Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 8, 1922, Page 8

BN Jf,;, ™ (Continued from ‘lass {ssue) —_—— “@yell, Mr. Gale, sure most young bucks from the East go to the bad out here”” he said bluntly. “They blow: their money, then go to punch- Ing cows, take to whisky.” Mr. Gale lifted haggard eyes. “Then it's bumming around, regular tramps, and to the bad generally.” Belding spread wide his big arms, and when one of them dropped round Nell, who sat-beside him, she squeezed his hand tight. “Sure, it’s the regular thing,” he concluded, cheerfully. He rather felt a little glee at Mr. I Gale’s distress, and Mrs. Gale's + crushed I-told-you-so woe in no wise bothered him; but the look in the big, . dark eyes of Dick’s sister was too much for Belding. ... He choked off his characteristic oath when excited and blurted out, “Say, but Dick-Gale never went to the bad! . . . Listen!” Belding had scarcely started Dick Gale’s story when he perceived that never in his life had he such an ab- sorbed and breathless audience. - Pres- ently they were awed, and at the cor- clusion of that story they sat white- faced. “still, amazed beyond speech. Belding Eept back nothing but the present doubt of Dick's safety. Mr. Gale rose unsteadily from his chair. His frailty was now painfully manifest. 6 “Mr. Belding, do you mean my son— Richard Gale—has done all that you told us?” he asked, incredulously. “I sure do,” replied Belding, with hearty good will. “Martha, do you hear?” Mr. Gale turned to question his wife. She could not answer. Her face had not yet regained its natural color. “He faced that bandit and his gang alone—he “ fought them?” demanded Mr. Gale, his volce stronger. ' Belding nodded with a grin, “He's a ranger now—riding, fight- ing, ‘sleeping on the sand, preparing his own food? Mr. Belding, you say Richard works for you. May I ask, at what salary?” “He gets forty dollars, board and outfit,” replied Belding, proudly. ' — =t * “Forty dollars?” echoed the father. “By the. day or week?” | “The month, of course,” said Beld- Ing, somewhat taken aback. “Forty dollars a month for a young man who spent five hundred in_the same time when he was at college, and who ran it into thousands when he got out!” Mr. Gale laughed for the first time, and it was the laugh of a man who wanted to belleve what he heard yet scarcely dared to do’it. g “What does he do with so much smoney—money earned by peril, toil, * sweat; -and- bloed? - Forty dollars a month!” “He saves it,” replled Belding. Evidently this was too much for his wife in sheer speechless astonish- ment. _ Dick’s sister clapped her hands like a little child. Belding saw that the moment was propitious, “Sure he saves it. Dick's engaged to marry Nell here. My stepdaughter, | Nell Burton.” “Oh-+h, Dad!” faltered Nell; and she | rose, white as her dress. ! How strange It was to see Djck's| mother and sister rise, also, and turn | to Nell with dark, proud, xegrc}\_l}]gi BY THE DESERT GOLD Dick Gale’s father, and he gazed at |’ | Mercedes, was: bending over her. KOG K R HOHCK S KA KK} SAME PRICE . for more than 30 yea.rs BAKING POWDER 25 Ounces b 25 YOU SAVE when you use KC-you use less than of higher priced brands. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money Soge. ‘WitdFfire. Etec, eyes. Belding vaguely realized Some blunder he had made. Nell's white appealing face gave him a pang. ‘What had he done? Surely this fam- ily of Dick’s ought to know his rela- tion to Nell. There was a silence that positively made Belding nervous. Then Elsie Gale stepped close to Nell. “Miss Burton, are you really Rich- ard’s betrothed?” Nell's tremulous lips framed an af- firmative, but never uttered it. She held out her hand, showing the ring Dick had given her. Miss Gale's recognition was instant, and her re- sponse was warm, sweet, gracious.: “I think I am gang to be very, very glad,” she said, and kissed Nell. “Miss Burton, we afe learning won- derful things about Richard,” added Mr. Gale. In an earnest though shaken voice. “If you have had to do with making a man of him—and now I begin to see, to believe so—may God bless you! . . . My dear girl, I have not really looked at you. Richard's flancee! . . . Mother, we have not found him yet, but I think we’ve found his secret. We belleved him a lest son. But here is his sweetheart!” It was only then that the pride and hauteur of Mrs. Gale's face broke into an expression of mingled pain and Joy. She opened her arms. Nell. ut- tering a strange little stified cry, flew into them. CHAPTER XV Bound in the Desert. Far away from Forlorn River Dick Gale sat stunned, gazing down into the purple depths where Rojas had plunged to his death. The Yaqui stood motionless upon the steep red wall of lava from which he had cut the ban- dit's hold. Mercedes lay quietly where she had fallen, From across the depths there came to Gale’s ear’ the Indian’s strange, wild cry. Action on the part of the Yaqui loosened the spell which held Gale as motionless as his surroundings. The Indian was edging back toward the ledge. He did not move with his for. mer lithe and sure freedom. He erawled, slipped, dragged himself, rest- ed often, and went on again. He had been wounded. When at last he reached the ledge where Mercedes lay Gale jumped to his feet, strong and thrilling, spurred to meet the respon- sibility that now rested upon him. Swiftly he turned to where Thorne lay. The cavalryman was just return- ing to consciousness. Thorne’s eyes was hard to bear. 5 “Thorne! Thorne! it's all right, it's all right!” cried Gale, in piercing tones. “Mercedes is safe! Yaqui saved her! Rojas is done for! Yaqui Jumped down the wall and drove the bandit off the ledge. Cut him loose from the wall, foot by foot, hand by hand! We've won the fight, Thorne.” For. Thorne these were marvelous strength-giving words The dark hor- ror left his eyes, and they began to dilate, to shine. He stood up, dizzily but unaided, and he gazed across the crater. Yaqul had reached the side of She stirred. Yaqui lifted her to her feet. She appeared wenk, unable to stand alone. But she faced across the crater “HIGHEST QUALITY” MILLIONS OF POUNDS GOVERNMENT The look ln‘ “Thorne! Thorne! It's All It’s All Right!” Cried Gale, in Pierc- ing Tones. “Mercedes Is Safel” and waved her hand. She was un- harmed. The Yaqui waved, too, and Gale saw in the action an urgent signal. = Hastily taking up canteen and rifles, Gale put a supporting arm around Thorne. “Come, old man. Can you walk? Sure you can walk! Lean on me, and we'll soon get out of this. Don’t look across. Look where you step. We've not much time before dark. Oh, Thorne, I'm afraid Jim has cashed in! And the last I saw of Laddy he was badly hurt.” Gale was keyed up to a high pitch of excitement and alertness.. He seerged to be able to do many things. But once off the ragged notched lava into the trail he had not such difficulty with Thorne, and could keep his keen gaze ' shifting everywhere for , sight of enemies. “Listen, Thorne! What's that?” asked Gale, halting as they came to a place where the trail led down througl rough breaks In the lava. The silence was broken by a strange sound, al- | most unbelievable considering the { time and place. A voice was droning: | “Turn the lady, turn! Turn the lady. | turn! Alamon left. All swing; turn | the lady, turn!” “Hello, Jim,” called Gale, dragging ! Thorne round the corner of lava. “Where are you? Oh, you son of a gun! I thought you were dead. Oh. I'm glad to see you! Jim, are you hurt?” Jim Lash stood in the trail leaning over-the butt of ‘his rifle, which evi- dently he was utilizinz as a, crutch. | He wds pale but.smiling. His. hands ! were bloody: A scarf had been bound tightly round his left leg just above the knee. The leg hung limp, and the foot dragged. “I reckon I ain’t injured much,” re- pled Jim. “But my leg hurts like h—], if you want to know.” “Laddy! Oh, where's Laddy?” “He's just across the crack there I was trying to get to him. We had it hot an’ heavy down here. Laddy 'was pretty bad shot up before he tried Right, 1 ~~to -head Rojas -off the -trail. . . . Dick, did you see the Yaqui go after Rojas?" “Did 17" exclaimed Gale, grimly. “The finish was all that saved me from runnin’ loco. I reckon our chances - are against findin’ Laddy alive. . 1 tell you, boys, Rojas was h—lbent. An’ Mercedes was game. I saw her shoot him. But mebbe hullets couldn’t stop him then. If I didn’t sweat blood when Mercedes was fightin’ him on the cliff! Then the finish! Only a Yaqui could have done that. . . . Thorhe, how abou! you? Dick, 1s he bad hurt?” “No, he's not. A bard knock on the skull and a scalp wound,” replied Dick. “Here, Jim let me help you over this place.” Step by step Gale got the two in- Jured men down the uneven declivity and then across the narrow lava bridge over the fissure. Here he bade them rest while he went_along the trail on that side to search for Laddy. Gale found the ranger stretched out, face downward, a reddened hand clutching a gun. Gale thought he was dead. Upon, examination, however,. it was found'that Ladd still lived, though he had many wounds. Gale lifted him and carried him back to the others. “He's alive, but that's all,” sald | Bjck; as he laid the ranger down. “Do | what you can. Stop the blood. Lad- dy's tough as cactus, you know.- I'll | hurry back for Mercedes and Yaqul' Gale, like a fleet, sure-footed. moun- taln sheep, ran along-the trail. He came upon Mercedes and the Yaqui. | She:ran right into Dick’s arms, and ther( her strength, if mot her courage, broke, and she grew lax. “Mertedes, you're safel {*gafe.” It’s all'right now.” “Rojas!” she whispered. “Gone! To the bottom of the crater! A Yaqul's vengeance,- Mer- cedes.” i He heard the girl whisper the name of the Virgin. Then he gathered her up in his arms. “Come, Yaqul.” The Indian grunted. He had one hand pressed close over a bloody place in his shoulder. Gale looked keenly at him. Yaqul was inscrutable, as of old, yet Gale somehow knetw that ‘wound meant little to him. The In- dian followed him. J Gale carried Merrcdes up to the rim angd along t7 tle others. Jim Lash worked awkwardly over Ladd. Thorne was trring to assist. Ladd, himself, \\-_n_sflgo,n_s_c_long, but he was 'a pallid, Thorne's death-stricken ~miav. g between Mercedes and s calm—strdngely so, it 10 ‘Gale. But e was now calm - himself, Ladd smiled at him, and evidently would have spoken had he the powers” Yaqui then joined the group, ang fl?.,_y!erclnq eyes roved from oné to the other, lingering long- est over Ladd.... ’ “Dick, I'm_figger'n’ hard,” said Jim, faintly. - “In”a”'minute il be up to you'an” Mercedés. T've dbout shot my bolt. . .~ Reckon you'll do—best by bringin’ up blankets—water—salt— firewood. “Laddy’s got—one chance— in a hundred. Fix him up—first. 'Use hot salt’ water. If my leg’s broken— set /it 'best you can. That hole in Yaqul=only'll bother him a day. Thorne’s bad hurt. . . . Now rustle —Dick, old—hoy.” i ~Lash’s voice'.dled away in a husky whisper, and he quietly lay back, stretching out all but the crippled leg. Gale examined it, assured himself the bones had not been broken, and then rose ready to go down the trail. “Mercedes, hold Thorne's head up, jn your lap—so. Now T'll go.” On the moment Yaqui appeared to| . have . completed the binding of his wounded shoulder, and he started to follow Gale. The descent to the ar rovo was swift and easy. Gale hast? put togetner tne things he neeaea; |- and, packing them all in a tarpaulin, he turned to retrace his steps up the trail. Darkness was setting in. The trail was narrow, exceedingly steep, and in |- ‘some places fronted -on precipices. Gale's burden was not very heavy, but its bulk made it unwieldy, and it was always overbalancing him or knocking against the wall side of the trail. At last they reached a level. and were soon on the spot with Mercedes and the injured:men. Gale then set to work. Yaqui's part was todkeep the fire blazing and the water hot, Mercedes' to help Gale in what way she could. Gale found Ladd had many wounds, yet not one of them wasy directly vin a'yital place. Evi- dently, the ranger had almost bled to death. He remained. unconscious through-Gale's operations. Jim Lash came out of his stupor. A mushrooming bullet had torn a great hole in“his leg. Gale, upon examina- tion, could not he:sure: the bones had been -missed, butithere was no bad break. - The:-application of hot salt water.made-Jim groan. .When he had been bandaged and laid beside Ladd, Gale went on:to the cavalryman. A furrow had been-plowed -through his scalp down to:the bone. When it had been. dresséd, - Mercedes - collapsed. Gale laid her:with the.three in a row and covered them: with blankets and | the tarpaulin. Then Yaqui submitted to examina- tion. A -bullet had gone through -the Indian’s shoulder. To-Gale it appeared serious.. Yaqui said it was a flea bite. But he allowed Gale to bandage- it, and .obeyed -when he, was told to lie quiet-in his: blanket beside the fire. Gale stood guard. The hour had come for him to face his great prob- lem, -It. was natural that he hung back a little at first; natural that when he went ‘forward .to:look at the quiet sleepers ‘he did so with a grim and stern force urging him. Yaqui stirred. roused, yawned; got up; and, though he did not smile at Gale, a light shone swiftly across his-dark face. His shoulder drooped and appeared stiff; otherwise he was himself. Mer- cedes lay in deep slumber. Thorne had a high fever, and was beginning to show signs of restlessmess. Ladd seemed just barely alive. Jim Lash slept as if he- was. not much - the worse for his wound. Gale awoke Mercedes. sat up. . “Mercedes—come. Are you all right? Laddy is alive. Thorne's not—not so bad. But we've got a job on our hands. You must help me.” She bent over Thorne and laid her hands on his hot face. Then she rose —a woman such as he had- imagined she might be in an hour of trial. Gale took up Ladd as catefully and Swiftly she ture-proof container—it keeps its crispy “hot roasted” freshness. G Tpe g THERE’S a spirit of hospitality in this . pleasing blend of selected mountain + plantation coffees—the richest and most pleas- ing kind obtainable. So blended :and roasted that it makes a satisfying, fullflavored brew— whetlier jou use hard (alkaline) or soft water. Your coffee taste will tell you. Ar-cleaned—clean-cut—miakes crystal-clear coffee, without a tinge of bitterness. = You'll love the deli- - Sold by Your Grocer o ¢ In one and three pound containers. “Mercedes, bring what you ean carry and follow me,” he said. Then, motioning for Yaqui to remain there, he turned down the slope with Ladd in_his arms. Neither pausing nor making a mls- step nor conscious of great effort, Gale carried the wounded man down into' the arroyo. . Mercedes kept at his: heels, light, supple, lithe as a panther. “He left her with Ladd and went back,- When he had started off with Thorne In his arms he felt the Gale Carried the Wounded Man Down Into_the Arroyo. tax on his strength. Surely . and swiftly, however, he bore the cavalry- man down the trail to lay him beside Ladd. Again ‘he started back, and when 'he ‘began to mount the steep lava steps he was hot, wet, breathing hard. As he reached the scene of | .. that night’s camp a voice greeted him, Jim Lash was sitting up. “Hello, Dick. I woke some late this ~ mornin’. Where's, Laddy? Where's Thorne an’ Mercedes? Look-} here, man! I reckon yoir-ain’t packin’ this~ crippled outfit down ‘that awful trail?” “Had to,Jim—an hour’s sun—would kill—both Eaddy and Thorne. <Come on, now.” For once Jim Lash’s cool good na- ture’ and, careless indifference gave | precedence:to amaze and scorn. i “Always knew you was a husky chap. But, Dick, you’re no hoss! Get me a crutch an’ give me a lift on oré side.” “Come on,” replied Gale. time to-monkey.” He liftéd the ranger, called to Yaqui to follow with some of the camp out- fit, and’ once more. essayed the steep lescent.. . Jim Lash was the- heaviest on of the three. and Gale’s strength Was put 10 €normous Strain to carry. him on that’ broken trail. Nevekthe- less, he went down, down, waling swiftly and surely over the “bad: places; add at’last he staggered into the arroyo with bursting' heart and red-blinded eyes. When. he had re- covered he made a final trip up the slope for the camn effects which Y.- quithad been un: = to carry. In the labor of watching and nurs- ing it seemed to Galé that two days and two nights slipped by like a few hours. Then Gale succumbed to wea- riness. After his much-needed rest he relieved’ Mercedes of ‘the care and ! watch over Thorne which, up to that time, she had, absolutely refused to | relinquish. The - cavalryman required: constant _attention. ~ His condition | slowly grew worse, and there came a day which Gale thought surely was the "end: . But that -day passed, und‘ the night, and the next day, and | Thorne lived on, ghastly, stricken, | raving. Suddenly, .and _to Gale's “I've no DELICIOUS 2 % ek ° i amaze and Thanksgiving, there Tame an abatement of Thorne’s fever. With it. some heat and redness of the in- flamed ' ‘wound disappeared. Next ' morning he was conscious, and” Gale grasped some of the hope that Mer- cedes had never abandoned. . He forced.her to rest while he attended to Thorne. That day he saw that the crisis was past. Recovery for Thorne was now possible, and would perhaps depend entirely upon the care he re- celyed. CASON 18 ON JO1 m— FURS PRAP AND SHIF 1 (Continuea in Next lssue) Positively—the most joyously good any-time-cereal any man or'woman or child ever put in their mouths! Such flavor, such crispness! “Such big siinny-brown Corn Flakes! 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