The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-14
'You ian I, out Of horel" blaze
grcwled "You thank the moon. not
mo that you are alive TO do IT,
CHAPTER X
An Important Meeting


ons-eyed Manuel was lszily polish.
Ing and arranging his Elassos into a
formidable pyramid whom Buck Bo-
dine banged open the swinging doors
and atrodo menaeiREly up 90 tho Der.
Where's all The basque Eents to-
nlghtr' Buck asked insolonuy.
'llahl"
With growing anger hs strutted
about tho deserted town. trying 20
learn what had happened at tho
fence Hts impationco was akin 20
that with which Juan and Romero
ugarde and young Salvador Rodri.
EueE and their fellow con spirators
waited At the shooR corral north or
tho ugRrde ranch for the hslatsd Es-
tebRn.
Esteban'a regard for himself had
altered largely IN the five miles he
had come from the Chimney. with
tho cheers OF his followers ringing IN
his ears. he was not inclined 10 tell
thom by what fortunate circumstances
he was here. safe and sound. There
fore his colorful recital held no men.
ton Of Kildare. when he had fin
lshed. his position as their leader was
secure.
With n Jingle OF spur-ohains they
headed for the Rancho. Esteban
stopped for consultation. lie de-
spatched Romero TO roconnolter tile
ground for him.
Romero waited until tho meeting
got under way before he stole back
10 his crowd
Tuscmora finished his appeal for
law and order aud wa about 20
show them tho foolhariineas OF rc-
sorting 20 tho tactics some OF their
young mon had employed earlier In
the evening when tho Wild elRtter Of
rapidly driven horses forced him 10
stop.
Es,ehan could not havu hoped for
a morn dramatic entrance, lie
tramped authorl,atively to the CEN
ter " the big room he knew 80 we'll
Il come from tho other side OF the
Double A wirci" tho boy announced.
In an instant tho meeting was In
an uproar.
Cries Of Tell US what you sAwl-
Cesar Ferri. great hulk Of man
from down on the river. got 10 his
feet. and. IN voice TO match his
weight. shouted for silence. The
very Eire OF the man seemed 10
have a commanding effect
Give tho boy chancs,- he cried
Tel US how you got by The fence"
Estehan told them: and the muir.
muFn Of approval that greeted him as
ha went along gave the boy the cour-
age he needed Jose and Tuscarora
exchanged Klanoes The thing they
had feared was happening.
Il ran my hands over every inch
% that pile Of rock and sand. No
storm ever put II ,hsrci II Is fun Of
granite and quartz Siringers that are
as sharp as the day they wero blown
out Of the solid rock"
He paused 10 LET this Information
mink homo.
'fsut they didn't stop there The
sandhar tina, stretched across tho
mouth OF Webster creek Ia gone.
Tho water eaIns UP 10 my neck.
Now" he cried. -you know the
TRUTH
"pIoa milo. not Cesar yelled y
fight what good Is waior II we
walt three months 20 Er, ~ In two
weeks our crops win be dead Where
win we BE- NEXT winter then7r
1T Isn't only thai No arr robbed
OF our water Rornsro's father add
ed. hut I, In wasted before our eyes.
We nil know abou, the sink that
swallows every drop that reaches Il:
and wes, Of town Webster creek was
running FUN to It's banks today
well. ain't Il got a right TO run
,heroT' Tho question cams over the
leads OF tho crowd IKE the snap OF a
whip.
A. ono man they turned and saw
Bodine In the doorway. standing
head and shoulders above everybody
clss In the room. sardonic smile
playing about hts mouth.