The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-01-23
a. 60 a. 90 @ 90 go cas g
CHAPTER xiv
Second Fiddle
IL

Mary 3Ae Ford, Barbara's house
keeper, Ct lie out of the house, wor-
ried look on her face. She nodded
greeting to O'Hara. then spoke to
Barbara.
.Have you seen Bonnie anywhere?
I'VE been all over the place lookin'
for him. Tim put him on that little
piebald pony an went into the stable
to do something. When he came back
Bonnie had gone"
"He can't be up the creek, because
I've just come down it," O'Hara said
.4Tll take look and see If he's below
the ford"
Il wish you would, Mr.. O'Hara-an,
ri certainly paddle him proper when
get my hands on him."
O'Hara remvunted and rode to the
creek. He found no sign of the truant
below the ford. AS he rode back up
the creek Barbara came riding to
meet him.
"You didn't find him?" she asked.
"No."
she isn't around the place. Tim
says he spoke about Round cliff. Ben
MES crazy to ride. Maybe he started
for it,
In the snow they found tracks evil
IDENTIFY made by the little piebald
pony. Somewhere between them and
4 Round cliff, which rose on the rock
rim to dominate the ranch, they would
no doubt catch up with the young ad-
venturer.
There was no reason for frantic
haste. Their horses would travel
much faster than the pony. and the
youngster could not have had more
than fifteen or twenty minutes start
of them. In less than an hour he
would be back at the ranch in the dis
ciplinary hands of Mary Joe.
O'Hara's chance had come. He
knew he must make the most Of it,
must fling into words the emotion that
engulfed him. But his old shyness
rose up and took him by the throat.
AS for Barbara. she would go no
farther to meet him. Her eyes had
made confession when they stood op-
posite each other over Davids buggy.
1t was for him to storm the last fort
ress of her defenses If he wished it
to be so.
He swallowed hard, found words,
rejected them, and got as far as Bar
bara!" gulped out desperately.
They were in the canyons mouth.
Her eyes met his expectantly. shin
ing courage back Of the difidence
that fluttered in them.
A cool and knocking voice inter-
rupted. "An' here we are again, old
friends all of u.s."
Barbara's heart died within her.
Bob Quantrell had ridden out from be-
hind large boulder. Little Bonnie
Ford sat in front Of him. In the out
laws hands rested lightly a Colt re-
volver
He did not raise it. He did not
order O'Hara to throw up his hands,
With thin, grim smile on his face
he sat there watching the man who
had hunted him from one cover to
another, broken up his gang. captured
and shackled him.
mot lookin' for me, are you,
Sheriff." he continued derisively.
Out of her terror Barbara spoke
quickly, in desperate plea for mercy.
Her tortured memory swept back to
that other day when he had once be-
fore despoiled her life.
"We were lookin' for Bonnie. He
was lost"
AN now he's found. Amt you,
Bennie?"
81 was gonna ride to Round cliff
an met Bob" the little fellow piped.
.sBut wasn't lost. not the leastest
bit"
O'Hara had not yet spoken. He did
not speak now. His eyes rested on
the face out of which a mocking devil
ieered at him. At sight Of Quantrell
his heart had jumped and then his
vitals had grown chill. But he was
not in panic. His brain functioned
logically as he estimated the chances.
He could not take the luck of battle,
not with little Bonnie sitting in front
Of the outlaw. Quantrell had not put
the youngster in front Of him. OHara
knew, because he feared the issue If
It came to bullets. With his six-shooter
already out he could drill the sheriff
through and through before the latter
could even lift his weapon. Why,
then. was he using Bonnie as shield
Was it because he wanted to hold the
officer inactive while he enjoyed his
chagrin and terror?
Again Barbara voiced her agonized
plea to the young desperate. She
must save her lover who was so near
to death. Somehow-somehow-
must stand between Garrett and i'm
pending DOOM
IF he had been lookin' for you
would he have brought me along?'
she cried.
-Are you claimin', ma'am. that he
new Bonnie would get lost an that
s came from Concho SO as to be here