The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-05
CHAPTER: TX
Garrett O'Hara Loses

At the Hughes ranch all was busy
preparation. Guns were being ex-
amined, horses saddled. Ingram HIM
self grimly supervised his men as they
made ready.
Deever called to him: "Guy comm
up the creek, Dave"
Garcia rode up, fumbled in his sash,
drew out an envelope, and handed 1t
to Ingram. The owner of the Diamond
Tail tore it open and read it with an
impressive face. Meanwhile Garcia
was busy answering questions. He
had been captured by the enemy. taken
to the Circle S o ranch, and had less
than two hours before made his es-
cape. All this he explained in Spanish.
Ingram drew him to one side. "Did
Miss Steelman give you this letter
herself?'
ISL, senor."
SAN then she helped you make yore
getaway"
The Mexican hesitated. then decided
it was better to tell the truth. "Senor
Steelman he tell me vamos."
"Did he know about this letter-see
her give it to you?"
He had not. Garcia explained. She
had slipped it to him and begged him
to deliver it to Senior Ingram.
Ingram dragged the Mexican from
his horse and flung him into the arms
of man standing near. "Keep him
l,oo ha nuslnr
to Harvey, he said: 'I'm postponin'
this expedition few hours, Tom
Got to see some one first"
"Who have you got to see, Dave"
asked Harvey.
private business of my own" In
gram answered CURLY.
Ingram chose fast horse and cut
across the park to the eastern rim
of it. From here he pushed into the
hills. heading farther to the north.
At the summit of wooded ridge he
dismounted and tied the horse, then
moved forward cautiously. rifle in
hand. His keen eyes scanned the ter
rain carefully. At times he stopped
and stood perfectly still for minutes
at stretch, then once more crept
through the brush toward small
arroyo that dropped swiftly to mesa
below. 1t was the spot where he and
Barbara Steelman had been used to
meet before the feud had famed into
open warfare.
Ingram had been there only a few
minutes when lone rider emerged
from draw. The approaching horse
clambered up to the ledge plateau and
Barbara Steelman drew the animal to
halt.
Out of the brush came Ingram to
meet her. No words were wasted by
him in greeting. Before he spoke his
fiinty blue eyes searched her for q
moment.
81 got yore note, an I'm here" he
said.
She plunged at once into what she
had to say. II had to talk with you.
l had to tell you how it was about the
attack on the Hughes place. My ia
Their had nothing to do with that.
neither he nor his partners. My father
had started for the river ranch after
a conference with Mr.. O'Hara an Mr..
Smith-Beresford. 1t was agreed they
should start negotiations with you to
stop this dreadful war. Bob Guam.
trell was to blame for the attack. an
he has been discharged since. We're
all so sorry about it,"
"Tll bet you are," the cattle man
grimy replied. Sorry Quantrell fell
down on his end of it after it had all
been fixed so pretty. A nice alibi ar
ranged for everybody, an those two
pilgrims in town DRAWN the wool over
my eyes. You tell 'em from me that
the first time meet either of 'enl
he'll have n hide so full of holes 1t
wouldn't hold hay"
But you're wrong" she persisted
desperately. "Tve got TO make you
see that. It's true what say, every