The Coolidge examiner., 1932-12-23

thud of hoofs indicated his near
presence. Don Jaime managed to
stand erect and hail him. The ranger
rode into the brush to Don Jaime,
who leaned against his horse and
clung to the saddle.
"Hurt, my friend?"
"Shot all to HI but not fatally"
Don Jaime informed him with wry
smile Top of the left shoulder, left
biceps and calf of the right hind
leg. Also a brand across my chest"
where's the other MANI"
Don Jaime indicated the spot
and then sat down to wait while the
ranger rode up to investigate. The
rangers face was gravely humorous
when he returned.
There's a man up there lying on
top of a rifle. An oldish man. Looks
like Tom Antrim-that is, dressed
like him, but you've shot his head
practically away and he's unrecog-
nizable. Features quite obliterated."
"While waiting for something or
somebody to turn up | didn't have
anything else to do. so / practiced
shooting" Don Jaime protested vir-
tuously. "Well, Ken, you'd better
undress me and take an inventory
then get me on my horse and hold
me there. It's ten miles back to
the ranch, but l can make it If
don't bleed to death"
Hobart carried him out to the
clean grass in the draw, undressed
him and examined his wounds with
the skill of one to whom wounds are
no mystery. "All flesh wounds;
blood just welling slowly. 1t will
probably coagulate and quit in lit
tie WHILE" he announced casually.
He brought iodine, bandages and
adhesive tape from his saddle-bags,
for like all of his profession he had
frequent need of such things and
was not a half-bad backwoods sur
geon. When he had the wounds
dressed and the arm in sling Don
Jaime stood erect and gingerly rest
ed his weight on his wounded leg.
Not any worse than badly
sprained ankle" he rejoiced. land
I've walked miles on one of
them. Well, let's haAe a
look at the sassy old sheep-herder."
With Hobart's assistance he
mounted his horse, and together
they rode up the opposite slope and
gaZed down at the dead man. Il
could see small CLINT of something
white" Don Jaime explained, "after
! fired the first time. | figured IL
might be his face, so pecked away
at It."
He gazed down at the grisly thing
In the bushes. Looks like Antrim
all but the face" he agreed. "Frisk
him. Ken. in your capacity as a
peace officer, and see what luck we
have"
-" thS AohSCl lul uCu the ucdu
mans pockets inside out and in the
coat pocket he found a black seal
leather wallet bearing on the inside
the words in gold letters: Thomas
Antrim, Christmas, 1925"
Somebody, strange as it may
seem, actually thought enough of
this man to give him a Christmas
present." the ranger murmured.
Here's a photo card addressed to
Thomas Antrim. Jolon, Las Cruces
County, Texas. Picture of girl
taken at Atlantic City. Now.
where have l seen that face be-
fore?"
He handed the card up to Don
Jaime, who studied it briefly and
handed it back.
Miss Roberta Antrim, of Hill
crest. Dobbs Ferry, Westchester
County. New York." he announced
grimly. $50 she was a relative of
his after ALL" he sighed. "What
ClSCs
"a letter in an envelope"
"As a peace officer you have
wight to read It."
The ranger complied with Don
james suggestion. Here is a card
that says: In case of death or acct
dent please notify my next of kin.
Miss Roberta Antrim etc. Well,
1t sort Of looks like old Toms made
mess of things He was too old
to have attempted to do this lob
himself. His eyes probably weren't
as good as they used to be, and
when a fellow takes to bushwhack-
ing he ought to be reasonably fast
and accurate with a rifle. When you
borrowed my rifle you sort of spilled
old Toms beans. Don Jaime"
His sheep we still have with Us.
also his foreman, and shepherd
ers." Don Jaime announced thought.
fully. II suppose his sheep are now
the property of his next of kin, and
FOR BEGINNERS