, 1923-01-24
DESERT GOLD

Jaw, hi, no! Jim, what do you
think?' implored Bedding.
Il reckon Soils white head is point
ed level and straight down Casita
trail. An Nell can ride. We're losin'
time
That reused Bedding to action.
Il say you're all wrong" he yelled.
starting for the c%orrals. "She's only
taking II little ride. same as she's done
often. But rustic now. Find IL
Dick, you ride cross the valley. jim,
you hunt up and down the river. I'll
head up San Felipe way. And you,
Lady, take Diablo and hit the Casita
trail. IT. she really has gone after
Thorne you can catch her in an hour
or So"
Shore I'll CO." replied Laid. "But,
Beldin', If you're not plumb crazy
you're close to it. That big white
devil can't catch Sol. Not In an hour
or a day or a week !"
daddy, you mean to say Sol Is a
faster horse than Diablo?" Numbered
Belding, his face purple.
shore ! mean to tell you just that
there" replied the ranger. "Ill ride
your Blanco Devil as he never was rid
before, 'cept once when a d-D sight
better hossman han l am couldn't
make him outrun SOL"
Without more words the men sad
died and were off. The interminable
time that followed contained for Gale
about as much suspense as he could
well bear. What astonished him and
helped him greatly to fight off actual
distress was the endurance of Nell's
mother.
Early on the morning of the second
day, Gale saw three white horses and
a bay come YEARLY stepping down the
road. He heard Blanco SOILS familiar
whistle. and he leaped up wild with
JOY. The horse was riderless. Gales
sudden joy received Z violent check,
then resurged when he saw a limp
form In Jim Lash's arms. Ladd was
supporting a horseman who wore a
military uniform.
Gale shouted with joy and ran into
the house to tell the good news. 1t
was the eve~r-thoughtful Mrs. Bedding
who prevented him from rushing to
tell Mercedes.
Lash handed down a ragged, travel
stained, wan girl into Belongs arms.
"Dadi Mamma
1t was indeed a %repentant Nell. but
there was spirit yet in the tired blue
eyes. Then she caught sight Of Gale
and gave him a faint smile.
"Hello-Dick."
NELL" Gale reached for her hand,
held it tightly, and found speech diff
cult.
You needn't worry-ahout your old
horse" she SAID. as Bedding carried
her toward the door. "Oh, Dick !!
Blanco Sol is-glorious ="
Gale turned to greet his friend. In.
deed, 1t was but a haggard ghost of
the cavalryman. Thorne looked Ill
or wounded. Gales greeting was also
a question full of fear.
Thorne's answer was a faint smile.
He seemed ready to drop from the
saddle. Gale helped Ladd hold Thorne
upcn the horse until they reached the
house. Bedding came out again. His
welcome was checked as he saw the
condition of the cavalryman. Thorne
reeled into Dicks arms. But he was
able to stand and walk.
I'm not - hurt. Only weak -
starved" he said. as Mercedes
Take me to her"
She'll be well the minute she sees
! him." averred Bedding, us he and Gale
| led the cavalryman to Mercedes
room. There they left him and Gale.
at least. felt his ears Ringing with he
girls broken cry Of joy.
When Bedding and Gale hurried
forth again the rangers were tending
the tired horses. Upon returning to
the house Jim Lash calmly lit his
pipe, and Ladd declared that, hungry
rs he was, he had to tell his story.
"Shore. Beidin'," began Laid, "that
was funny about DiabIo catchin'
Blanco Sol. Funny amt the word. I
nearly laughed myself to death. Well.
rode In Soils tracks all the way to
Casita. Never seen a rebel or a
raider till l got to town. / went
straight to the camp Of the cavalry
men. an found them Just GOBLIN or
an dressin' down their bosses after
what looked to me like a big ride.
Some soldier took me to an officers
tent. Nell was there. some white an
all In. She just said. lady =
Thorne was there, too. an he was
bein' worked over by the camp doc
tor. I didn't ask no questions, be-
aus I seen quiet was needed round
that tent. After satisfying myself
that Nell was all right. an Thorne
In no danger. I went out.
shore there was 30 darn many fel.
lers who wanted to an tried to tell
me what'd come of. I thought I'd
never find out. But I got the story
piece by piece. An here's what hap
pened:
Nell rode Blanco Sol a-tearin' Into
camp, an had a crowd round her In
n INV She fnld u,hn oho x.,.. ..,a.-u