Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-02-10

owner, his blind wife. BELLE. ano
their beautiful daughter. VAL live
derfni ranch home, Paradise. Red.
star the king Of the Red Brood OF
horses owned by the master OF the
ranch has disappeared from Paradise
FATHER HILLAIRE, in charge q
the Mission is friendly with NEI4AN-
TRIE from the Border and introduces
his friend TO Val. To the priests con-
sternation warm friendship arises De-
tween the two young people.
John Harmon leaves home on a
mysterious journey and during his lab-
sence BOYCE CLENDENNtNG, sultof
for the hand OF Val, calls at Paradise.
He pledges himself 10 help in tie cap
ture Of rustlers who may have sS9len
Redstar Val asks TO be allowed 20
ride with the party.
I'm with you. too" she said bit
terly, heart and soul. II the ranch
ers ride on the rustlers' trial want
to go along. I'd like to kill the man
that took the Redstar"
It's coming, sooner or later. that
ride" answered Clendenning. 1T
must come. or we lay down our
the Allison boys and Quinlan and
they all favor organization and short
shrift for the victims we may catch
with the goods. II looks like the
work OF the Black Rustler that
clever litter whom none meet and
but few have ever glimpsed-the
smooth, silent chap who works like
a machine. with neatness and pre-
cision, and rides the fastest horse
ever seen in these parts. There are
some wonderful stories afioat about
that honse-a great bay. horse, tall
and high withered. seventeen hands
they say, and so fast that those who
have caught a far glimpse of him
say Il runs like a super-horse.
As he talked Val lannon's eyes
became wide, dark pools of retro
spection.
my landi" she said softly. Il be-
lieve I've seen that horse-from the
top of Mesa Grande one day at sun
down. had ridden the Redstar up
and was sitting on the rim, looking
across the ranges. when a band Of
men came out of the north up Santa
Leandra way, and one did ride a
wonderful horse-a long red horse
that lay down and ran for all the
world like Redstar himself And the |
rider rose in his stirrups and waved |
his hat 20 met
Did he wear a black mask ?"
asked Clendenning. quickly.
s'Why. couldn't say. He was far
and away too far of for me TO see
his face. I only got the general out
line and color-and that mighty
seeming of speed"
1T might have been. There is a
whisper about that he has been In
santa Leandra several times. but no
body cares to question the Black
Rustler"
An hour later he took his leave
and the two women sped him from
the patio where the sweet spring
talked in the stiffness.
wal" said Belle Harmon, quietly.
'I'm with your dad. I favor Boyce
Clendenning. He is honest. straight
and Of fixed purpose. II he sets out
TO catch the Black Rustler, he'll get
him sooner or later. II he promises
to love, cherish and protect a wo-
man. he'll do so till he dies
And she did not know with what
litter prophecy she spoke. e
Val laughed, a ringing peal, ana
hook her shoulder playfully.
John Harmon had better be get {
ing back" she said lightly, "Or his {
vffe'll be falling in love with HIS best c
riend" !
The riders were coming in with q
artle Of spur and bit chain, the red n
-eus were beginning TO slit down a
rom the blue inhnitude above, and 2
he long twilight would soon be fall r
ng over Paradise, v
Val. standing alone In the patio
,fter Belle had gone indoors, looked
town across the empty fields, for the t
Red Brood grazed no more without I
, guard, and a sigh lifted her slim s
breast.
CHAPTER XXI s
The Lure OF the PADRES Garden !
There was a time after Clenden-
n.ng's visit when nothing happened q
10 sir the quiet life at the ranch. I
Val talked with the riders about the
irouble at the Flying Y and Briston I
had little TO say. s
In fact there was an unostenta- I
tious reticence in their speech about I
the whole affair. She did not know
mat every nan-jack Of them had
been filed with a vague dismay over
the incident OF the dance hall at
santa Leandra, nor that they had ,,
listened 10 faint whispers concern
ne the armed strangers.
"Holy smokei" said Perry the To- :
,uacious. 'ff that there Velantrie
vas tn Black Rustler an our Val
Iaved his rotten hide. her name'll be
m over this country an I see where
his bunch'n do a lot of fghtin'.'
John Harmon did not return as
soon as they had expeeted him. and 2
line dragged a little. Val rode to
he Mission many times. but never
gain did she encounter tall
Stranger in the dry garden. and
hough she drew the talk artlessly
o this stranger a time or two,
father Hillaire was non-communca-
i've and she learned no more about
lin.
She helped the boys with the
,reaking Of the new string OF horses. p
or John lannon's daughter was II
,etter than a lot Of men at that, and u
Ter dusky skin burned a tawnier ;
hade in the sun, while her cheeks il
we're like roses in the sunset.
The boss had been gone FIVE weeks. "
august was blazing on the range 2
and. The heavens were high and =
lard with heat and the sun shone q
But always at dusk
here came out of the south the little q,
COL wind that whispered along the i
a.ofe and fha marvellous coiors sfft-