The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-26

sessod But had she been able TO
double her pace, she would have
hardly caught up with her brother
Neither he nor Bodino had stopped
once Ia thsir wila rlds from Webster
creek 20 peer back for possible pur-
suit Romero had attended ia that
ON hts own initiative iiut they had
been nearly two hours ahead Of Mor-
eedes With ease that surprised even
Buck, they had cut thru Acklin's
country as they had planned.
Esteban had reached the little cove
below Coat creek by tho timn his
sister had turned into the eastern
les OF their trail Ills companions
were rlght behind him. Bodine gave
tho orders from then on.
With expert hands, he orumbled
the dynamite and heated Il. While
he was getting the grease that he
wanted. Domero and EHtehan FASH
toned the raft that was TO carry their
instrument OF destruction, Buck was
ready a. soon az they we're. Each
one OF them had como In loaded
down with material TO supplement
the iron and steel Buck had already
cached for the bomb
Esteban wondered az the big fell
lows defines as he watched him
work
lie nailed an eight.foot cedar sap
ling spar-fashion at the end OF the
raft, and on this he loopsd and wired
his long, slow burning fuse.
Pour the oil over the front OF II
now" he commanded when he had
finished once this fuse burns
down TO a. she'll blaze up like a
house afirc"
Esteban fung his empty can into
the water.
i we amt COINS TO drown no one.
arc weF" Romero demanded. Ills
people would be right In the path Of
the flood.
Esteban flung his empty can into
That's 20. Bodinc. IL there water
enough here TO do thatg''
For once Buck could be honest.
You bet there Isl" he cried. This
waters goin 10 drop about n thou
sand feet In seven miles. That'll
give II Kick that'tl tear the hinges
right Off the old barn door" tic
turned a cold eye on his companions
You boys don't mean sou over
looked that. do your
Their hlanehed faces we're answer
enough.
That's a fine thing 20 pull at ,hi,
gasping last" the big man growied
ibid sou think We were goin to send
out invitations TO your friends ad.
vcrtisin' this ,hingf He pointed ,c
tho raft. This amt no time TO thini
about buiidin' arkar
You're too funny. Bodlne." Este.
han ripped back at him y tell yot
this thing Is all Off"
who says So
II do"
Esteoan beat him to the neares
rifle
Put that sun down. It's loaded
Buck said careiessiy.
"You heard me. the boys tcus'
face did not relax. 4 tell you thi
things Off,
Bodine began to believe him.
you don't mean it7''
Il mean Il ali right. Bodine. ail
people are down ,heroi The ranch,
viii get II worse than any othc
place. This deal is Off untl ! sc
them out
Il amt Eot no objection 20 that.
no cried. Get 'cm OUT II won
take three Of us to push this raft OF
You two beat II back and get you
folks away. I'll stay here
NO. no. you won't" Estehan di
not raIse his voice I'm not takir
. any chance on you. Once we 80
ont OF sight you'd let her so, an
set out or her on the jump. III b
stayin1-
That suits me- Hut listen: don
you lose your nerve IN these God
awful hills when were gone n
!, bust you x rs TIE last thing do
you double .cross me"
That goes two ways. Bodinc, Yo
. fall me. and Ill kin you in spite Z
hell. Romero. you 80 with him a
far as his ranch. Hell take 20
there: II he pulls gun on you. plti
him. I'll wait until the moon come
up before | shove off the raft. You
= have plenty OF time to make II. Yo
get Mercedes aud Basiiio into N
, hills. God have mercy on you II yo
don't. You better get along now"
They walked to their horses. Rc
nero waited for Bodine 10 mos
: ahead. Buck stopped FOR a brl,
!. word
You be on the level with me "a
7 night Arrascada, aud III be squar
with you. III sec that the senori,
and the kid arc all right"
Esteban watched without movin
until they were out OF sight. Befor
him were the longest hours OF hi
: life. In various ways he tried to be
! guile himself into believing that n
4 was wen. As time went on. his tor
ture increased but the agony h
was enduring was as nothing CON
pared TO the sufferings OF the gi
who was searching for him.
HI The long twilight had faded Q
last: and with the audiences OF
drawn curtain. darkness closed dow
upon the hushed world. The nigt
sounds of the Wild beat against h,
ears with the passing Of an hou
| Her pony stumbled repeatedly.
II She determined TO leave tho hors
behind. Removing his bride. sh
left him to wander home as best i
could. The pinto whinnied as sh
moved away in the blackness
III Her dress was soon torn TO tatteri
her limbs scratched and bleeding
I More than once she missed her foo
ing and came crashing down o