Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-12-29

the band an hour ago" the girl re.
ported. Don Jaime counted them.
There doesn't appear to be that many
now"
Hobart swept the scene with his
binoculars. TEN Half the gang
went ahead TO preempt The water. and
Don jaime has walked into them.
He's alive and kicking. though. II he
were not, there wouldn't be any shoot.
ing. And Julio hasn't got there yet.
Well. he'll be careful. He'll probably
come In from the rear and help the
boss out. wish | knew whether
Jaime is In the old corral or at the
water-hole. Smokeless powder. you
see. One cannot tell But the sheep
move forward That indicates conf
dence. Yes, Dingle has the water!'
"Then Don James fighting ten of
them"
Looks that way He must be In
the old corral. because he wouldn't
last minute in the open. The cor
raj Is boarded close and the light Is
failing. II he keeps moving he will
not be too easy to hit"
Julio rode out into the open quar-
ter of a mile south of them. Instantly
Hobart pulled his rifle, sighted care
fully and threw up the dirt in front Of
the boy to attract his attention. When
Julio pulled up and looked around to
see where the attack came from, Ho-
bart waved his hat at him and moved
out from the shelterlng fringe OF
bushes onto the grassy floor Of the
valley. Roberta by his side Instantly
Julio recognized them.
you stay where you are, GIRL" Ken
Hobart commanded. My other five
men will be riding down the hill pretty
soon. You tell them my orders are to
charge the men with the sheep imme-
diately."
what are you going to do, Mr.. Ho-
| bart7"
I'm going to Join julio. and the
| two Of us will advance along the south
| side of this valley toward the water
| hole. The range will be too long for
the herders with the sheep to stop us,
| think. Jimmy's In jackpot and
needs help mighty bad, 80 julio and
| L will furnish what we can. Adiosl"
He galloped away diagonally across
the valley. motioning for Julio to join
him. The boy did not hesitate. Ro-
| berta watched them In an agony OF
apprehension.
The herders with the sheep were
firing at Hobart and Julio. galloping
/ across their front Ken had stated
that the range would be too long for
/ effective fire by men not versed In the
science OF accurate shooting at ex-
| IRENE ranges. but nevertheless the girl
saw Julo's pinto go down, saw the boy
shoot out over the animals neck He
was up instantly and back beside the
horse.
| Getting his rife" Roberta thought.
Ken Hobart had pulled up and was
riding back to Julio. who. In turn, was
running to meet him. There was not
an instant's pause In the stride OF the
horse, yet Julio mounted double be
hind Hobart, the horse Whirled, ant
the daring pair were on their way
again.
There. alone at the foot OF the hill
watching this drama. Roberta prayed
for those men as she had never prayed
before; she cried out in agony wheI
Ken Hobarts horse went to its knees
rose again-and stood. still. Even one
80 IMMERSED in warfare as Roberts
could realize that the poor brute hat
been hit and crippled. She saw Ho
bart and Julio dismount and, kneelint
some twenty feet apart, open fire OF
the distant herders as calmly as i
shooting at mark
And then, over the crest behind her
came the five men detailed to follow
Ken Hobart They came down TIL
slope at a fast gallop, spurred on b.
the sounds OF conflict In the valley be
low, but slackened speed as the.
sighted the girl, holding up her han'
III blRuhl W uhlts
She trembled SO she could, with diff
>Rulty, speak coherently. Don Jaime
engaged at the water-hole with tel
, men-Ken Hobart and Julio over soutl
shooting at the herders-Ken says
rear attack"
The three American riders gazed a
, her. not quite comprehending, DESTROYS
, perhaps, OF receiving more explicit ir
, structions In such an emergency.
what are you standing there for?
Roberta cried Historically. "FolloN
me. I'll show you" With a savag
little dig OF her dull dress spurs sh
: was Off, the five men streaming benin
her. Across the northern flank Of tn
valley they raced, the patter Of riff
:, fire from the herders probably drown
: Ing the sound Of their thuddng az
proach, for they were within hun
dred yards OF the nearest men befor
: the latter saw them. One OF them fire
at Roberta. She thrilled with
:. cold fear and Wild exaltatlon as tn
: bullet whispered past her head
. afterward she had faint recolectio
OF dark. frightened, but defiant fax
that doomed for an instant In front