Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-05-23
Sheriff Lande

| Get MIN, meu OnoA
thundered--and fired.
| The two deputies snapped up thei
guns and whacked lead in Mlchae
Valdez direction. Almost before 81
knew what was happening, two shot!
had entered his leg. Jaw clampet
against the pain, Valdez brought VI
his own guns again. He had to spoil
the aim of these lawmen. Had to!
His quickly fred shots did just that
and then Valdez half staggered, hall
ran to the corridor back of the bar
room, darting out of the saloon into
! the rear courtyard.
He was Keeling as he turned into the
alley back of the building, moving as
quietly and hastily as he could toward
the street where he had left his mount.
He stumbled, lurched against the clap
board wall, but recovered himself.
When he got to the street a swift
glance told him that most of the men
who had been in the saloon were head
ing for its doors.
Valdez darted across the street. His
wounded leg slowed him up, and by
now his brain was Keeling.
"There he goes!' mans voice
bawled. "After him"
Michael Valdez wits were still about
him sufficiently for him to realize his
peril, and his gun spat fame over the
heads of the Infatuated townspeople.
In answer, bullets sliced the air
around his swaying body. Then he was
on the other side of the street, in the
broad daylight, sliding down toward
the creek and moving along to where
he had left his horse.
He found Ell Cielo, but it was agony
for him to pull himself into the saddle.
Finally he made it, though, and settled
down, steadying himself by the leather
with quivering fingers.
If he could make the trail he had
a fair chance to lose his pursuers, who
even now were taking to their mounts
Otherwise A hot stab of pain in
his leg made him vince.
Ell Cielo was pounding on, though, |
as if aware it all was up to him now,
and then Valdez heard the stones of |
the trail rattle under his horses hoofs. |
He urged his mount on, putting as
much distance as possible between him
self and the town, as speedily as he
could.
He did not know how far he had
ridden at full gallop when a black
cloud shut down over his senses. One
land frightened on the reins, while the
'ther gripped the pommel of his sad
lie. The long shadows of approaching
lusk heralded the end of bad day
or Michael Valdez. But there was
till room in his heart for exultation.
That same day had seen the finish of
me more of the men against whom he
lad taken the vengeance TRAIL.
Only one more now-the big boss +
But even his dulled brain told him
hat now there was more for him to
10. For on his way to find the man
lie meant to get, there was a problem
f wrong to others to be settled in
his valley. And Ell Caballero Rojo
vas not a man to shirk such a duty
ven for personal qualification. Yet
ONE instinct insistently said to him
hat the two trails of evil crossed, and
hat in running to earth the man re-
ponsible for the tragedy here, he
7ould find the man who had caused
is own.
He forced himself to rest for time
hen he reached the safety of the hide
ut. He bound up his leg, finding to
is satisfaction that the wound was
lore painful than serious. For in
oite of his injury he soon found
:rength flowing back into his healthy
ody. And once more he was ready
n what might come.