The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-05-04
CHAPTER x-continued.

room. Jim and Ladd whispered to-
gether. Gale walked to the window
and looked out at the distant group
of bandits, and then turned his gaze
to rest upon Mercedes. She was con-
scious now, and her eyes seemed all
the larger and blacker for the white.
ness Of her face. No one but Gale
saw the Yaqui In the background look
ing down upon the Spanish girl. All
of Yaqui's looks were strange; but
this was singularly 80. Gale won
dered II the Indian were affected by
her loveliness, her helplessness, or her
terror.
Presently Belding called his rang
srs to him, and then Thorne.
Listen to this" he said, earnestly.
'T'll go out and have a talk with Ro-
Jas. I'll try to reason with him; tell
him to think long time before he
sheds blood on Uncle Sans soil. That
he's now after an Americans wife
I'll not commit myself. nor will re-
fuse outright to consider his demands,
nor will show the least fear of him.
I'll play for time. IL my bluff goes
through well and good. :.
After dark the four of you, Laddy, Jim
and my best white horses, and, with
Yaqul as guide, circle round through
Altar valley to the trail, and head for
Yuma. want you to take the Indian,
because In a case Of this kind he'll
be a godsend. II you get headed or
lost or have to circle off the trail,
think what it'd mean to have Yaqui
with you. He knows Sonora as no
Greaser knows It, He could hide you,
fnd water and grass, when you would
absolutely believe II impossible. The
Indian Is loyal. He has his debt to
pay, and he'll pay 1t, don't mistake me.
When you're gone I'll hide Nell so
,Rojas won't see her IL he searches the
place. Then think could sit down
and wait without any particular
worry"
The rangers approved of Belongs
plan. and Thorne went to the side Of
his wife.
Mercedes, we've planned to outwit
RoJas. VIII you tell us what he
wroteT
"Rojas swore-by his saints and his
virgin-that II wasn't given-to him
lin twenty-four hours-he would set
hre to the village-kill the men-car-
~ of the women-hang the children
on cactus thornsi" I"
A moments silence followed her
last halting whisper.
Then the Yaqui uttered a singular
cry. Gale had heard this once before,
and now he remembered It was at the
Papago well.
"Look at the Indian" whispered
Belding, hoarsely. "D-n II / don't
believe he understood every word Mer-
-cedes said. And, gentlemen, don't mis-:
take me, II he ever gets near Senior
Rojas therell be some CORY Aztec
knife work"
and stood beside her as she leaned
against her husband. She seemed I'M
PEELED to meet the Indians gaze, and
evidently 1t was so powerful or hyp-
motto that 1t wrought irresistibly upon
her. But she must have seen or di.
vined what was beyond the others,
for she offered him her trembling
hand. Yaqui took 1t and laid II
against his body In strange motion
and bowed his head. Then he stepped
back into the shadow of the room.
Belding went outdoors while the
rangers took up their former position
at the west window. Each had his
own somber thoughts. Gale imagined
and knew his own were dark enough
He saw Belding halt at the corrala
and wave his hand. Then the rebels
mounted and came briskly up the
road, this time to rein In abreast.
Wherever Rojas had kept himself
upon the former advance was not
clear; but he certainly was prominent.
ly In sight now. He made gaudy,
almost q dashing figure. Rojas dis
mounted and seemed to be listening
Belding made gestures, vehemently
bobbed his big head, appeared to talk
with his body as much as with his
tongue. Then Rojas was seen to reply,
and after that II was clear that the
talk became painful and difficult. II
ended finally In what appeared to be
mutual understanding. Rojas mount
Cd and rode away with his men,
while Belding came tramping back to
the house.
As he entered the door his eyes
were shining. his big hands were
clenched. and he was breathing au-
ably.
'You can rope me II I'm not 10
coed 7" he burst out. II went out ia
eonciliate red-handed little muir
lerer, and d--n me II didn't meet
a-a-well. I've no suitable name
handy. / started my bluff and got
along pretty well, but forgot to men.
bon that Mercedes was Thorne's wife,
And what do you thinkf Rojas swore
hs loved Mercedes--swore he'd marry
her right here in Forlorn River
swore he would give up robbing and
kAling people, and take her ayay
from Mexico. He has gold-jewels,
Ne swore II he didn't get her moth
mr. maftored. He'd die anyway with