, 1923-01-10

a level. It was the only place a man
or horse could leave the valley for
the pass.
"Dick, here's your stand. II any
raider rides in range take a crack at
him. Now ] want the lend Of
your boss"
'Blanco Sol" exclaimed Gale, more
in amaze that Ladd should ask for the
horse than in reluctance to lend him.
"Wil you let me have hIm?" Ladd
repeated. almost curtly.
Certainly, Lady,"
A smile momentsr ly chased the
dark, cold gloom that had set upon
the rangers lean face.
"Shore I appreciate 1t, Dick. ]
know how you are for that boss. !.
guess mebbe Charley Ladd has loved
a boss! An n not SO good as Sol
I was only tryin' Your nerve, Dick.
askin' you without rellin' my plan.
Sol won't get a scratch, you can
gamble on that! I'll ride him down
into the valley an pull the Greasers
out into the open. They've got short
ranged carbines. They can't keep out
Of range of the .405. n I'll be takln'
the dust of their lead. They can't gain
on Sol, m he'll run them down when
l van Can you beat lit?
"No. It's great! But sup
pose a raider comes out on Blanco
Diablo?"
81 reckon that's the M weak place
in my plan. But If they do, well. Sol
can outrun Diablo. An l can always
kill the white devilI"
Ladd's strange hate of the horse
showed in the passion of his last
words. in his hardening jaw and grim
SET lips.
Gales hand went swiftly to the
| rangers shoulder.
daddy. Don't kill Diablo unless
it's to save your life"
"All right. But by Cd, II I get
a chance I'll make Blanco Sol run him
off his legsi"
He spoke no more and set about
changing the length of Soils stirrups.
When he had them adjusted to suit. he
mounted and rode down the trail and
out upon the level. He rode leisurely
as If merely going to water his horse.
The long black rifle lying across his
saddle, however. was ominous.
Gale securely tied the other horse
to a mesquite at hand, and took a
position behind a low rock over which
he could easily see inc shoot when
necessary. Ladd rode a quarter of a
mile out upon the fiat before anything
happened. Then a whistle rent tie
| still caId ofr hn.Cn had cann ~
scented Blanco Sol. The whistle was
prolonged. faint. but clear. 1t made
the blood thrum in Gales ears. Sol
halted. His head shot up with the
old, wild. spirited sweep. Gale leveled
his glass at the patch of mosquitoes.
He saw the raiders running to an open
place, pointing. ges%ticulating. Then
he got only white and dark CLEANS Of
moving bodies. Evidently that moment
was n of boots, guns and saddles
for the raiders.
swiftly from the group toward the far
ther outlet of the valley. This might
have been owing to characteristic
cowardice: but 1t was more likely a
move of the raiders to make sure Of
retreat. Undoubtedly Ladd saw this
%galloping horseman. A few waiting
moments ensued. The galloping horse
man reached the slope. began to climb.
With naked eyes Gale saw a pun Of
white smoke spring u Of the rocks.
Then the raider wheeled his plunging
horse back to the level, and vent rae
ing wildly down the valley.
ThA A.- 49,. -
blacks seemed to break apart and
spread rapidly from the edge Of the
mosquitoes. Puffs of white smoke in
dicated firing. and showed the nature
Of the raiders excitement. They were
far out of ordinary range; but they
spurred toward Ladd, shooting as they
rode. The raiders bullets. striking
low. were skipping along the hard,
bare floor Of the valley. Then Ladd
raised the long rifle. There was no
smoke, hut three high, spanging re-
ports rang out. A gap opened In the
dark line Of advancing horsemen ;
then a riderless steed sheered on to
the right. Blanco Sol seemed to turn
as on a pivot and charged back
toward the lower end OF the valley.
He circled over to Gales right and
stretched out into his run. There
were now five raiders In pursuit. and
they came sweeping down. yelling and
shooting. evidently sure Of their
quarry. Ladd reserved his fire. He
kept turning from back to front in
his saddle.
Manifestly he intended to try to
lead the raiders round In front Of
Gales position. and. presently. Gale
saw he was going to succeed. The
raiders, riding. like vaqueros. swept
on In a curve. cutting OF what dis
lance they could. Blanco Sol pound