Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-06-06
CHAPTER XIV

"You can't come that kind of tai
over me! You're his lookout man, an
1 know t!'
Juanita laughed. But, senor," sh
protested, II know Of that outlaw
does everyone from here to the border
He rides alone, that one. He would no
suffer me to lick his boots, senior. Until
me. Let us call this big mistak'
finished"
Weber brought her mount over beside
her. THE big mistake" he said tightly
will be finished when Ell Caballerc
Rojo is dead" =,
"You are wrong, senorw pleaded
Juanita. by my mothers honor
swear"
you lie, curse your CLARK Weber
snarled. He stood over her, a tense
finger on the trigger of the gun that
was trained on Juanita's forehead.
"You were at the Aldman house the
other night. Then he came there to-
night, and you were standing guard for
him. If you lie again, IN kill you"
To Juanita de Cuevas death was In
significant compared with the safety of
Michael Valdez. Yet she must live, At
least long enough to warn Valdez of
what this man before her knew-or
guessed.
ISL" she murmured "You speak
true. am the servant Of Ell Caballero
Rojo. 1t is greater honor than even
my father dreamed for me-"
With a harsh laugh Weber picked
up his prisoner, dumped her across the
saddle of her mount, climbed aboard
himself and rode, careless now, in his
knowledge that he was dealing only
with young boy.
Shortly Juanita noticed that her
captor was dropping things as they
rode on-and instantly the reason for
that was plain! Ell Caballero Rojo
could not help seeing-and follow. A
stud from the saddle-skirt of her mount,
her handkerchief, her dagger. A hare
and hounds trail to death!
When at last they reached a small
group of buildings of which a farm
house and barn stood out in the dark
ness as the largest, Clark Weber shifted
his prisoner to his shoulder and CROPPED
with her up fight Of creaking steps.
That they were in the barn was plain
from the mixed odors of tobacco and
horses.
Juanita was flung upon the dusty
floor of the hay loft. Then Weber lit
a lantern, picked her up and roped her
to a beam that braced the roof.
A puff of Clark Weber's breath
against the lantern plunged the Uttered
place into darkness.
"You see?" he gloated. "All have |
to do now is wait in the dark. Or |
maybe until dawn-when our trail can
be seem"
"Senor," Juanita said chokily, you
are smart-and very lucky. But you
flirt with death and do not know it.
You think Ell Caballero Rojo SO big
fool that he walks into your trap?
No. He come. You are sure of that.
So am I. But he goes, too. I warn
you. Perhaps, when he is gone, you
will no longer be here, either"
Clark Weber started down the stairs.
"You bet he goes !" he repeated, and
aughed raucously. Feet first to Boot
Hill. You needn't waste your breath
rying to scare me-"
His feet creaked on the planks.
[uanita could hear him moving down
Yellow. Then, with the slam of the barn
loor, she was alone. Instantly she
,egan to tug and jerk and saw at the
,onds, but all her struggles brought
we're bleeding wrists and tired, wrenched
muscles.
"Madre de Diosr she prayed Help
ne! Help Michael
Outside the barn, Clark Weber's en-
husasm kept him comfortable for an
our. Then, with the thermometer drop
ing and the rain which had begun
hortly after he had arrived here with
is prisoner now turning to sleet, he
hivered and looked with envy at the
ouse.
eff I could only keep watch from
inside the house," he mumbled. "But-"