Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-07-27
SYNOPSIS

PROLoGUE.-seeking gold In the des-
ert, Cameron" solitary prospector.
man whom he later learns is Jonas War
rem, father of girl whom Cameron
wronged, but later married, back in Illi-
Warren. and the two proceed together
Taking refuge from q sandstorm in a
cave. Cameron discovers gold, but too
late; both men are dying. Cameron leaves
evidence. In the cave, OF their discovery
OF gold, and personal documents
CHAPTER I.-Richard Gale. adven-
turer, in Casita, Mexican border town.
meets George Thorpe, lieutenant in the
Ninth cavalry. old college friend. Thorne
Castaneds. Spanish girl. his affianeed
wife. from RoJas, Mexican bandit.
Rojas and his gang. with the help Of
and Thorne escape. A bugie call from
the fort orders Thorne TO his regiment.
He leaves Mercedes under Gales pro-
lection.
cowboys who had assisted Gale in the
escape, Charlie LAdd and Jim Lash, ar
rive In safety at ranch known as For
lorn River. well across the border.
CHAPTER Iv-Ths fugitives are at
Tom Belongs home. Bedding Is immi-
grafton inspector. Living with him are
his wife and stepdaughter. Nell Burton.
Gale, with Ladd and Lash. take service
with Bedding as rangers, Gale telling
Bedding the cause of his being wauderer.
a Misunderstanding with his father con-
corning the sons business abilities.
CHAPTER v.-Mercedes gets word to
Thorne of her safety Dick also writes
to his parents. informing them OF his
whereabouts. Nells personality, and her
kindness. attract Gale.
CHAPTER VI.-Riding the range. Gale
falls In with a party of three Mexican
raiders encamped at water hole.
Watching his opportunity to Dust them,
he two Indians ride into the camp
One of them, a Yaqui is evidently badly
wounded. and the Mexicans seek to kill
him in a cruel way. Dick drives them
off. conveying the wounded Yaqui to
Belongs ranch.
CHAPTER vII.-The Indian is taker
in cared for and remains in Belongs
services, becoming Dicks ardent admlrer
Gales admiration for Nell increases, and
he believes she Is not averse to his atten-
lions Belongs horses, thoroughbreds,
the pride OF his life, after his wife and
stepdaughter. are run on by Mexicans.
CHAPTER vIII.-Gale, with Ladd. Lash
and the Yaqui, pursue the raiding party
over the desert, finally cornering them.
Five OF the six thieves are killed and the
party of whites, with the recovered
horses. return to the ranch In triumph.
CHAPTER Ix.-Gale secures from Mrs
Bedding what he feels is reluctant per-
mission to allow him to seek Nell for q
wife He begins his courtshlp with energy.
confident that he can win her.
CHAPTER Knot getting word from
Thorne whose period OF army service has
expired, Mercedes loses heart. Nell. al
though forbidden, rides to Casita to seek
information OF him. She finds he is
prisoner Of RoJas. and Is instrumental In
ERECTING his escape, bringing him to Mer-
cedes at Belongs ranch Thorne and
Mercedes are married Rojas with a
large force of raiders. appears at Bel
ding's md demands Mercedes be sur
to stand or the bandits, It is arranged |
that the three rangers, with the Yaqui |
as guide. and Thorne, convey Mercedes |
across the desert to Yuma, where she will |
be in safety. The party sets out
CHAPTER xI-They find the way to
forced to take to the lava beds. Rojas, |
Yaqui, familiar with the country is con-
f1dent they can beat him or.
CHAPTER xII-The rangers find a
place of safety for Mercedes and the |
Lash and Thorne, are badly wounded
but Rojas though he succeeds in finding |
Mercedes hiding place. Is killed by the
Yaqui, the remainder OF the Mexicsns
fleeing.
T HELLO, jim" called Gale, dragging
Thorne round the corner of lava.
"Where are you? Oh, you son of
gunl 1 thought you were dead. Oh,
I'm glad to see you'll Jim, are you
hurt?"
Jim Lash stood in the trail leaning
over the butt Of his rifle, which evil
IDENTIFY he was utilizing as crutch.
He was pale but smiling. His hands
were bloody. A scarf had been bound
tightly round his left leg just above
the knee The leg hung limp, and the
foot dragged.
81 reckon 1 amt injured much" re-
piled Jim. 'But my leg hurts like
HI, If you want to know"
'Laddyl Oh, where's lady"
Hes just across the crack there.
1 was trying to get to him. We had
1t hot an heavy down here. Laddy
was pretty bad shot up before he tried
to head Rojas off the trail.
Dick, did you see the Yaqui go after
RojasY'
did II" exclaimed Gale, grimly.
"The finish was all that saved me
from runnin' loco. reckon our
chances are against f1ndin' Laddy
alive. / tell you, boys, RoJas
was h-lbent An Mercedes was
game. / saw her shoot him. But
mebbe bullets couldn't stop him then.
II 1 didn't sweat blood when Mercedes
was fightin' him on the cliff Then
the finish Only Yaqui could have
lone that. Thorne, how about
your Dick, Is he bad hurt?"
"No, he's not. A hard knock on the
skull and scalp wound" replied
Dick. Here, Jim let me help you
1ver this place"
Step by step Gale got the two In
ured men down the uneven deelivity
md then across the narrow lava bridge
over the assure. Here he babe them
'est while he went along the trail on
hat side to search for Laddy. Gale