San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18

yOu hOI W MANI any hOioS, HOL
make an answer-if we should hii
pen to hear your partner down by IN
spring" IL
"What would you do If I didw Dif
den said little breathlesssly. H,
The Ranger drew a gun. III
The other laughed with scorn. "AIi 4
body would think 1 was afraid to II
put out of my misery" he said, pus
ing himself softly up from the grourl,
He was looking into the RANGED
face-a queer leisurely scrutiny. Su I
denly his mouth opened and the va
was out:
Back, observation-disclosures !" III
Billings laughed softly. "You d
hear him then, minute ago. You
sure got poker face, young fello1t
+. What are you so busy wi
under your blanket?" ~
He bent forward with a swift movE
ment and caught Dryden's hand.
rock was in it the size of a duc4
egg.
Uncomfortable lying on-was It'll
Billings asked. He saw faint grf
on the others face in the dusk.
worked it loose under the blanket
Poor little tool-meant to mash m5
head in, but - don't blame yoS
Roger"
The other seemed scarcely to heal
every reused faculty intensely corl
centrated down slope toward til .
spring. L
"Your pals making little circle 4,
the left, trying to locate where yos
arc" the Ranger went on. "Tell hit
to come up here and have his sup
per-"
The face that looked up at him now
from the blanket was harder than any
thing Billings had seen that day-thII
face of a man who didn't fear DEATH
but both hated and feared the double,I
cross. Il
"That's what l said" Billings re,
peated. "I'd have managed different
il I hadn't expected you to sigma.
when you heard your pal below. Cal,
to him again who's here, and we'll
cook IN little banquet for three. Nv!
been trying to make myself believe |
was in the deputy sheriff business, buj
it won't work-not after dwelling with
you all day"
Dryden showed his face up still
closer to the Rangers. 1t was lumini
ously gray, sick, frightened, grim With
torturing hope. 4
"Honest 20 God?" he said hoarsely.
Gust that" said Billings, and add
ed, "Tell him I'll go down to help him
up here with his packs. If he likes
1t wasn't exactly a merry
party. The Ranger had to watch that
the two didn't shock themselves to-
death from nourishment. Dawes mind
was inclined to ramble a little over
his coffee cup. The two had lived five
weeks on less than ten days rations,
hiding in the rocks on this slope. never
far from the silent spring. Dave H.
comb had been able TO elude his pur-j
suers up to this time, because he was
familiar with every notch and grooye'
of the vicinity.
The next afternoon Billings arose,
reached for his saddle and walked out
where his horse was tethered. When
the saddle was on and the duffle pack
ed, he halted a minute before going
back to the whitened fireplace where
the two sat waiting for him. The
Rangers hand moved up to his face
and his eyes grew mournful. He
wasn't pleased with himself and no
nearer than before to writing that let
ter to the girl in Iowa. He had a
mans idea that he had TO do lot for
that girl that man working on gov
"ernment pay couldn't do-to make Up
for the way he looked.
1--WE just got time to ride over to
the station before dark" he said. Il
may be back this way in ten days or
two weeks-iust for a call. You'll be
here, doubtless"
"Yes, Ranger" said Dave. "At least
that long. It's safer right here by the
spring than anywhere else. It's so.
safe here in this raYine, that she's kept'
a secret for forty years :"
The Ranger turned to him queerly.
Both Dave and Roger laughed.
"why, Ranger" Fave went on. You
couldn't turn trick like you've turned
for us and get away with just a
thanks and come again. We're goin'
over into Mexico a little later, where
they'll let us alone and we'll have
chance 10 grow up and not be stunned
by hiding in cramped places. Roger
and / ran onto the secret here at the
spring. We've been strvin' to death
all these days on Treasure Islanu.
Yes, Mister Billings, be calm.
We've found old McConachi, IS Lode,
and she's richer than anybody ever
said she was. It's no good to us--not
for years, anyway, until Drinkwater
and his crowd forget. We couldn't
dispose of a nickle's worth, but We
might be silent partners. In
other words, Ranger. McConachie's
Lode is yours. Someday we'll let you
know where we are over the border.
And IL Won get foo clottel with diyi-