Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-03-14

| OhS "a WV bdliCto hAPPNN N-o -
side, cutting through his velvet bolerc
but he paid no attention to their sting
| Swinging Ell Cielo around, h
changed his tactics before the infuriatet
gunner could guess his purpose. H'
charged directly on the men firing a
him. Their bowls rose to screeches
some of fury, some of pain. They
crashed into each other, fighting like
stampeded cattle to avoid being tram
! Piled by the flying hoofs of the big blue
roam.
Then, as suddenly, the mount was
wheeled again, and Ell Cielo and his
silver-decked rider were pounding down
the street. But Michael Valdez knew
well enough that it was only reprieve.
lie knew that before he could dare
hope to get clear of the town other
guards stationed at various points out
side would be upon him.
Realizing that he must do something
other than try to outride them, Valdez
Kneed his mount into the first cross
aliey that was out of sight of the men
IN the street, and pulled up to halt.
What now?' For quick glance over
his shoulder told him that already the
advance guard were on their way and
that mounted gunner were pouring
INTO the street from the Garvin place,
all In hot pursuit. Already they were
almost abreast of him, and the others
were coming on fast.
Then suddenly, miraculously, from
the Mexican novels on both sides of
the street in this part of town rife
shots broke out with deafening roars.
The steady hail, so totally unexpected,
broke the ranks of the hired gunner,
scattering them like scudding leaves
driven by an angry wind.
Their horses wheeled and paved,
many of them rearing and whinnying
as rifle shots stung them, and riders
fought to control them For an instant
the pursuers of Ell Caballcro Rojo hung
[here, bewildered, as the concerted fire
from both sides of the street raked
horses and riders
More surprised even than the victims
u the sudden onslaught was Ell Cabal-
gro hoJo himself as, from the shelter
u the darkened alley where he had
fought temporary cover, he watched
ne carnage. He could not understand
T. could give no possible guess as to
ne meaning of his deliverance.
lie had not moved when finally, in a
7lid dash, most of the gunmen-those
mo had not already fallen-managed g
D break through the crossire of rifles
nose yellow daggers of flame stabbed +
trough the night. And then they were n
one' routed completely, even while =
1e echoes of the shots that had sent ;,
lem scurrying still rolled down the .
arkened street.
Inc hiring ceased at that moment, as :
lddenly as it had begun. There was =,
sign OF life from the windows of
ny howell on either side of the street
was abruptly as quiet as though the
exlcan village had not been aroused c
all. T
Inc strange and timely assistance IL
ON these people puzzled Michael VAL Il
z. Why had they done it? For him? tt
hat must have been the reason, but e'
by? No one knew he was here: No o.
e knew the mission that had brought d;
m. n
lie mad started to move cautiously til
DIN the alley, hoping he could find NJ
income who would explain matters
him, when he saw moving shadow
ming toward him from the other end
the alley. He started toward the
adow, half expecting to see some
end who he had not guessed was
though who that could DOS
~ be he could not imagine.
lie rode on. But the sight that
lched his sharp eyes when the ad-
1clng figure moved out of the shad-
was the last he would ever have
ught to see. ,
lt was a friend, loyal friend. II
Juanita de Cuevas. .