Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, November 21, 1922, Page 2

»fContinaed from last lssue) ‘ geen to'halt and ‘pass something to | Belding. Then he galloped away to i WA A e o ngves ' THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER muuv-ax.a nAml AND ~ “Senor Dick,” replled the Indlan. Gale jumped up, stifiing an excla- mation, and he went outdoors with Yaqul. The Indian’s presence was al- ‘ways one of gloom, and now his stern action boded catastrophe. Once clear of trees he pointed to the level desert across the river, where a row of camp- fires shone bright out of the dark- ness. “Raiders!” ejaculated Gale. .Then he cautioned Yaqui to keep sharp_lookout, and. hurriedly return- ing to the house, he called the men out and told them there were rebels or ralders camping just across the line. Jiada did not say a word. Belding, with an oath, slammed down his clgar. “T knew It was too good to last. .. Dick, you and Jam stay here while Laddy and I look around.” Dick returned to the sitting-room, The women were nervous and not to be deceived. So Dick merely said Yaqui had sighted lights off in the desert, and they probably were campfires. Belding did not soon re- tum,. and when he did he was alone, and, saying he wanted to consult with _the.men, he sent Mrs. Belding and the gIris to thelr rooms. “Laddy’s gone over to scout around and try to find out who the outfit be- lonigs to and how many are in it,” sald Belding. “I don’t look for an attack on Forlorn River. I'm afrald it's—" Belding hesitated and looked with grim concern at the cavalryman. “What?" querjed Thorne. “Pm afrald it*s Rojas.” “Thorne turned pale but did not lose his nerve. . “I thought of that at once. But Rojas’ will never get his hands on my wife. - If I can’t kill him, I'll kill her! « . . Belding, this Is tough on you— this risk we put upon your family. 1 regret—" “Cut that kind of talk,” replied Bel- ding, bluntly. “Well, if it is Rojas he's- acting' d—n queer for a raider. That's what worrles me. We can’t do anything but walt. With Laddy and Yaqu!i- out there we won't be sur- prised.” The women of the house might have gotten some sleep that night, but it was certain the men did not get any. Morning broke cold and gray, the 19th of February. Ladd came In hungry and 'cold, and said the Mexicans were not breaking camp. He reported a good-sized force of rebels, and was taciturn as to his idea of forthcoming events. About an hour after sunrise Yaqul | ran in-with-the information that part of the rebels were crossing the river. “That can't mean a fight yet,” de- clared Belding. “But get in the house, boys, and make ready anyway. I'll, meet him.” “Belding, you're an officer of the United States. Mexicans are much impressed by show of authority. I've seen that often in camp,” sald Thorne. “Oh, I know the white-livered Greasers better than any of you, don't mistake me,” replied Belding. He was pale with rage, but kept command over himself. The rangers, with Yaqul and Thorne, stationed themselves at the several windows of the sitting room. Riffes and smaller arms and boxes of shélls littered the tables and window seats. No small force of besiegers could overcome a reslstance such as Belding and his men were capable of making. The horsemen halted at the corrals. They were orderly and showed no evi- dence of hostllity. They were, how- ever, fully armed. Belding stalked out to Mmeet them. Apparently a leader wanted to parley with him, but Bel- ding’ould hear nothing. He shook his, heat,’waved his arms, stamped to and “fro, and his loud, angry voice could be heard clear back at the house. ‘Whereupon the detachment of rebels retired to the bank of the river, be yond the white post that marked the boundary llne, and there they once more drew rein. Belding remained by the- corrals watching them, evidently still in threatening mood. Presently a single rider left the troop and trot- ted his horse back down the road. When he reached the corral he was Join :his comrades. Beldlng looked at whatever it was He held In his hand, shook his burly head, and started swiftly for the house.. He came striding Into the room .holding a piece of soiled paper. “Can’t read it now and don’t know as I want to,” he said, savagely. Not one of the men was able to translate the garbled scrawl. “Shore Mercedes can read it,"” sald Ladd. Thorne opened a' door:and called hek. -She came into the room followed by Nell and Mrs. Belding, DESERT GOLD p ZANE GREY A SAathoe of Riders of the Pusple Sage. WildFire, Etc, ROTHERS. \7 :‘flfl,f‘ ”sf'l ‘1(‘ f I When He Reached the Corrals He Was Seen to Halt and Pass Something to Belding. T“My dear, we want you to read what’s written on this paper,” said Thorne, as he led her to the table, Mercedes gave the writing one swift glance, then fainted in' Thorne's arms. He carried her to a couch, and with Nell and Mrs. Belding began to work over her. Belding looked at his rangers. “Laddy, it's Rojas all right. How many men has he out there?” “Mebbe twenty. Not more.” “We can lick twice that many Greasers.” = “Shore.” Jim Lash removed his plpe long enough to speak. “Let's stave the Greaser off till dark. Then Laddy an’ me an' Thorne will take Mercedes an' hit the trail for Yuma.” “Camino del Diablo! That awful trail with a woman! Jim, do you for- get how many hundreds of men have perished on the Devil's road?” “I reckon I ain’t forgettin’ nothin’,” repiled Jim. “The waterholes are full now. There's grass, an’ we can do the Job In six days.” “It's three hundred miles to Yuma.” “Beldin’, Jim’s idea hits me as pretty reasonable,” ‘interposed Ladd. “Lord knows that's about the only chance we've got except fightin’.” “But suppose we do stave Rojas off, and you get safely away with Mer- cedes. Isn't Rojas going to find it out quick? Then what'll he try to do to us who're left here?" “I reckon he'd find out by daylight,” replied Jim. “But, Tom, he ain’t a-goin’ to start a scrap then. You see, I'm figgerin’ on the crazy Greaser wantin’ the girl. But he's too smart to fight you for nothin’. Rojas may be nutty about women, but he's afraid of the U. S. Take my word for it, he’d discover the trall in the mornin® an’ light out on it. I reckon with ten hours’ start we cowdd travel comfort- able.” Belding paced up and down the room. Jim and Ladd whispered to- gether. Gale walked to the window and looked out at the distant group of bandits, and then turned his gaze to rest'upon Mercedes. She was con- sclous now, and her eyes seemed all the larger and blacker for the white- ness of her face. No one but Gale saw the Yaqui in the background look- ing down upon the Spanish girl. All of Yaqui's looks were strange; but this was singlarly so. Gale won- dered if the Indian were affected by her loveliness, her helplessness, or her terror. Presently Belding called his rang- ers to him, and then Thorne. “Listen to this,” he sald, earnestl; “T'll go out and have a ta'k with Jas. Tl try to reason with_him; him to think a long time before sheds blood on Uncle Sam's soil. he's now after an American's w I'll not commit myself, nor will I fuse outright to consider his demands, nor will T show- thie least fear of hifn. Il play for time. If my bluff goks through . . . well and:good. . , . After dark the four of you, Laddy, Jim, Dick and Thorne, will take Mercedes and my best white horses, and, with Yaqui as guide, circle round through Altar valley to the trail, and head for Yuma. I want you to take the Indian, because In a case of this kindk he'll be a godsend. If you get headed or lost or have to circle off the tralil, think what it'd mean to have a Yaqul with you. He knows Sonora as no Greaser knows it. He could hide you, find water and grass, when you would absolutely belleve it impossible. The 3 Indian is loyal. He Thas his debt to pay, and he'll pay it, don’t mistake me. ‘When you're gone I'll hide Nell so Rojas won’t see her if he searches the place. Then I think I could sit down and wait without any particular worry.” b The rangers approved of Belding's plan, and Thorne went to the side of | his wife. “Mercedes, we've planned to.outwit Rojas. WIill you tell us what he wrote?”? “Rojas swore—by his saints and his Virgin—that I I wasn’t given—to him —In twenty-four hours—he would set fire to the village—kill the men—car- ry oft the women—hgng:the children on cactus thorns!” ? A, moment’s silence followed her Iast halt{ng whisper. Then the Yaqui uttered a singular | cty. 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