The Washington times., 1935-02-07
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nerve, eh, Nick?
II don't understand"
mo? Well perhaps I mean
you were stampeded into los
ing control of the irrigation
work."
1T can explain that, sir"
II daresay. But not here.
We had better go back to the
office"
1--WE taken the records from
the Verde office. They were
no longer safe"
where are they now?"
"At Headquarters House, in
el Toro."
Can we get up there?"
II was already on my way.
If you like we will take horses
at the mouth of the canyon"
CHAPTER 45
For a moment the older man
sat in thought, then stepping
from the car, he reached up
and patted Nora'S hand.
"Sari and have important
things to go over, dear. So
I'll leave you now. But tomor-
row." he added, tomorrow
we'll talk again Of all those
plans of OURS" He looked into
her eyes, newly lit with happi-
ness. There's always a rain
bow, little Nora," he smiled,
and climbed into Sari's car. In
another moment they were
headed toward. the desert.
For a moment Nora watched
them, then turning toward
Lolita she waved. and throw
ing her own car into gear,
made for the ranch. Faster
and faster she sped along the
road, the little car responding
to the lifting rhythm that was
singing in her heart. For to
her it seemed, as she flashed
along, that all the world and
all her life had changed, as
If at last the burden of those
past anxieties, the dread, the
hopeleSsnesS, had suddenly
cleared away, and she was
riding again toward Dick and
toward q new day. On she
hastened. The scattered hutS
of the Quarter fell behind, and
before her stretched the cactus
dotted desert. But suddenly
her foot reached toward the
brake, for ahead Of her, be-
meath the glinting afternoon
sun she saw the rising dust
OF many riders, and drawing
by the roadside, she waited
while a band Of horsemen
trotted slowly nearer. Leading
them, she made out the alkali
powdered figures of Dick and
her brother.
On Their Way
A strange cavalcade. In the
center rode two score Of Sari's
followers, Sullen and silent,
while surrounding them, rifles
in their scabbards, alertly
watching, the ranchers Of
Verde guarded their advance.
At a little distance they halted,
and Dick rode to Nora's side.
Yet even before she spoke
he sensed the change that had
come over her, for her eyes
were sparkling. That veil Of
aloofnesS, that sense Of vague
estrangement had gone, and
watching her he decided not to
speak Of Stubs death until
some better time.
Curiously her eyes still dwelt
upon the band Of horsemen,
then again she turned toward
Dick.
"The leaders Of sari's band"
a. said. To-day the East
bound train carries them away
from Verde.
"By tomorrow the border
country will be in the hands OF
the men who made it, and Sari'S
rule will be ended"
"You're sending them away?"
"This afternoon. If they are
wise they'll stay away. One hour
ago we lined them up at the
dam and picked out every one
of Sari's chief men. We gave
them their choice of the train
or accepting sentence from the
Guardians of the Desert" With
Q short smile Dick added, "They
chose the train"
Barnes had Joined them, his
face careworn and anxious.
Better go back to the ranch,
Nora" he advised. There is
Still a chance for trouble here.
Wen have to stand guard over