The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-09-06
Flame
of the
Border
BY
VINGIE E. ROE
Copyright
Doubleday. Doran 4 Co. Ina-
wNu Service
CHAPTER XII-Continued
Copyrtght
peuhi sday. DorAn 4 Co. Inc.
WNU Service

he was leaning forward now, search
inr the girls face with boring eyes to
catch the faintest change, the slight
est flicker of betrayal
II did not, senor." she said
.H'm.. said El Diablo savagely. |
-and when you 20 quickly stopped and
| picked from the door that small brass
can which Senior Parks dropped from
his pocket, you still did not know
what you were findlng7'
.No,~ said Sonys, land would not
now II Manuel there had not told the
Sonora about it-called 1t \ hve-taei
can OF black molasses.'
Manuel leaped from his seat, talking
swiftly, facing his master. And some
where behind her 4 woman stified =
scream But Diablo was on bis feet,
his nst on tho table.
/ .Sol" he Numbered. my people talk
behind me. do theyl They mention
that which Is never to be mentionedl
shall deal with you--And you. sonora
later. Now bring me Ounce
At that Sonya felt the world go
round for one terrible second. She
clutched the chair back tightly.
And from somewhere at the right
there came the sound OF marching
feet. the swift step OF men obeying
master. Through the dappled shade cast
BY the poplar trees nve figures moved
Into her line Of vision, four who walked
abreast In twos and In their midst I
fith-Starr Stone as she had seen
him last, In cowboy boots and dun
rarees belted at his lean hips. faded
denim shirt. He had no hat, and his
bronze head shone In the light like
gold, and he had not shaved for days.
He was haggard and his eyes were
large In his tanned face, and his arms
were bound behind him. He was Z
prisoner with all prisoners indlgni-
T ties heaped upon him. but bis tall
form was erect, his blue eyes dark
with the spreading pupils. he strobe
toward the table with his gaze set on
Diablo's face and saw no other In the
silent mass
"Senor," he said
"Senor," said Ell Captain. and the
smile WAS gone from bis face. II was
black with rising fury.
"For FIVE years, Ounce, you have
been with ma-my best and ablest
man, You have done my bidding
quickly. You have led my raids. You
have put my - merchandise - safely
through Its secret ways. have called
and you have come, always Always until
lately. Lately you have come on laggard
feet You have held back at my or
ders. You have dlsobeyed me. And
I have now the reason That reason
Is woman. A woman whom you have
set before Ell Captain Diablo. Whose
word has been more to you than m,
! word. Who, through your instruction
J doubtless, has come upon the key o
my activities. Who has caught Qua
tro with the goods In his own store
: who holds Diablo and all his futur'
In the hollow Of her hand. Or woul'
30 hold him had 1t not been for Qua
tro's swift action In the matter. Seno
behold the womani"
He had half risen again, leanln
With one broad hand on the table
with the other he pointed Grammatical
" to Sonya. And like a fash Star
Stone whirled and saw her.
II was the first inkling he had ha
that she was not safe In her own cour
try, about her own pursuits, and th
shock OF II drained his face to ghas
" pallor.
"SonyaI" bis lips formed soun'
iessly.
.Yes," said the girl denantly. 4ths
took me from my horse two nigh
azo-kidnaped me-by airplane--ar
\ brought me here because / stumble
on the fact that Parks Ii their age
In the smuggling of narcotics aero
the line. They think you told me-
that you and have planned to doubl
cross this wicked bandit here-th
; beast who says I'm lyingl"
She waved 4 hand at El Capita
nodded her black head toward hi
"Ahl beast, am II El Caplti
Diablo I beastT
1Yes, senor-and worse" said Son
Bavarin. @You may kill meas
y not doubt you wlll--but am an Amt
lean. and do not bend to you, eth
In body or soul We are both Anne
cans"
.Oh, Americans And Americans
not double-crossl"
mo, senor.'
Ing: swell, we shall see. Qulnce-att'
rouf- = - : -
ost- ton. What do you say for yourself
'ho' The tall man standing In the m
- tied shade looked long In his maste
face. What years of wrongdoing.
obedience of fear, were In that lc
!. only they two might say. For Ii
' time 1t held between the wild b
lair eyes, the deadly black ones.
VI Then Starr Stone turned to Songs
en- N "Sonya," he said distinctly. "onc
rug told you that a leopard could
MI. change his spots A little later | |