The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-01-11

"BIanco Sol Gone!" Yelled BeidInp,
in Rage.
day, Gale saw three white horses and
a bay come wearily stepping down the
road. He heard Blanco Sops familiar
whistle, and he leaped up wild with
JOY. The horse was riderless. Gales
sudden Joy received a violent check,
then resurged when he saw a limp
form in Jim Lash's arms. Ladd was
supporting a horseman who wore a
military uniform.
Gale shouted with joy and ran into
the house to tell the good news. It
was the ever-thoughtful Mrs. Belding
who prevented him from rushing to
tell Mercedes.
Lash handed down a ragged, travel
stained. wan girl into Belongs arms.
'Dadl Mamma |"
1t was indeed repentant Nell, but
there was spirit yet in the tired blue
eyes. Then she caught sight Of Gale
and gave him faint smile.
"Hello-Dick."
"Nell!" Gale reached for her hand,
held 1t tightly, and found speech diff
cult.
You needn't worry-about your old
horse" she said, as Bedding carried
her toward the door. "Oh, Dick
Blanco Sol is-glorious
Gale turned to greet his friend. In
deed, 1t was but haggard ghost of
the cavalryman. Thorne looked Ill
or wounded. Gales greeting was also
a question full of fear.
Thorne's answer was faint smile.
He seemed ready to drop from the
saddle. Gale helped Ladd hold Thorne
upon the horse until they reached the
house. Belding came out again. His
welcome was checked as he saw the
condition Of the cavalryman. Thorne
reeled into Dicks arms. But he was
able to stand and walk.
I'm not : hurt. Only weak -
starved" he said. "Is Mercedes
Take me to her."
She'll be well the minute she sees
him." averred Belding. 40 he and Gale
led the cavalryman to Mercedes
room. There they left him; and Gale,
at least, felt his ears ringing with the
girls broken cry Of joy.
When Belding and Gale hurried
forth again the rangers were tending
the tired horses. Upon returning to
the house Jim Lash calmly lit his
pipe. and Ladd declared that, hungry
as he was, he had to tell his story.
"Shore, Beldin'," began Ladd, "that
was funny about Diablo catchin'
Blanco Sol. Funny amt the word.
nearly laughed myself to death. Well,
rode in Soils tracks all the way to
Casita. Never seen rebel or a
raider till got to town. went
straight to the camp of the cavalry
men. an found them just cooIin' off
an dressin' down their hosses after
what looked to me like n big ride.
Some soldier took me 70 an officers
tent. Nell was there. some white an
all in. She just said, Laddyr
Thorne was there, too, an he was
bein' worked over by the camp doc
tor. / didn't ask no questions, be-
cause seen quiet was needed round
that tent. After satisfying myself
that Nell was all right, an Thorne
In no danger, went out.
"Shore there was SO darn many fel-
lers who wanted to an tried to tell
me what'd come of. 1 thought I'd
never find out. But l got the story
piece by piece. An here's what hap
pened:
Nell rode Blanco Sol a-tearin' into
camp. an had crowd round her In
1iffy. She told who she was, where
she'd come from, an what she wanted.
Well, 1t seemed day or so before
Nell got there the cavalrymen had
heard word of Thorne. You see,
Thorne had left camp on leave Of alb
sence some time before In few more
days 1t turned out pretty sure that for
some reason Rojas was holdin' Thorne.
Now. 1t happened when this news
came Colonel Weede was In Nogales
with his stan. an the officer left In
charge didn't know how to proceed.
Rojas' camp was across the line In
Mexico. an rldin' over there was seri-
Gus business. 1t meant a whole lot
more than just scatterin' one Greaser
camp. Thorne's feller soldiers was
anxious to get him out of bad fix.
but they had to walt for orders.
when Nell found out Thorne was
beln' starved an beat in dobe shack
no more'n two mile across the line.
she shore stirred up that cavalry
camp. Shore She told them soldiers
Rojas was holdin' Thorne-torturin
him to make him tell where Mercedes
was. An she begged the cavalrymen
to rescue Thorne.
ssIrrnv, ha xxro~ <~va a.