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

lard from all the poor Mexicans VIII,
have been persuaded to come and settl
hero by that bad senior himself, on hi
promises of new life for them, new
chance to live in other than the poverty
they have so long known on othel
ranges nearer the border. But the
Mexicans lose their lives when they
can no longer pay his exorbitant in
terest-and then he gets the land back
To offer it to some other peon foolish
enough to believe his promises.
"But what can they do? Senior Gar
vim owns the courts, he owns what
law there is in this out-of-the-way
place. He is the law, because he has
made himself that in the five years
since he came here to take away all
that belonged to u.s."
"I've got to see this Garvin of whom
you tell me-" he said to the girl. "Where
is his outfit?
HE lives in the town of Luna Roja,"
she said.
HE has set himself up as banker
in Luna Roja, where he has a white
plastered adobe home that is much like
fortress, and it is there he has his
bank. He lives there most of the time,
and he is we'll protected, because he
has host of killers who serve him,
Tying the legs of a pair of riding
breaches together, he stuffed the gear
into them. then removed his leather
chaps and used them to make a sort
of impromptu valise, to be tied with
his reata.
With the chaps removed, he stood
there in the tight-ftting concha-
trimmed trousers of a Mexican don.
They had an odd effect with his charro
vest. But it was not that that made
Juanita stare at him, then at the gear
still at his feet. One of her slender,
Drowned fingers pointed wordlessly to
his head, and swiftly he placed hand
to his hair. In the excitement the black
wig that he wore had become displaced,
and from beneath it showed strands OF
cleaning red-gold hair.
With a twist of his lips he swept
the wig from his head and tossed back
the waving reddish name. Then, as ''e
saw that Juanita's eyes wavered to the
last of the gear on the ground at his
feet, he picked up the silver-decorated
jacket that lay there, shrugged out OF
his charro vest and replaced it with
he dark velvet jacket. From the ground
he also picked up bright scarlet sash
which he wound about his slim waist,
making sure that his wide gun belt and
holsters were in place. His last move
was to tie a matching scarlet scarf
,bout his neck. And it was that badge,
IS much as the red-gold hair above 1t,
hat had given him his name, name
hat had brought fear to the hearts OF
and gratitude from those
lie had served. Ell Caballero Rojo-the
Red Cavalier!
Still amazed, .Juanita de Cuevas stood
or a moment, utterly unable to speak,
Ter dark eyes widened. Then her lips
moved in awe as she said. barely above
whisper:
"El Caballero Rojo" She could not
e mistaken, SIZE knew, for at req
air. the scarlet sash and gaudIly dec
rated garments, and above ALL the
ed karchief around his bronzed throat
Guild belong TO only one man-the
venger of whom every Mexican ABOVE
he border had heard
"Where can you go now, Juani'a
o asked with concern. Have you
riends-"
81 will 90, senior, with you. You
ave proved you are my one, my only
migo.. Where you go will 60 l
ill be your follower, your servant TO
,ok out for your wants"
But you can't do that, Juanlta