The Washington times., 1934-12-15

L AAA "NNA AAA0 Az AAO"s GSAAA law
for ornament. I've no more
reason to love Sari than you
have, Dick, and I tell you again
it's dangerous to play with him.
One of the obstacles to Nick
Sari'S plans happens to be that
paper of mine. I've fought this
whole scheme because every
step of it has been rotten with
fraud, and I've been able to
gain enough following to pre-
vent Sari from riding rough
shod over the people of Verde.
But I've had too many threats
to go unarmed. They've even
threatened Nora.
"Not empty threats, either,
Dick. This kind of gang rule
isn't new in the West, but by
heaven they won't get by with
it. There's not a dirty move
in the whole game Sari won't
try once he thinks he has
reason to fear you. He won't
fight you in the open-he
knows you too we'll for that.
So my best advice is-trust no
one and keep a gun handy"
Both men looked up as
Barnes Mexican servant came
out with a steaming tray. Dicks
eyes lighted.
THANK Heaven for real food
again." he murmured fervently,
and with no further formalities,
fell to.
CHAPTER II
Then sun had just climbed
above the mesa when Dick
mounted his antiquated horse
and headed toward his own
hacienda. At the sight Barnes
burst into uncontrolled laugh
ter.
Better tie a knot in that
cayuse's tail or he'll slip through
the cinch," he counseled, then
added, "you may find Nora over
at your place. She went there
early to fix things up for your
Homecoming"
Mystery
Homecoming! Eagerly Dick
turned down the dusty, we'll
worn trail that joined the two
ranches, and for the first time
the word seemed to carry with
it a realization of what this
homecoming meant to him
freedom and sunlight, the great
immensity of the desert sky.
Horizons that stretched to the
ends of the earth itself, and
through it the exhilaration of
the dry. keen air and the in
sistent scent Of the sage. About
him, as he rode, lowered that
age old sense of mystery the
desert holds. He watched the
brown sands hurrying, rustling
before the wind, and from a
nearby clump of mesquite
caught the clear call of a bird.
"It's like a SPELL" he said
half aloud. "You never get
free-you never want to be
free"
So for nearly an hour he rode
at a Shuffling walk, then topped
a little rise to catch the first
sight of the desert home that
he had left six months before.
Nothing was changed. The
low, red-roofed, rambling bun
galow, where dark wisteria
climbed, cast it's long, familiar
shadow beneath the early morn
ing sun. The lawn skirting a
flagStone walk had been newly
cut. and from the stone chin
ney a wavering pencil of smoke
rose and melted into the blue
vault of the desert sky. Behind a
high corral the barn lay. and be-
yond that tbs servants quar-
terS. About it all a thick green
mat of lawn. flecked with slowly
waving shadows of tamarisk.
stood out in sharp contrast to
the gittering reaches of the
desert. Watching it the tall
mans chest rose as again he
breathed the dry, sage per.
fumed air. Peace was there, and
quiet tranquility-home.
Near a side gate two saddle
horses were tethered, and as
Dick urged his tired mount on
ward he saw for the first time
that the ranch house was open.
He diSmounted and with quick
ened stride ran up the porch
steps. then stopped abruptly
just outside the door.
To Be Continued
Copyright, 1884, by Tom GIIl. Distributed
by King Features Syndicate, Inc.