife: brand new. too"
no. don't take any gun Cash
drawled. AIN you still got that hat
trick " anybody jumps your
That's right. Kildare" Acklin
went on. I'm sending you because
! particularly don't Nant a fight. You
had batter Get started
Blaze had puimed ono OF tho shells
from Aelilns gun: and he compared
u. as soon as ne got away. with the
one he had found on the rock. There
vas no question OF their likeness.
The Basques. barcheadcd under the
blazing sun. murrnurcd agc-old Latin
prayers for the reposo OF their leader.
as tho body was lowered 10 It's las,
resting place. Kildare took OF his
hat and whispered Amen" in unison
with the mournnrA I, was an uneon.
scicus, rcvercntiai touch: n Response
TO n tug at his emotions that sur.
priscd him.
He saw Mercedes, with naSiilo'h
hand In hers. knccling beside TIE
grave as the earth was shoveled on
the coffin. As II In response TO his
penetrating gaze. she turned and saw
him.
Their eyes conveyed TO each other
an unspoken message. Mercedes
seemed 10 appeal dumbiy to him in
her misery. Kildare stepped forward.
but he stopped almost Immediately "a
he saw an expression OF intense fear
creep over the girls faee.
Romero and Salvador had rccog.
nixed the Double A man.
They drew near. and still Blaze
made no move. Kent wondered why
no did not draw. Romero had his
six-gun ready for action.
Drop tha, shooiin'-iron. auiokl"
Kent commanded.
II was said 10 quietly that not
whisper reached those beside the
grave. But Romero heard and
obeyed. Tuscarora was not foollngl
Save for Mercedes. no ono in the
crowd had been conscious OF their
why does he come hore7' Romero
questioned savngciy.
Hes sneak for the Double A."
Salvador chokcd.
kildares blood lcaped.
"I'll take that from no boscol" he
cried.
He used the covenants term Of
for the Basque, with
shade Of emphasis that meant deadly
insult.
kildare was tending 10 his own
business" Tuscfrora stated loud
enough for NIL 10 hear. These boys
butted In on hirn--,ricd TO Jump him.
We won't have any rumpus."