The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-04-13
CHAPTER xlIl-continued

-.orod for those men % -
p,a prayed before; she cried OUT
ne,. aopv when Ken Hobart's horse
, = as to its knees, rose again-aand
rood still. Even one SO unversea
ssO0 worfare as Roberta could real
i - that the poor brute had been
II, bit and crippled. She saw HOBART
and Julio dismount and, kneeilng
some twenty feet apart, open nre
IN tbe distant herders as calmly as
# shooting at mark /!
And then. over the crest behind
,or came the five men detailed to
So1low Ken Hobart. They slack
ened speed as they sighted the glrl,
holding up her hand in a slgnal
to halt -.
Che trembled so she could, with
dificulty, speak coherently, Don
Jaime-engaged at the water-hoie
with fen men-Ken Hobart and
Julio over south-shooting at the
herders-Ken says-rear attack.
The three American riders gazed
at her, not quite compromising
desirous, perhaps, of receiving
more explicit instructions in such
an emergency.
"What are you standing there
forp, Roberta cried Historically.
sFollow me. I'll show you" With
a savage little dig of her dull dress
SPURS she was off, the five men
streaming behind her. Across the
northern flank Of the valley they
raced, the patter of rifle fire from
the herders probably drowning the
sound of their thudding approach.
for they were within hundred
wards of the nearest men before
the latter saw them. One of them
fred at Roberta. -. She thrilled
with cold fear and wild exalta-
ton as the bullet whistled past
her head afterward she had
a faint recollection of dark,
frightened, but defiant face that
doomed for an instant in front of
her before she rode the man down.
Pistol shots then back
ward look. Behind her the five
rode with appraised pistols. -four
ishing them at her. yelling a fierce
appreciation of her leadership.
y The sheep, in panic, fed wildly.
1eaping over each other, bleating,
leaving a cloud of grayish white
dust behind them. Roberta rode
into the cloud-rode through the
fringe of stragglers. knocking them
down. leaping over and among
them. Pistols popped behind her
She was clear of the sheep.
:. Her dull little riding acad.
envy spurs prodded her mounts
tanks; the quirt rose and fell.
She caught the CLEAN of sunshine
as the last level rays of the dying
day were reflected on a pool.
Among some rocks beyond the pool
three figures moved, the crackle of
fire grew louder; she could discern
the sharp. spiteful REGENERATION of
II now. Where was the corral?
Don Jaime was there. wounded.
dying perhaps.
She saw tia circle of weather.
beaten boards, nailed so close to-
gether that the fence appeared like
wall. Straight at it she drove
her mount, realizing vaguely as
she did so that it was hurdle at
least foot higher than she had
ever faced in sport.
She saw her horses ears flicker.
leit his stride slacken little: then
MS head shot forward and his ears
came up straight Good horsel He
was not going TO refuse the jumpl
one fell him gather himself for the
leap' and took firm grip on the
reins.
ALLEY oop" she cried.
while In mitlair she saw Don
Jaime off on the right flank. stand.
Jug IN the bed of wagon, firing
over the fence; then she was over
sna inside the corral with him.
Jinllny!" she shouted.
~ he turned. staring at her amazed
linen he yelled:
Down! Flair"
Sne rode up to the wagon
ehppeo of. pulled the rifle from tha
s'apoard and united the cartridge
, from her pommel. Then. with
~, S'ap on her horses rump, she sent
,ro!ting across the corral.
,o anu then Don Jaime acted. He
a.np eu doWn at her. his powerful
'm swept her backward and off
o oa.ance; she slid down his BODY
s, y 70 the ground and he threw
himself beside her
on, my Cd. sweetheart WHY,
an you Gomez" he almost moaned
,ra, vause love you. Jaime Mi
sns liguenes. You are in danger
vnu ! :. couldn't stay away. I'll help
w nv Jimmy. If you have to die l.
nens sou 10 know before that hap
De desolate-"
h,s erooned to her in Spanish
OF; not eyes devouring her, his
10, perspiring hands caressinp
~. eileek. Il always knew Won