Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-03-07

| Valdez lifted his reins as he droppe
the handkerchief-covered gun of til
outlaw guard into his pocket, and til
blue roam spurted ahead.
"Madre de Dios!" gritted Ell Caba
Iero Rojo. Strangers must certainl
get a cordial greeting in this town I"
He swung into the.street and. note
that at the edge of the town were tn
inevitable 'dobe shacks that trimme
the outskirts of all such small Wester
towns. Most of the houses were darl
for the poems must be up and at wor
by daybreak, and usually sought thei
beds early.
Cautiously Ell Caballero slowed dow
before the white-plastered walls of tn
Garvin place. Dismounting in tn
blacklist shadows some distance fror
| the sprawling, .pretentious dwelling il
the center of its patio, he trailed E
Cielo's reins and stole toward the gat
facing the street.
Garvin's house and patio were com
pletely enclosed by high walls, to which
only the big gate facing the street, ant
smaller one in the rear, gave entry
And the four blockhouses which Juan
ita had described gave the whole plac,
the effect of fortified castle.
From one corner blockhouse came
sounds of raucous singing and the
twanging of guitar, punctuated by
hoarse laughter. No one was in sight
1t looked like good chance to sliI
in through the gate, for Ell Cabalero
Rojo could make out in the dim light
that it had not been locked, but stood
ajar few inches. But even as his
eerie, glittering figure reached it, a
man leaped out to block it.
Like silver-decorated wrath, the
masked man dived at the guard. In
stantly his stronger fingers found the
fellows throat and cut off his warning
shout. Once more the red-headed aveng-
er's pistol barrel cracked on bone, and
once more a man sank to the ground
and lay quiet.
With noiseless footsteps Ell Cabal-
lero slid into the patio.
Across the courtyard was Garvin's
two and half story house. A swift
glance told Michael Valdez that the
one-story addition at one end of the
house was Garvin's office, OF bank"
as the land hog preferred to call it.
And light tanning out from the one
window facing the courtyard announced
Raymond Garvin's presence there.
The time had come.
Michael Valdez faded into the first
open doorway in sight with no more
stir than would have been made by
breath of night. He found himself in
a long corridor, and at its end saw a
light shining through a transom from
the Office door that opened into the
corridor.
His lips frightened grimly. Behind
that door was one of the men he had
hunted so relentlessly for five years.
He threw open the door and stepped
into the Office, both hands dropping to
the silver-decorated holsters of his
heavy six-guns. He closed the door
behind him and leaned carelessly
against the wall beside it as slowly,
he removed the scarlet
handkerchief, revealing his face
The man before him did not exactly
face him, for Raymond Garvin had his
back to the door through which Ell Ca
oallero Rojo had quietly entered.
Never would he forget that cada-
verous face, the lips that were pale
brown lines over discolored vuIpine
teeth, the man the youth of eighteen
lad instantly pictured when he had
heard his father whisper his name.
5arvin's hair was now sparse and gray,
or the years of continued brutality
lad not dealt lightly with this ruthless
nan.
But one thing had not changed-his
owe of gold. Even believing himself |
lone, his movements were quick and
urtive as he fingered a gold piece from
stack in front of him.
With abruptness he seemed to sense
hat he was not alone. He spun half
round in his chair to glare at the red
eaded man who stood against the
vail. Garvins piercing green eyes
Glow the overhanging brows were shot
With sudden accusing anger.
"What do you want here?" he
arked. who are you anyway-and
ow did you get in?"
Ell Cabalero Rojo laughed. 1t was
wv. harsh laughter that ceased on an
minous note.
1--WE come to settle the affairs of the
e Cuevas place up the valley" he said
ghtly. "Maybe one or two other
lings while I'm about it."