The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-28

Skip started Ia move. but he took
only step, hlldaro'u guns covered
che crowd.
Throw up your hands. al o. yoai"
he resped out "rll bust The fret
one that moves This D. once when
l give orders. You Eot a horse. Mel.
odyg' he asked.
1--WE heard him called that"
Get her homo then. I'm telling
youi Don't look anywhere elise"
nlaro turned TO the girl
you so with Melody. iioll get sou
60 tho Rancho"
Tho iilg lioss hcsiiatod Tho girl
was gone before Blaze spoke again.
"An right. boys You can take
them down. he said slowly. '"rhankH
Tor obllglnE that way"
Ito dropped his suns as he spoke
TO Acklln.
1--WE worn myself thin for your
OUTFIT Things have been going ON
that | didn't sayyy. But didn't asl.
any questions | could quit n didn't
like a. guess I'm thru now.
suppose IN BIO cutting ny pay In the
morning"
Acklin glarcd az kildare. Ills eX-
preston changed as he told him wha,
Mercedes had done. Tho girls dar.
ing won muttercd approval from the
men.
Acklln walked back and forth for
minute or two before answering.
you may be right" he growlcd al
last. II aim 10 find out. tho N sho
wasn't In this deal, her brother was,
shed never been here. otherwise lie
wasn't alone. either, IN never believe
that a hid like Estchan could mako a
bomb good enough 20 blow that wall
out"
The big eow-man returned 10 his
pacing hack and forth. a. indication
that the incident was closed for the
time being. Tho men stood about un-
easily. wondering what they would
do next Brother Jones spoke 10
BLAZE. Several others Joined them.
With modcs,y peculiar 20 men OF
his type. Blaze said little Of his res
cue OF Mercedes skip and the other
boys were equally rcticent In COM
mentinE on u. but they understood
II was the cowboy code.
Aekiin had been drawn hack to his
Ecrutinlring Of tho wrecked wall. 80
far no definite plan Of action had
evolved In his mind. His foreman
must have heard the explosion and
must DO on the way 20 his side. Look.
Ing across the canyon. he saw n rider
silhoue,ted against tho sky. His first
thought was that II was Morrow.
Hello. thercl" the other called
THAT you. Double ~"
II was Chef pcyine. Aekiln Gu'
swcrcd him.
Come on over here" The mar
shouted. Il got the bird that did
this trick"
who Is hey" the Big Doss de.
manded
Il don't know. He's hldln' between
here and tho ccdRfa He's badly
wounded"
Ny the time they had made tho de,
scent 10 the valley and climbed ur
10 tho high plateau on which chci
waited. some u MoFrow'a men from
the peak had arrived. Cash himself
bad not yet shown up. Acklin lcfl
Patterson behind 10 walt Tor him.
! Leaving their horses when theJ
ucnrcd the trees. the m,n spFead oui
and began beating the brush. Nov,
Ing IN an unhroken limo they adj
vanccd toward the spo, that has
been tho shore Of tho lake. They has
come within sight OF II without dis
covering anyone when n voice crlcs
out 10 them: Come ont I'm done
They saw him then leaning agains
the trunk Of tree. II was Es;eban
Aoklin recognized him first.
so it's you. chr" he questioned
I'm not surprised"
u didn't think you would be-" III
boy answered with a grin.
Blaze came up at that ER;ebai
stared at him.
Hello. Kildare" he smiled.
Tho cowboy shook his head sadly
The thing he had feared had hap
pcned The young fellow acen1ed (,
read his thoughts. Ills smile noyc
deserted him. however.
Roll me a smoke. will your h,
asked.
Blaze made n cigarct for him m,
put II in his mouth. By the light o
the finring match he saw the BOY
condition.
You're hurt bad. eh7r
I'm going out this time. all right
hut ! haven't got any kick III
turned his eyes on the big BosE q
wanted 10 beat you oncc-just once
/ guess got my wish"
Your pals will get their wish. too.
tho big cattlemnn replied meaningly
That's talk. Acklin. Just talk
This WAS my party. / got the dyua
mite for the job. ] made the raft
And sent II adrift."
oh. no. you didn't" II was Nor
row who spoke, He had been Their
for minute. unnoticed. You didn'
make the mine that did this job. Yor
amt smart enough.
His men fell back as the foremai
advanced to Esteban's side.
we got the fellow that bossed thi
Job. Caught him over In the buttoi
Bodinc is the mani"
And Romero7 Had they caugh
him. too? The boy had to risk
question.
You got him with you, have yuh
Cash grinned.
Hell be here directly. And III
other one. too" Cash didn't risk an
other name. Esteban didn't motto
that. His heart sank. Evidentl
Cash was not bluffing.
Mercedes Basilio!" Este
ban groancd. His head fell forwar
on his chest. Blaze put his arm
around him. In few words he toll