The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-08-07
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HNNNtNN NAAAA wa H'Ah'AHhfFH WYNN ~
airplane fails him. Dad Marshall aud
his beautiful daughter, Mary, nurse
him hacl, 10 health and become his
good friends, In fact, he falls IN
love with Mary.
\ crooked clique, hcadrd hy
''TopaE" Taggart superintendent at
the Marshall ranch over the Ameri-
can line. seeks Marshall's lands, sue
eecding In falling ng.i Marshall On
an old charge for which he is sen.
fenced TO hang.
Buck Mcleod. Topaz TagEart and
an adventures. Stella MontrosS are
hsSriguing and conniving against
Terance and Mary. whose friends are
Bud Hughes. Miguel and some In
dams.
komi, one OF these Indians. before
he dies of his wounds, gives Ter.
ance piece Of n map. This piece
and the one Terance's father had
left him show the general location
Of yaequi treasure. but the real spot
Is known only TO the man who has
the topaz in which Il Is hidden
Buck McI.eod. the outlaw, knows
the secret Of the topaz. o'Rourke
sets out 20 run him down
when stella arrived az the hotel
Buck was waiting az the door. lie
slouched up to her and said,
SAY. want TO see you-private"
He indicated n corner % the lobby
where they could talk unhcard,
After they had seated themselves, he
began.
II les happened TO be passing
Taggart's office, and overheard the
little copfab you two were havin',"
He psused. and watched her face.
She showed surprise. but affected an
air OF calm. and simply replied
.'Yes?"
After moments silence, Buck
said sneerinsly.
$50 you're fallln' fer his stuff. too,
chr Then, after pause, he
grabbed her hand and went on,
-1-ooka here - he's gonna pull the
same game on you. He's gonna
doublecroSs us both II he can. Why.
he told me he was usin' you only
cause ye came In handy. When he's
thru with We he'll do the same TO you
as he thinks he's gonna do TO me"
Stella smiled
Il thought OF all that" she said.
But he's not the only smart one"
You bet he amt. Buck said.
.'And / DO know what the topaz
means. But he amt never gonna
learn ii from me. And I'm gonna
get my hands on that map - and
that topaz - and then -"
Stella, who was smiling moro
broadly. interrupted. saying.
Il figured he might pull some
game on me. like he was on you. so
I didn't take any chances ~ lookF'
From her handbag she drew the
two pieces Of the map.
They both grinned.
''And the topaz asked Buck.
well. | couldn't get away with
that Stella replied. But he doesn't
know how to use IT. and without this
- he's helpless"
Bucks eyes cleaned elatedly.
Look here" he said. IN get the
topaz tonight - and well 20 $3.50.
Wen beat him at hts own game
Are ye onT'
I'm on" said Stella. and they
shake hands on the agreement.
The Bar NJ ranch hands who had
been out scouting for the stolen
steers rode in az sunset after fruit
less quest.
Riding up to their quarters. they
found the door barred from the out.
side. and heard heavy pounding
against II from within.
They opened 1t and found smitty.
Nike and Barney. the three cow
boys who had been left on watch.
trying TO break their way out.
Some hellishly queer things goln'
on around here since you boys been
out" said Smitty. First this
strange woman who's been llvin' here
rides in alone. A little later Miss
Marshall and her boy friend comes
IN. Then Taggart. And then -
what should happen but these here
rustlers comes back. bringin' the
stolen steers with EN-. One gang Of
EN- jumps us, and locks us In here.
while the rest OF 'em runs the cattle
back into the corral where they be-
longs. Now what do ye make o,
that? Since then. everythin's been
quiet, and you sees for yourself there
amt soul in sight now"
We better hop up to the ranch
house. suggested Barney. "and see
Just what's what"
The boys all went for the ranch
house. lickety split, and. entering
found Mary. Terence and Bud bound
and gagged. They released them.
ana Terence made a BRIEF explana.
ton Of what had happened. Tho
Dogs received instructions for guard.
ing the ranch, and left.
Well, Mary, / guess you're con.
WINGED about Taggart and this Mont
rose woman now" said Terence.
res Terence" and she smiled.
nalf apologetically for not having
agreed with him at first. But what
snaH we do next7 Since that's
what he Is. he'll probably have the
ranch taken from US to satisfy the
notes - he's very friendly with BAN
ker Dawson"
We must find the treasure a,
once" said Terence. THAT will aave
everything. It's lucky / made tbi,
copy Of the map"
He pondered.
"All we need now is the secre, NJ
the topaz he said. And to get that
! must run down this man Buck
III take his trail at once - this very
night. And I'm not coming back
until get my mani Just before
they left - remember? - Buck said
something about going to Pico. Guess
that's my first destination"
We're going with you" Mary an.
nounced determlnedly.
"Yes," chimed in Bud, you can't
Toll - you may need help"
f,.rt.r,