White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-02-12
Compelling Story Of the Romantic West
THE FIGHTING RANGER
BY F. ]. MCCONNELL and GEORGE W. PIPER
(Copyright 1926
Copyright 1926


it aloud, to Stella and Bud:
Rush word to sheriff at Pico, he
can trap rustlers with stolen steers
at Coyote Pass near Mexican line.
You ride to Komi's hut quick and
await me there. I've found my wolf.
If we can locate Laqui gold your
troubles will be ended-Idaho."
WHOM blazes is Idaho?" asked
Bud.
Mary was on the point of revealing
that it was Terence; then she remem-
bered he asked that no one be told,
and simply replied:
"a friend we can rely upon" She
went on:
/ 1.-THE phone wires were cut last
night-how shall we get word to the
sheriff? Is the airplane in shape for
use?"
Bud scratched his head, and said:
MAY be little risky, but"
"I'll go with you, Bud" Stella broke
in. 'If it's got wings we'll make it
fly as we used to in the old flying
circus days."
He hesitated moment, and finally
agreed.
miguel and Komi can go with
me-" said Mary, "and the other boys
will stand guard on the ranch until a
posse comes"
Bud ran out, instructed the other
boys, and got the plane ready.
MIGUEL came with horses for him
self and Mary. The plane flew off
with Stella and Bud, and Mary and
MIGUEL mounted and followed Komi
to keep the rendezvous with
idaho"
Half an hour later, with the stolen
cattle on the way to the border, in
charge of several of the rustlers in
command Of Terence, alias Idaho Bill,
Taggart and several others awaited
Stella at their secret rendezvous.
Hearing noise In the sky. they saw
the plant lowering up above them.
what in the hell does this mean?"
growled Taggart, watching intently.
| Up there in the sky, Stella, sitting
behind Bud, had been gazing down
over the side of the cockpit for some
time. Finally, seeing what she want
| ed down on the ground, she deliber-
ately jammed one of the steering
| wires which passed through her COM
partment.
Bud felt the flying machine leave
his control. He grabbed desperately
at the levers, then cried.
"The steering controls have jam
med"
eff we fall with the machine 1t
may cost our lives" Stella replied
There's only one parachute, but one
of us must reach the sheriff. III
jump It," And she began to UNFOLD
the parachute.
i Bud protested, but Stella ignored
his pleas. He could not leave hi
place, trying to pilot the plant in the
face of death. Before he could realize
| it, Stella leaped from the plan witt
the parachute, just as she had in the
| al nj do CT,
The plane kept on. Bud could no
regain control. He sought a safe
spot to make an emergency landing
But there was not in sight, and the
plane kept notwithstanding
, Taggart and his men saw the dar
ing leap from the plane, watched thu
parachute unfold, and rushed to tn,
q spot where it seemed likely to land
Down through space Stella came
falling, and finally landed, safely. Sh'
quickly disengaged herself from thu
parachute, and bolted toward Taggar
and his men. AS Taggert came VI
he lifted her onto his saddle, facet
about and rode back whence he hat
come.
i The crippled plane fell into cluml
Of trees, few minutes later. But
emerged from the wreckage, miracu
lousy unhurt. Looking about, he saw
the parachute lying on the ground no
for off and started toward it.
While he was staring at it, he be
came aware of horses approaching
1t was Mary, Miguel and Komi. They
pulled up in surprise as he ran tt
greet them.
''The plane wrecked" he said. "But
Stella dropped with the parachute be
fore the fall She must have gone to
the sheriff."
Then come with us, Bud-there is
no time to lose" cried Mary.
Bud leaped up behind Miguel, and
they were off.
you chose good way to come
laughed Taggart to Stella, as they
rode into the camp.
"Well, was in hurry" she re
piled. wait till you hear what I've
got to tell you"