The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-07-03
The Fighting Ranger

their amusement. the entire ranch.
which had been hustllng with Retiv-
lty when they arrived. seemed de.
serted.
why. there's not soul In sight"
cried Mary.
They started running and search.
inE-for someono-Rnyone- reas.
sure them that nothing YVES wrong.
Reaching tho barn. they rushed IN
the door and found Taggart. lying on
the floor. bound hand and foot. his
clothes torn and dirty. struggling 10
release himself.
"A gang OF rustlers laid for me and
rusued our steers" TaKEart gaSpsd
AZ Terence bent To cut tho ropes and
help him TO his feet.
They gave me fierce beating"
said Taggart staggering and limping
And they got tho payroll money OFF
me"
Mary looked crushed by the news.
Without hesitation Terence shouted.
Come. let's get after them ut
once"
lie made for the door. followed by
Mary. and by Tsggart. who feigned
a limp, The three OF them mounted
horses
"lt1l be better ~ We split VI" said
Taggari, with a pretended show OF
anxiety 10 be OF aid. You take that
trail that turns up into tho canyon.
lac said. pointing way that led 10
the canyon up WHICH wlnets and his
men had run n few head OF cattle
10 mako blind trail "ill 20 off
here and scout across the creek
They parted. Terence and Mary
taking the way they had been ~.
reotod They soon reached the can.
yon and found the little bunch OF
sequestcred cattle
Were on the wrong trail. Mary"
said Terence. and they turned back.
Meanwhile TaEGart had hurried TO
tho creek. met Wilieis and tho boys.
and hustled the last OF tho steers
across the stream,
We've got 20 act quick" he yelled
20 wlliets rs they plunged their
horses into the creek and started 90
ford II, THAT bird o'Rourke's
riding fool. and he and tho Girl will
DO on our trail before we know a."
Arrived on tho other bank. TaEEsrt
shouted 90 the cowboys;
run 'em into the pot hole. Wen
dry Kulch 'em TN we get chance
10 get 'em away
Tho cowboys whooped Il up and
started the herd toward the single
narrow entrance TO the pot holc--a
curious freak OF tho Wilderness
closed basln.ilke plateau surrounded
by high rocky cliffs. The cattle were
almost in a stampede as tho whoop-
ing cowboys by hercuisan efforts
raced them madly thru tho one mar
row pass entering this place.
Standing Off on their horses and
watching. Taggart and Wiliets con.
graduated themselves M they saw
tho last bunch OF steers running IN
thru tho pass. Looking back toward
tho stream. Taggart saw two forms
on horses splash in from tho other
bank.
II know it--thsre comes o'Rourks
and tho girl" he cried. Were just
In tlme-now TO plant the sticks and
close u up
They dismounted. ran 10 tho gap,
laid heavy charge OF dynamite.
lighted fuse. rsmountcd. and rode
out OF sight.
A they concealed themselves NJ
a safe distance with ths other men,
Taggart said
when that goes up and closes the
gap no ono will stir them steers un.
til we're ready To-"
winsts pointed toward the bank Of
the stream.
Look. there they are" he cried.
They saw Terence and Mary com
Ing out OF the water and riding. furi.
ously. up toward the pot hole en-.
trance.
Taggart's face blanched.
"Quick--~arn them OF tho blast"
he cried.
His men remained stock still.
do you hear7' yelled Tnggart,
angrily. with an oath
Still tho men remained mo,ionlsss,
and Buck Mcleod answered:
ITS too iate-we'd be blown 20
pieces ourselves II ws go up there
now"
Watching. they saw Terence on his
horse mounting 10 the top OF the
ledge while Mary waited just below.
They saw him reach the summit and
look down into tho pot hole, then
wavo his arms exoitedly to Mary.
and pointed down into tho pot hole
whore he had discovered tho cattle.
They saw Mary wave back and
Boo-o-o-o-ooMn!
Tho blast was off. Tho air was
filled with broken bouldors. rocks.
chips, stono. dust and smoke. Tons
Of debris were sliding into the gap
which had served as entrance to the
pot hole.