San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-27
CONTINUED From Our Last Issue.)

"'Son, he would say sometimes,
these stars of ours will shine around
the world some day.
But his happiness was short
lived-a mere matter Of few pleas
ant weeks as We got farther down
toward our destination-for one gor-
geous twilight as We made ready to
camp in a fold of the hills, two
masked men dropped from a rocky
pass and ambushed the camp. 1t was
daring thing, bold, and clean-cut,
and took us unawares, who were al
ways prepared. They were white
men-no Mexicans, and both were
big men. The two handlers and i
were willing TO obey the guns we
faced-but this Kentucky gentleman,
this fiery old father of mine-ah, he
was a fighter born! And it was his
horses that the masked men wanted,
his matchless racers.
so be refused and leaped for his
gun beside a rock--and the leader
shot him as he ran, Shot him dead
in his tracks, reaching for the gun! l
think l went mad that minute, for i
leaped at the bandit then, half up
on his horse | went, clawing like a
cat. / carried a knife and l tried to
kill him with it, but he beat me off
with his gun-butt. As l fell, my face
battered to pulp by the failing
butt, l raked him with my clutchins
fingers-and tore away his mask. |
saw his face, just one swift second
before the darkness Of failing sight
blotted it out. and it was a hand
some face, middle-aged and eagle
keen. and the long dark eyes that
lighted it were hard as steel and ter
rible. When | came back to earth
we were two dead men and two liv-
ing ones, for one of the handlers
had been killed also. The other was
brave chap and he brought me
round, helped to gather up the scat
tered horses, and the next day we
buried our dead ut the foot of the
hill. There at that unmarked grave
l made my oath, and started out to
keep it. For four years 1 have
searched the earth for a big gray
man with long dark eyes that gilt
tered with a mad excitement-and
some day l shall find him. There
was but one bit of good left me from
that bitter day-The Comet, who
loved me best of all who touched
him, would have none of the
strangers.
THE trainer said he went mad as
lunatic when they tried TO take
him. Wild, screaming, furious, he
charged them full. broke his rope
and literally drove them into the
sanctuary of the pass-but they took
his gentler double. the starry-eyed
Meteor. Out of the chasms and de-
files The Comet came next day at
my ceaseless calling, came rampant
and blowing. and we've been to-
gether ever since"
Velantrie ceased. rolled his wide
hat aimlessly between his fingers and
set it back upon his head. He pulled
it well down above his eyes and
turned to the girl with his old gentle
smile.
Come. Miss Harmon" he said.
"let me take you down. The tale is
told-:hc story finished. Now you
know 'Yelantrie. sometime of the
Border save and except the fashion
of my living. That can be told in a
breath. I hate oppression. In Mexi-
90 it thrivcs appallingly. 7 have
had TO travel ceasclcssly. I have put
my hand against every man who
wrongs n helpless one. and | have
enjoyed the price I've made them
nay wherever and Whenever / could.
I have stolen right and left-and
given it right and left. I have kept
nothing for myself except the bread
ate. And always have searched
searched for The etcor and the
man who rides him-ior I mean to
have them both"
He reached for her hand with
firm grip md drew her with him out
from the shelter of the courcil-house
to where the horses stood ut the
steep trails head. As they paused to
mount. Val again put her hand on
his shoulder and faced him gravely.
"Somc day" she said softly. "somc
dar-you-will come back-to me:'
Tho muscles IN Vclantric's arms
twitchcd but no held thor, stcrnly ut
his sides. The kruckles on his