The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-17

coat over tho head. Quickly then he
tore or hts owp shirt and vest and
drapcd them over a dead rage-brush.
on top OF Il no placed his hat The
result was a crude ucarecrow Pcap.
ing into his saddle. no Ealloped or
before the fcathercd scgyengcrs
should return 20 discover his doocp-
tim.
When he gained the rlm-rooka
Blaze crawlod on hands and knees 20
their edge. For 20 yards he studied
the decRyrd rock. tie came 20 a flat
SPOT. three yards square Fine sand
filled the pockets In tho decomposod
granite. In one Of them there was
the unmistakable imprint Of a boot
mark. Blaze threw himself down
beside Il and stretched his length as
no imagined the assassin had done
! The distance from toe-mark 10 elbow
was good five inches longer than
the impressions his own body made,
Without disturbing the sand Blaze
searched for other signs that might
tell him something, In hollow.
about whore the waist OF tho assaii-
ant should have come. hc discovered
tho die-elear stamp OF a Navajo luck
charm. The outlines were clear and
distinct
kildaro's brow wrinklod az he
stared NJ the cryptic Indian letters
The lower tip OF tho Swastika was
bent inward
Looks "a II a wateh-charm made
that mark" he murmuFed 20 him
salt That ought 20 provo some
thing some day. maybe. Wonder
where the empty shell H."
II lay IN the roots OF a dwarfed
sage-brush. two yards away. whore
/ the eieotbr had thrown H.
Little nasilio sat beside Mercedes
as she drew up her team
Dry-eyed. Mercedes watched az
Blaze held tho little fellow on his
knee and petted him. Basilio had
been friendly with Aiy Man once be-
fore. 20 Kildare put him on the
horses hack now. My Man Rrched
his neck and whinnied as he re-
garded tho boy. Tho child was re-
assured Immediately.
Then. with Mercedes help. all that
was left Of Old Ironsldes WIS placed
In tho wagon while they had been
busy AZ their task. Ilasillo had con-
tinucd his friendship with the horse.
They wcre ready 20 so now. and both
Mercedes and Blaze turned inauiring
cye7 Rt the boy. He was bunily play
Ing with the canteen that hung from
the saddle. MisPeedeS face grew
wistfui as she regarded tho l,tls Eel.
low. on the heels Of this gratitude
for thn mans thoughtfulness showed.
too
II want drink from your water
bag. Senior BLAIR. 7icase." tho child
begged
Mercedes looked AZ Kildare. and
as he nodded ready consent. sho
reached 10 the horn OF the saddle 10
me- tho cantcen 60 the boys lips TN
consciously. she turned Il over In her
hands There. stenclicd on tho wet
canvas covering. she saw tho capital
"a A. with which Aeklin stamped his
property.
Mercedes caught up the eantesn.
and tigcr-liko hurled u TO tho ground
Swinging on her heels she faced
blaze. You a Double 4 man7' She
waited for no answer Her lips euFiod
In contempt: "A Double a spy"
Blaze felt his face so white. with
cruel insistencr Mercedes flaming
eyes swsp, him.
1T Is not enough thar they kan
my father: Senior Ackiin must send
you hero 10 spy and pretend 70 help
me"
Don't convict mo without giving
me chance 10 defend myself" XII
dare pleaded. II arm Double A
man: but I didn't como here to spy.
You don't know wi.Rs you've naid
spy7 ia sure take that word from
no mani Why do you say Aokiin
killed your fathcr7'
who else so much wanted him
out Of che way He had no enemies
Acklin!- II was an unholy word az
she uttered Il; And his greed: they
werc all my father feared"
Even So BIaxc countercd. 'ft'a
not q covenants way 10 shoot In the
back or from ambush. ] was going
70 the hacienda when met YOU
There was frank disbelief In the
girls eyes Blaze know there WINS
nothing 10 do now but 10 tell her tho
/ truth.
we had some shooting a. to
fence last night Esieban--''
'sEsteban7 Is he killed. too7''
No. he's Just wounded. The Biz
Boss sent mo down 20 get you.
That's tho business that brought me
here. We took the boy In ms soon rs
We found him. He'll be all right in
n week or So"
The Double A covers itself with
tho blood Of my people" shc cried.