The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-07
TRAILIN, By Mas Brand

answered the other, watching the current with, q cool eye. besides, when T was youngster ! used to do things like this for the sport of il. " = .nslts v;is SSoSs 't Nash' will you take the
 And the other, looking. down: "Try the current, I'll stay here on the shore and If it gets too strong for you I'll throw out a rope, eh? But if you can make it, I'll fol- low suit.'' s>
 i Still never turning his back on the cow puncher, who was now uncoiling his lariat and preparing it for cast, Bard edged the piebald into the current. He felt the mus tang stagger as the water came knee-deep, and he checked the horse, casting his eye from shore to shore and summing up the chances
 He touched the piebald with the spurs, and the gallant little horse flourdered for ward, lost footing and struck into water beyond it's depth.- At the same. instant Bard swung clear of the saddle and let his body trail out behind, holding with his left. hand to the tail of the struggling horse and kicking to aid the progress.
 Their progress at first was good, but as they neared the central portion of the water they were swept many yards downstream for one that they made in transverse di- rection. Twice they missed projecting rocks by the narrowest margin, and then some thing exceedingly thin and exceedingly strong caught Anthony around the shoul- ders. It tugged back, stopped all their for ward progress, and let them sweep rapidly
 Turning his head he caught glimpse of Nash sitting calmly ill his saddle, holding the rope in both hands-and laughing. The next instant he saw no more, for the cur rent placed a taller rock between him and the bank. On that rock the line of the lariat caught, hooking the swimmers sharply in toward the bank. -
 Bard reached down through the water, pulled out his Colt, and with an effort swung himself about. Close at hand he could not reach the rope, and therefore he fired not directly at the rope itself, but at the edge of the rock around which the lariat bent at sharp angle. The splash of that bullet from the strong face of the rock sliced the rope like knife. It snapped free, and the brave little mustang straight ened out again for the far shore.
 An instant more Bard swan with the re- volver poised above the water, but he caught no glimpse of Nash; so he restored it with some difficulty to the holster, and gave all his attention and strength to helping the horse through the water, swimming with feet. A swerving current had caught them and was bearing them swiftly toward the desired bank. They edged through, inch by inch, and horse and man staggered up the bank and stood trembling with fatigue.
 Glancing back, he saw Nash in the act oA tuIoWlIlsS 2dTidI tO Cue ground, WllQ with anger, and before he could understand the meaning of his burst of temper over mere spoiled ,lariat, the gun, whipped from the side of the cowboy, exploded, and the little piebald, with ears pricked sharply for ward as though in vague curiosity, crumpled to the ground.
 Nash was galloping furiously up the far bank of the Saverack, already safely out of range, and speeding toward the ford.
 Chapter XVII-Setting the Stage DY NOON Nash reached the Drew ranch ND and went straight to the owner,
 desperate figure, spattered with mud to the eyes, a three days growth of whis- kers blackening his face, and that face gaunt with the long, hard riding.
 "The devil and all hell plays on the side of Bard" began the foreman. "I had him safe-almost tied hand and foot. He got