Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-06-27

had retrieved Wnen ne nad gone through
the kitchen cooked and ready. Mount
ing his horse then, he rode away
quickly.
Before many hours had passed he
would profit handsomely. Half-if not
all-of everything Bartle owned would
be his. Then, but only to safeguard the
fortune he meant to get--and to live
to enjoy-he would make strenuous
efforts to get Ell Caballero Rojo. Bartle
was due to have a partner, whether he
wanted one or not.
Weber headed swiftly for Gold Greek.
A man who had such vast holdings as
Bartle had, who had a stake in all of
it, could not carry all his business deal
ings in his head. Weber felt certain
that Bartle's Office would yield some
thing upon which he could base his firm
conviction that the landowner was play
ing a game in the dark.
And Clark Weber had to have some
thing to hold over Bartle's head!
No time was wasted IN exuDerant
greetings when their signal cries even
tually reunited Juanita de Cuevas and
Michael Valdez. They merely stood
looking at each other, making no at
tempt to say in words what they felt.
"Juanita," he said then, swiftly re-
turning to their business matters, "tell
me"
Briefly and rapidly she related her
adventure with Clark Weber, and with
the rider on the range-the man whose
name she did not know.
81 should make no more mistakes,
senor," she said, had not that Eastern
girl had a tender heart. Maybe am
dead by now. Quien sabe?"
1.-THE Eastern man who kidnapped you
is the same one we trail now?" Valdez
asked.
Isl. His name is Clark Weber. l
hear the girl say his name" Juanita's
lips frightened. 81 should like to drop
the loop of my rope around his neck
and let Pedro gallop thousand miles,"
what about that killer whose sign
was at the cross" asked Valdez. You
say you saw his sign again when you
met up with him on the range where
another farmer was killed-and the
same man tried to kill you? What does
his sign say now?"
The girl sighed "He rides strange,
senior. East. West. North. South. Like
a locoed man walks. Now he leaves
sign. Now he rides water. Puff! He is
gone like a winged ghost. Later, maybe,
l find his sign again."
Michael Valdez was thoughtful. 1.-Two
men in that barn at the WeberMaxon
farm spoke while 1 was there" he said
musingly. Zone was Weber. That man
we trail now. The other was a West
erner-his speech had the drawl of the
country. Well find out who he is
later"
But these cowmen?" asked Juanita,
after Valdez, too, had hurriedly told her
of his own activities of the night.
you've got nothing to fear if they
should find you near Them" he said.
go. Listen and watch. If they do move
on any farm, try to find me. Give the
cat cry as you ride. I'll follow this
fastener. If you don't find out any
thing, then watch for me near the
Weber Maxon farm. Adios."
Valdez laid a gentle hand on the
slender shoulder of his small ragged
companion, hesitating even after he had
hidden her farewell.
"Juanita," he said, when this night
is over you've got to go back to the
mission and stay there"
She flushed painfully. 81 know l was
clumsy to let myself get caught, senior,
but I was trying to serve you"
"Of course" Valdez said quickly.
"And you've been like an extra pair of
eyes and ears to me. But | can't let
you take these risks"
He left in full pursuit Of the hoof
beats that were now only faraway
sounds in the night.
He gave his horse free rein and with
every stride Ell Cielo clipped another
few inches from the fasteners lead.
Hes headed for Gold Creek" Val
dez muttered as he sent the blue roam
across a stream in one great splash of
spray and water, taking a short cut