White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-01-29
Compelling Story Of the Romantic West
THE FIGHTING RANGER
BYE. MCCONNELL and GEORGE W. PYPER
Copyright 1926

your father liberated" He beamed
upon her with the most winning smile
he could summon to his lips.
Meanwhile, want you to go down
to the ranch and have your boys
round up all the cattle for immediate
shipment and sale. II you will do
that, I've got a line on a deal which
l think can put through which will
solve the money problem and save
the ranch. You Sc, Mary, have been
thinking of nothing else these days
except what l can do for you"
He squeezed her hand again, desire
beat in his brain as he looked long
ingly at her.
Eyes, l know" Mary answered,
land l do appreciate your help, Mr..
Taggart, but +"
The ringing of the telephone in
terrupted her. Taggart seized the in
strument and answered. After listen
ing a moment, his face became tense
with surprise, and apparent shock,
and he exclaimed:
Good God, is that trre?"
Inwardly he was exulting, but he
concealed his citation and affected
tragic air. Mary eyed him with
curious expectancy. After listening
minute or two more he hung up the
receiver, and turned to her. Stella
was now listening intently also.
Taggart hesitated, thinking, and
finally said slowly:
"Mary-that was-Komi, the old
Yaqui chief. He's been trying ito
reach you with word that-that-" he
paused that the full affect of his
words might burst upon her-"that
O'Rourke is dead!" he finally con-
Guided.
Mary, stunned, wild-eyed, unable
and unwilling to believe her ears,
slowly rose from her chair and stared
at Taggart.
"Dead?" she repeated as in trance.
Terence O'Rourke-dead."
Uncomprehendingly she stared be-
fore her, tragic figure. Taggart
supported her in his arms, and tried
to explain. Suddenly the full sig
nificance of the words came to her in
a flash. Uttering pitiful cry she col
lapsed in dead swoon.
Taggart. reclining her into chair
signalled to Stella, who had been
taking in the scene with interested
eyes and ears, to bring water.
Stella applied wet handkerchief to
Mary's brow, and as she revived, both
Stella and 'Taggart tried to console
her with effected sympathy. Mary,
ignoring their words, again realized
what Taggart had told her. and broke
into agonized sobbing. Finally, con-
trolling herself with difficulty and at
tempting to regain her poise, she
looked at Taggart with tear-filled
eyes, and faltered:
what shall l do? have no, now
no one-but you"
Taggart's eyes cleaned GENEROUSLY,
and he put his arm around the strick-
en- girl and tried to comfort her.
Secretly he was gloating in the salts
faction that he was now the sole
friend she could turn to.
"Tm sorry, for your sake, that this
has happened, Mary" he lied. "But
you will find that am a friend you
can rely upon, and as you know,
am only too glad to do everything in
my power for YOU"
Mary finally sat up, still weeping,
trying to compose herself
Il am stunned, overwhelmed
there are so many things" she said.
Daddy in prison-Terence dead-the
ranch slipping from us-my money
gone-oh, 1t seems so hopeless. 1
don't know what to do"
Come, come, Mary" Taggart said
solicitously. you're simply all un-
strung now. Go to the Bar M with
Bud-and Stell here. She'll be com
panion and comfort to you-Stella's
a good friend and will look after you
till you feel more yourself"
Stella slipped her arm around Mary
and said:
Eyes, yes, l shall be only too glad
to do anything l can"
Mary thanked them all, and finally
arose. Supported by Taggart and
Stella, while Bud ran ahead to get
the horses ready. Mary was helped
to the door and out in the street.
They put her on horse, and Bud and
Stella, mounting, rode one on each
side of her, while Taggart waving
adieu, watched them off on the way
to the ranch.
Returning to his Office, Taggart
fastened to the phone and called the
Spear Ranch.
Buck Mcleod" he demanded into
the phone. Hello, Buck ?-listen
Buck, get your gang and pull another
raid on the Bar M-tonight-and this