The evening world. Newspaper, April 24, 1914, Page 27

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHALTPRS, Nan Galbraith grow grote dinsasiatied with her peace, tL is Naor plac Gear ean ke Gael netic aa # “fy Py bemter in Hy the och,” “Phere abe ts, resctal {rnin Bt Wy the arrival "fa hall-btvet woesan van to feat " " hee to the Blake) who iba AP he, tat atte hee, 8 gang of Meatcone Grresion a4 haa come West to Took afier Nan} the disturbance, He notices, with jee, Tes Beependously tetera in Lew loves ber, CHAPTER Xi. “A Rustler Is Cornered. C OU are not nearly so su- percilious and superior es I wae afraid you would be,” Nan told Bob when, one after- Beon, be rode to the bars to tell her that he was off for the Longhorn esque to join Ben Evans and ride ‘the range with him in that vicinity. “Good!” Bob exclaimed in mock de- Nght. “I’m more than repaid for any ‘etight—er—well—inconventences I may @uffer under the hospitable roof of my friend Riley. Perhaps you don't know that Riley and I ‘alm’ to wash temorrow if we can find out who berrowed bis wash-board.” Nan laughed immoderately. She suspected that in private Bob made ‘wry faces over the salt pork and sour- dough bread which was Riley's dally fare, but in public Bob spoke of Riley's domestic accomplishments with am enthusiasm so nearly genuine that ‘t deceived all save Nan. But she liked him for it. The good )mature with which he adapted himaelf 4» the people and surroundings 80 piterly foreign to his own was a@ con- tant surprise to her. She was still laughing as Bob rode away, but there “Was approval in her dancing eyes. He ‘sighed and his face set in lines of grimness as he lifted his horse to a Balinp. He was her comrade, a good el that was all. ‘The suggestion that he should ride the range that afternoon with Ben Evans was his own. Ben merely had acquiesced with as much cordiality as be vo ld summ Unaccustomed as he was to conceal- fig his moods and his feelings, the best he could give Bob was a grudging He realized with sullen and ( resentment that thie agree- je stranger, always so courteous and at his ease, was cast in a different mold {rom himself. He used words which Ben had never heard; he was el pet with ubjects that were vague aa dreams fn he cowbo: ind, and they, Nan and this stranger, had much tn com- mon while he was an outsider. ‘He was irritable from a smoldering jealovay when he saw them together, but never for a moment eelf-dispar- Unlike Bob, he never thought gebortcominga with Uaey be- he did not see that he had any. nob wider knowledge, made Ben ulant, but never envious or re- pretful ‘that he lacked it. He re- garded it as superfiuous and unim- portant save for the single reason that thereby he claimed a larger share of Nan's conversation. And Bob bore Ben’ with patience for because he wishe what man Jan might bave given what was to Beg the moat precious thing in the her love, "iWon you ‘light and rest yoah hat?” inquired Mrs. Blakely aftably ‘as Bob rode up to the stockade whe! he and Ben had arranged to meet. "Cl; run open the gate for the run open the gate for the eeune ” n rose from the log at the wood- where he had been sitting wi wh and untied his horse. il keep an eye skinned for your Edie, but I reckon it's not ‘They're a long way from in goon, won't you, Ben?” Hor voice was plaintive with “its note of entreaty. “when I can. “She doesn't look very happy,’ commented as they rode away. “They're losin’ lots of stock dded: ‘Edie's a good girl. ‘When they were out of hearing Mra. Biakely, with a display of energy 80 + rare as to startle, took Miss Clytie , Blakely by each 5! d shook her with a vigor which threatened to locate her neck. ‘Why ‘Hdn't you do as I tole you Bob Ben for! Ain't the ate d the bumps on youh haid, yoah pa'm gaid you was goin’ to have a chanst to ketch a rich Zusband? And now you let him slip Brough yoah fingers And you goin’ on aixteen and ready to come out! “Lemme be!" howled t “He never looked at mi “Never took his eyes off'n you.” Which assertion was quite true, as, through 4 gap In the stockade Bob had watched, with fascinated eyes, the endeavors of the » of the Blakely family to expectorate through the space between her front Wha’ debutante. = mother,” said aven't 1 told et her alone, Edith impatiently, he's in love with ra, Blakely reach or her gum under the lamp shelf and chewed in an abandonment of despair, he whole worl’ in love with he asked sarcastically, st see nothin’ to her my- i ratth made no answer, and she ' demanded; oertave you used that charm? Did him yet?" e “You'll get him in Mos. Blakely’a sanguin ‘and she now shook a prophe: “He'll be back here inside of t @ays when that charm gets workin’ .-"L hope you're right, mothe: Waith replied wistfully. Bovera!l miles ttom the Longhorn bosque Ben drew rein and looked {long and intently at a horseman in ‘pureult of @ cow and calf. “That ain't Blakely,” he said fin- M P THE FULL Th ally, “Like as not It's one of them dog-gone cattle thieves, and he's gut i ®-gOne nerve to work as bold as id Ben, as he kept his eyes on tl re where they had disappeared, mechanically drew his rifle from its leather sheath, where It swung ben hin leg. The cow reappeared, threw up her = and disappeared again into the “She's bellowin’ for her calf; he’ roped it. Come on. urged his horse to a gallop. “If he's seen us it's not Hkely we can get up to him for he'll throw down on us and I don't alm to get punctured for a thirty-dollar cow. But we can get close enough to find out who's doin’ this rustiin’.” He added: ‘There’ something uncommon familiar tl ba are feller sete in his saddie. b and Ben galloped in silence through the heavy eand, slowing up as they neared the arroyo, Ben chuckled: “I don't believe that hombre saw us; he was too busy gettin’ the rope on the calf to look = he added, “there's a chance that he's brandin’ hia own stock.” Their horses feet made no sound in the sand, and they rode to the edge before they checked them, where they stood looking down at nsas Ed industriously fanning a email col- lection of sticks into flame while he kept an eye on the cow, who hi ly, then called: Instinctively Kansas Ed’ sought his hip. Then hia firet etar- tled look changed to a grin, which be half embarrassment, half bra- vado. ‘Uh, hello! Kinda got the drop on me, Ben.” Ben replied dryly: “Kin Just turn that calf loose, Kansas.” The rustler made no motion to obey. Ben urged his horse forward. It hunched its feet, bent its hind legs and sild down the side of the arroyo “Have you quit taking orders?” Kansas Ed answered stubborniy: “I've got my orde! “You never got any orders from me to brand other people's stock. I'm your blankets, get your time and vamose. Sabe?" the ‘boy “I sabe, all righ’ Il settle that when we get back to the ranch, but I can make you cut that calf loose or ride all night with @ couple of turns of rope around your waist.” Kansas Ed saw that Ben was right in that particular and_ sullenly obeyed. The sidelong look he cast at Ben es be rode a was full of malice, and Ben felt ay that his boast was true, that he could not fire t! rustling boy, though stealing dally from Ben's friends, CHAPTER XII. Mrs. Gallagher's Secret. (NCE the episode at the L. X. ranch, which was still a nightmare to Nan, she had seon nothing of Spiser, though she had heard much. New tales of his arrogance, of his brutality to horses, his political meth- ods, and his dishonest transactions were coming constantly to her ears. She bad grown to think of him in much the same way in which the Uttle Blakelys regarded him—as an ogre who “ate ‘em alive,” and with each fresh story of his lack of honor e ber gratitude toward Mrs. Gallagher and Fritz Poth increased. Of all the people who mentioned his name, it seemed to Nun that Mrs. Gallagher was the only one who had no secret fear of him. Even Ben seemed to shrink unaccountably from incurring his displeasure. With a man of Spiser’s tempera- ment and prodigious vanity, she wondered cometimes that he had let her escape so easily—that he had not made her pay for the mortifica- tion of being thwarted—that with all his resources for wreaking ven- weance upon those who offended him he had not made her feel, in some small way at least, the weight of his wrath, Or was he merely biding his time? For the first time in days she was thinking of him as she t in the to return from his ride with Ben, She had a new feeling of security in the knowledge that Bob was there, She would not admit it to herself, but Ben did not inspire in her any senne of safety. She had not forgotten, though she wished to, their first meeting when he had refused his direct aid because of Spiser. . Gallagher had gone to the ranch of Ixnacto Bojarques, who did not permit his personal animoaities to interfere with business and, though he persistently refused to see Nan in the street, he was “mos’ happy” to well her eggs. It was coincidence, perhaps, that Nan should have Spiser so strongly in her mind and, hearing # footstep, glanced around the corner to see him coming toward her with his rolling walk, looking almost like a gentleman in white duck clothes and a Panama hat. “How @'do?" he said, with a curt affability, and aat down on the bench beside her. His assurance angered Nan im- measurably. Senor Spiser craned bis neck and inquired humorously: “The old catamount is away?" Nan looked at him in cold silence, “Haven't you anything to say to me after a sixty-mile drive and half killin’ my horses to get here?" He looked at her with desire in hia eyes, Nan arone, ‘Haven't I made it quite clear to you that [I have nothing to say to you now or at any time?” “Look here"—he_ ignored the re- buff and reached for her hand in- stead. Vhat did you jump the traces for? You're an obstinate little devil, but, by George! you sult me down to the ground.” Nan was nearly choked with rage as nhe wrenched hernclf free. =~ “Ian't it possible to make you un- NOVEL EA OF THE MOON derstand that you have misjudged me? Can't you see that your famil- larity is insulting, that you, your- self, are odious to me?” “Odious?”" The word etung hia vanity. He, too, arose. Nan repeated it. “Exactly—odioun!” lor @ moment he was at a loss for a reply; then he sneered: “I am not so handsome as my foreman, to be sure.” He noted her heightened color with satisfactio., The rumora were true, then? She ‘was interested in Ben Evans. The attraction was not wholly on his side, as he bad fancied. This he was glad to know. “I presume," Nan's eyes narrowed as she said slowly and distinctly, “there never yet was a woman who tolerated a bounder that “did not bay dearly for it. I have paid well for my brief acquaintance with you.” “Look here, little girl——" Spiser'a tone was conciliating; he was not ready to admit failure. Nan half turned. “Will you go or must I?” Spiser studied her face a moment. Undoubtedly she was sincere. There was no woman's coquetry in her con- temptuous eyes. He turned all bully and, with bis hands thrust deep in his trousers- pockets, his feet planted wide apart, stared at her in indescribable inso- lence. “When I'm ready—my dear.” He swaggered closer and again quickly caught her wrist when she would have gone. “Senor Spiser forgets sometimes that he is @ married man,” Spiser dropped Nan's arm as though it burned him and whirled. Mrs. Gallagher, her apron fillod with eggs, stood like a statue regard- ing him with eyes which did, indeed, look like the eyes of the catamount he had called her and her moccasined feet had allowed her to approach with something of its stealth. It seemed to Nan that Spiser iled before the woman's guze. ‘Look out, be careful!" His tone was a threat, but Nan detected the bravado in It and she was sure that in some way her strange protector held the whip-hand. And he was mar- ried—this was the secret, or a part of it, which explained Mrs, Gallagher's power. Bhe knew his past, his wife—poor foul! Nan looked at him with curl- ing lips, “You talk too much for the good of your health, mujer.” Spiser stooped for his hat which he had placed un- der the bench, The woman's eyes gleamed mock- ery at the warning, but she did not reply, Instead she shrugged her gaunt shoulders under the blanket and atalked away, Splaer was no longer swayed by passion when he left Nan's dobe, but {itched with an intense desire to hu- millate her, She had wounded his vanity deeply, and he was vindictive to the finger tips. Spiser was an active enemy; he could not walt paanively for cireum- stances to shape themsely but he must needs shape them himself to guit hia ends, And the thought now up- permost in his mind was how he could quickest and moat effectively revenge himaelf upon Nan. “1 see that she's dealt more ery than she ever dreamed of. snarled aa he untied his hor: her glad to get back to the he came from, but first I'll give a real taste of ‘Once more I hi eaid Nan, gratefully. The glitter had not yet faded trom Mrs. Gallagher's eyes. “He will not come back again, ehiquita.” “You seem to know him well?" mii “Why not?” sald Mrs. Gallagher, briefly. ‘I'm hia wift CHAPTER Xiill. Rosario Gives Warning. ECRETLY, among those to he trusted, the word passed from mouth to mouth that the Americans in Las Ruber- tas were looked upon with ill favor by Senor Spiser, that they could inno way look to him for protection, and that should any accident befall them the circumstances would not be in- vestigated with too much thorough ness or the perpetrator of any mis- chief be prosecuted with great vigor. This was enough for Las Rubertas. It understood Senor Spiser and his methods perfectly. Unwelcome atrang- ers had often found it more convenient to move on. The animosity of the women cen- tred upon Nan, while the men could not forgive the intervention which had lost them the fight at the ba! They had no love for Riley, but they feared him, also they needed him, and at any rate he was mostly upon the roud between Hopedale and Las Rubertas. Therefore he was eliminated from their whispered conversation, but the names of Nan and Bob figured fre- quently. The latter's civility they mistooky as usual, for weakness, and Nan— Hah! she was a woman! They had no definite plans, but they pre- pared for San Juan's day with more zest than usual. ‘Tubs of gpap-root for a general hair-washing were put to soak in the front yards, The afternoon of the brought wagon-loads of guests from the outlying districts for family. Crates of chickens, ny kegs of home-made yard was filled with the shtieking grandchildren of the Mon- who stared and snickered as reprimand tejos, they passed, without a from their elders. E} »s in the vicinity, asiness and vague- ly shared it as he sat wi a time t even guitars and wh ng accordiona in the plaza, and to the sounds of the Montejo end of the dobe of drinking and much laughter, whi@h was good- enough as y ‘an, Bob asked suddenly an bluntly, “when are you going home?’ She answered as bluntly and wit! a touch of defiance, “I don't know.” They sat in silence for a time. “Do you think, Nan'y-he asked gently—“that you would be content hore for long? tagt the glamor ‘would hot wear off?" “T love tt—this life.” “They are tremendously uneasy about you—the family.” “so they've written. I'm threatened with a guardian if T 't wo home, by asked for a month's reprieve.” d at the end of that time you'll for keeps !" that was all. He arose quickly and said good night, adding in a Voice which sounded unnatural from the effort it cost him to speak: “Re careful to-morrow; they may all be drunk.’ s The celebration of San Juan's day began long before daylight and the Montejos were out by lantern light Killing the goats under Nan‘a win- dow; men, women and children shrieking with laughter at the strug- gles of the dying animals. Ky the time the sun rose the drink- ing and feasting were well under way. At 10 o'clock the songs and laughter were boisterous, but still good nat- ured, All the Village and ite quests In gala day attire were flocking toward the pl \. It was Nan's custom to ride each morning, but to-day she hesitated because of Bob's warning, and, too, Gallagher's vigilance. man knew nothing definite, but the Indian in her sensed danger and, when Nan‘s restlessness became too great she viewed her prepara- tions to ride with unqualified dis- ‘ll not go far—truly I'l not, Not out of sight of Las Rubertas, Besides what could happen to me tn broad daylight? Many things have happened to Americans where the mesquite grows thick and there is no one to hear a shot!" “List roar went up from the plaza—"they are having a glorious time, and too busy with thelr games and themaelves to think of me. But I'll be back within the hour, just to relleve your mind.” Nan turned in the saddle and kissed her finger-tips lightly to her ewarthy chaperon as she rode away. She had gone less than ten minutes when Rosarto, running a for her life through Epiphanio Montejo's alfalfa field, looked with dismay in her eyes empty corral, “The senorita!” Rosario wriggled through the window at tne back of the . WEEK =| IN dobe like an eel. “Bhe is not here Mrs. Gallagher waved her hand to- ward the plasa and Rosario began to cry. vhat you hear? demanded Mra. jallagher. “The Spain have lick the America!” Mrs. Gallagher's face relaxed. 8 that all? That was a small matter to cry about. She hunched her shoulders, “1 don't care.” “To-night t! build big bonfire in the plaza to make glad. At first they talk they hamstring the senorita’s horse, Kea. Gallagher stopped, rolling a cigarette and turned her head quickly. “L listen by the crack to Ignacio Bojarques's talk, The senorita’s sad- dle-blanket look good on his horse, he say; then they laugh. “But no, they will not hamstring the horse; it will be more pleasant to make the senorita fust on her horse 4 turn him loose on the mesa, and tie the new aenor on his horse and drive him across the river, which is high with the big rain above. “May! wim, maybe not. It will be mos’ Bojarques, boss of the American now, every- body aa: “You make no mistake Rosario nodded, wise! listen by the crack, aenora, To-night when the bonfire is lighted and they are brave with the vino.” “You can find the atrange senor “Pronto! Muy pronto!” Rosart eyes eparkled with resolution. “Tell him to come here—-quick.” Rosario slipped through the win- dow as she had come, and Mrs. Gal- lagher watched her as, half phe ran swiftly through F Montejos's alfalfa, circling ly to get back to the village square without being noticed. Of a sudden she saw the child raise herself and throw both han aloft as though in warning, wh xereaming wildly she ran toward the plaza. ing to drink and gossip with his friends, to view the sports and contests and then—oh, glorious news!—to celebra: the vic- tory of Spain over the pigs of Ameri- cans. As, Nan's horse ambled easily through the soft sand of the road leading into the square, she saw ite sides lined with the old men, the women and children of the village, and all the country round, while every youth who owned or could borrow # horse was a dashing cabal- lero. ‘And anxious to attract attention to himself, each in his vanity epurred his horse deep, and held it hard with the cruel Mexican bit, that the be- wildered animal in ite n might prance and cavort. But a group of horsemen at the far end of the square seemed to he the centre of interest, and they were being discussed with much excited gesticulation. They were making ready for @ race, Nan thought, or for some feat of Mexican prow: pulled her horse fa one rode at a leisurely gait into the plaza. Instantly she more than divided at. tention with the horsemen at the other end, though she was a famillar sight on horseback to them all. There was no friendliness in the rows of black eyes turned intently upon her; derision, mockery, scorn of the gringo, but no longer fear or respect. Had not the Spain lick the America? and had they not Juan Os- word for it?) Nan heard their tones, then a jeer, a hoot as she passed, and her blood tingled. Hut there was only one thing for her to do, and that was to ride on with CHAPTER XIV. An Insult Avenged. VERY person in Las Ruber- tas not actually bedridden was in the plaza that morn- grouped at the end of i centre of the squa swung downward from his saddle and made a@ frantic awoop with his out- stretched hand at the bobbing head of a rooster buried to the neck in the wi he spectators hooted and howled thelr derision. The leader's face, dark with chagrin at his failure, grew still darker at thelr ridicule, He lifted hin eyes to see Nan. Inflamed with much wine, the aight of her at this moment of hie failure niaddened him and, with # frenzied yell, he swung bis horse and rode straight at her, lashing and spurring furiously, In the second that it took him to cover the distance between them Nan recognized the malgvolent face of Ignacio Bojarques. She read his pur- pose in hia eyes before the horse crashed together, The impact of the oncoming horse against the shoulder of her own knocked ita lees from under {t, and horse and rider fell, Boarqjues's horse staggered and went on. Then the fallen horse, still dazed, atruggled to its feet, but Nan did only Bs rise, Of all the throng, who had witnessed it from Kiley doorway, and little Rosario Rich: reckless in her fright for Nar the limp heap in the sand. The avalanche of horsemen swept by, grinning, and their enjoym was reflected in the faces of the apec- tators, Bob, as pale as Nan herself, lifted her head and shoulders to his knee “Can you get me some water, Rosario?” Hix quiet voice was un- dy. ‘ronto, a deor. senor!” and sho was off like The flying horsemen had swept on unable yet to check their horses, leaving behind them a@ cloud of dust which had not settled when whoopa in @ different key--whoops which came only from lusty American throats—-were heard on the road which led into the square from the other side of the village. ‘The grins faded. Women gathered their children beneath their shawls and scuttled for thelr doorways, the men looked at each other uncertainly. ‘They were conquerers, the Spain had lick the America, but the vanquished were still uncommonly handy with their guns. {t might be as well, perhaps, to stand inside one's own dooryard, In- ee THE E The Romance of an Eastern Girl’s |\—— Adventures on the Mexican Border |—— side one's own dooryard one might not be so tempting a target. There fore, from that less dangerous point of vantage they watched the LX, outfit, with Hen Evans at its head, dash into the plaza and turn ite horses toward 'y occupants. Is she dead?” Hen‘s horse went back on Ite hai , “stunned, 1 think. yho-how did it happen? “Horjarques ran her down,’ Ken's mouth was set in a straight, hard line as he flashed @ look at th others, Then he raised his reins and asked: “Which way did he g Bob directed him with a nod, That was all. The saddle leathers creaked 48 the horses responded to the spurs. The Mexicans laughing boisterously jo was a hero, wearing a self-conscious smirk. How neatly he hati bowled her over! They bent tn mirth over their saddie-horns, What horsemanship he had dis- Played in striking the shoulder at the right angle! Ah, he was a devil when roused! They had better be- ware of him—Ignacio Hojarques! ‘There was proud blood tn his vein Ignacio Bojarques twirle tache and tossed bis h Amertcans—bah! What was that? The caballeros stopped on tho instant. ‘The pound ing of hoofs, @ cloud of dust—Dios the Amei nos! They recognised Bon Evans's big aerrel in the lead, They curbed thelr horses in sudden panic, and the facea of the jaunty caballeros paled perceptibly, it was one thing to fight the Americano tn the imagination and quite a to face hi theularly when hb encounter Indecta. the Mexicans’ tds tary pause, Should thoy Perhaps the Americans desired to wreak their vengeance only upon In- » Boj In that case surely it were not cowardice to remain neu- tral, since he alone was guilty? Happy inspiration! It was far less Ignominious than to run; besides, one's back in a wide target. They drow their horses to the road- aide, huddling close to let the cowboys pasa if they would, and fight if they must. The only one among them who waa In doubt as to what he should do wan Bojarqui With the firat hoof- beat he promptly turned and ran, The cowboys thundered by, passin, the Mexicana grouped by the road- aide without a glance, for they knew well enough whore horae kicked up the dust ahead, Ignacio had no need to look over shoulder to know that they gaining. Hoe rode far over his horse's neck, sick with fear, The hoofbeats behind him were only a little louder than the pounding of his heart. When hin winded horas began te P° stumble, he cast a terrified glance over hin shoulder. The gap was clos- ing fast, and his horse's Breath was coming tn sobs. Tn front of him was a long stretch of ankle-deep sand. Once, twice, hin horse's knees gave way. Its wind wan almost gone! In a frenzy of deaperation he looked about for some way to escape other than the road. The torneo grew like a hedge on wither de, dense, impassablo, ita thorns read: to r hin flesh to shreds if he tri to force it. And then, If only he could reaoh It; a trail branching to the river. In hin insane fright he cared not where it went; he thought only of leaving the , where quickly he must fall or surrender. The horse was staggering when he reached it, but the trail was little used and harder than the road, which enabled it to recover somewhat. A hundred yards or so and the sullen Rio Grande apread before him, The trall ended on its sandy bank, and he could not go back. The river was up, and running like 4a millrace, yellow with aand ai mud, and swirling in ominous eddi Heavy raing and melting snows In the mountaina to the north had raised it nearly level with ite banks. Uprooted trees and debris were rushing by, awirling and bobbing in the erratic current, It was thick, too, with i from the torrent came uw steady, dull, awesome roar, For an instant it appalled Ho- Jarques though he had forded it often it this crossing when the river was down, He looked at ft, ashen with fear, while hin horse stood at ita edge with drooping head and spread- Ing legs, Ite knees shaking violently beneath tt, A bullet sung by Bojarques’s ear, and the river looked leas formidabl at the moment than hia pursuers, # #purred the horse, which balked, bunching ita feet In refusal upon the very edge of the saady bank, The Mexican plied the quirt, and e fused, while Bo- reamed at it like a hysterical wor Without warning the beneath the horse’e feet, and rider sank with @ splash to rise again in the awirling flood, bank caved and horse “wok at him—the crazy fool—he thinks he can awim it!" There was 4 certain compassion in the cowboys’ tuces, for the horse that was strug- gling gallantly in the yellow flood It could as easily have breasted a cloudburat, “If ite hoad goen under once, they're gone; that water's more'n half aand.” The cowboys, louking on «grimly, . followed along the banks as the cur- rent swept horse and rider down. The struggles of the already ex- hausted animal were growing Weaker and, snorting, strangling, it turned ita wild, besesching eyes toward shore. “Gosh! that hurta me — clean through." Ben Evana began to un- coll his aaddie rope. The Mexican felt the horse was swimming lower, and realized that it could not keep up much longer with his welht upon tte back, so he grasped its inane and alipped from the saddle. “Look at him-—he_ don't know traight up! Slidin’ off on the upper side! That there Ignacio's & gone woslin'!" Joo Rrindell seemed to have atated facts, wince, as the horme waa #wim- ming toward shore, the current swept Rojarques underneath him. They both went under, rows, and sank again, then the sand filled the Mexican's clothes, and he went down to rise no more, ‘The horse righted itself, but ite nostrils were barely above water, “Be careful, Ben"—— But the cowboy was already out of hearing, riding Ward to reach a bend where the current came close to the bank. There, NIN e Evening World Daily Magazine, Friday, April 24, 1914 By Caroline Lockhart Author of with the noose the worst of it to me—you don't sev eee Nahtly to and fro, he alt If the horse recovered suffice to swim a little bh chance. fixed intently horse, then the ne the air and di The noose od boy, twist the manila PI closed, faut, and the bie sorrel feet. He Ben waited with upon the whirled through out ite hend. the you ‘The wan hearty in its praise, “L don't mi explained as ind the greaser, he dragged oped re shore can LX, outnt Ben the halt- drowned animal up the bank, “but “ good horse —well, heavy on my conactence, CHAPTER XV. The Dream Book. ISER was in no gentle mood for days after his call upon Nan at Las Rubertas, je rankled like opiac it would a set ‘The thorn and he still itched for sat- infaction. He had p' furth days which savage eagern Hen, as talled’ report of the move nted the seeds: of un- pleasantness and trouble for her be- fore he left the village, but he wanted @ awifter and surer revenge and this would come through Ben Evans. Urgent business took him to the ond of the county and the intervened before bi could act seemed long Indeed, but when he did return to the ranch he awaited the appearance of Ben with one. customary, gave a de- ints and work of the outfit during his absence, which included an account of his en- Hefore hin brief ata he saw the hostility in Splser’s face and manner, in doubt as to its cause, “Lt seems to me you're @ lookin’ out a whole lot sharper for your friends’ intereats than you are for mine. And to be candid, Evans"—he eyed Hen think you're too much for the of spirit: outfit. “And, an a matter of fact, I've come to the conclusion that you'd better wet your time, take your blankets, and ride on. Kansas Ed ie foreman of thf outfit from now on.” Ben stood dazed with the unex pectedness of it, then with a show was not kept long man to be doin’ much good pirit: “AU right, I'll go. The L.X. inn't the only cattle outht in the State. “The only one in this part of that you'll be allowed to work for.” “We'll see about that.” But the retort was bravado only, for Ben knew as well ae Spiser the latter’s ower. would neem ane at the something of os. Laws, hon Blakely easily, “like take you in for nothin’. to Len In the light of this interview there Uttle of the miraculous in the appearance of Ben orn me day, "What happened?” Edith guessed the truth from dec! bosque that Jared = Mi as not pap will It he won't,” —nhe smiled myateriously—'I'll put my mind to {t and will some good to you." Ben, without more ceremony, was temporarily installed as @ member of the Blakely bousehold, “Did you hear me acreatn and grab you in my sleep?” asked Mrs. Blakely one mornin, Blakely, as not new. “Last night I dreamed"—Bl resigned himself to a period of au! eating his breakfast in taciturn silence, admitted briefly thi jected it quite well. ‘The ex- y} fering. For twenty years he had Is- tened to his wife's dreams, had not grown to relish thi more with the passing “Lust night I dreame: tod Blakely with seat—vesting her Mra. and he recital of time. a" —reiterat elbows comfortably on the table and clasping both hands around her cup, “that down on me from rattlesnakes wan everywhare—big onen—Iittle ones—all kinds of colore— and on the fight, on one back of the “Bare, Mat” sald ea! T got Lge Pe holt couldn't git 1 ra—an' away, but I dasen't let go, an’ all come alot Regina, taki sugar bow! at wag gittin’ ready ‘when I screamed then who do you s'pose ‘em ol'ar out? yoab fingers out of the “John L. Sullivan,” youthful male Blakely humorously. “That dude of Rile; Blakely Mra. } and left. writl impressively. inon scattered my enemies right Ain't it plain on the wall that he's goin’ to to atrike— out loud, hasarded a declared the hand- help you all out? Don't you lose « minute, Ben, You ride over and borry enough off him to buy in Pap. Luna, honey, chase that chicken out of the fryin’ pan while you're up, and Undine and fetch Ma ‘etch under the dream book.” elf paper CHAPTER XVI. «We'll Steal ’Em Blind.” “an “Ben, from Bob RULY, you are in earnest you borrowed money to go in partnership with Mr. Blakely ™* Ben nodded somewhat sheapishly how could you!" It was Nan who flushed with mortification What's wrong about “Why, not? that?” “Oh, can't inieerably. you "You fee don't sho ace erled that’s SMITH,” Eto. You cannot seem some things.” “Don't be mad at met” “i'm not ‘mad'—I'm disappointed Hen, who had ridden to Las Huber tas prideful and elated over his am bitious venture, rode back to the Longhorn bosque creatfalion hy Nan disapproval, while Nan, in her se sitive pride, all but writhed as sh: tried to imagine Bob's opinion of Be. Spiser heard the news of the part nership with glee, and the trend of his thoughts may be gathered froin his jubilant exclamation: “Good! We'll ateal ‘em blind!” Spiser wanted revenge with savage Intensity, and in hia new foreman he found @ willing tool. Heretofore his wishes in regard to Blakely's cattle and Blake'y’s range had been oon- veyed In veiled terms, though euf- ficiently strong to make, Kaneas “4 understand that for every branded by him he would receive extra five on his monthly cheek, But now, in hie eage: longer took thia slight “Brand every hoot rope on and run ‘em ‘off. We bred fellera out, and we'll clean quick!” “I'm agreeable,” and Kansas looked it, “but you can't trust of the outfit here; they wo rustle from Ben, I'll have te Rave outside help.” “You can get that in Las \ There isn't @ greaser in the 9 that isn't layin’ for him, The - nos ought to be good ‘hombres’ thia Job.” “They're handy with brandin’. al right, hia foreman agreed; it sound ‘em.’ The same day that Juan went into the employ of ‘apleer, Ben met him on the range, though the meoting was not of Ospino's choos- to understanu: “What you huntin’, ? “st " was the answer, with o malice, Strays?” Ben looked at him hard. to back to your boss, Ospino, ai tell him that there are no strays of Blakely'’s range—that we ride it all’ tue time, and,” significantly, “we al- ways keep our rifles where we can wet at ‘em enay.” And in due season Ospino re a the conversation, with the addit’ 1 information that Blakely and neemed everywhere at once. A dis- tor centage baals. ‘orro! | the Mex- fean‘a story of their vigilance, and Spier fumed, He had no notion of Pare thwarted and outwitted—it was demoralizing to his self-respect. “There'n more ways than one of killing a cat, Kansas.” “Cate is my spect-ality,” Kansas oe: ne o reports the annoyances, pet- ty and otherwise, to which Nan was now subjected in Las Rubertas were some gratification to Spiser, but not enough to satisfy him. He wanted to hit her harder, and to this end be wae willing to take long chances, . CHAPTER XVII. Arrested. INEY-DUMPLIN’, yeu fer- got yoah fanch! You-all can't ride all day ‘thout a name, Ben,” Edith 5 ly, “but she's bo ‘g e's mother to You ena T Sant ae es Ben emiled Gown agen her as he ¢ eg PO darned to me, Edie, that even atand ‘Blessed Angel’ and Ben recognised in them the sheriff of the county and a deputy. “Howdy,” he nod@ed. “Glad to see you're saddled up.” Be eyes widened. “What for?” “Reckon I'll have to ask you tc take a little ride with me, Ben.” Ber ‘3 jaw dropped. 0? The sheriff {urbled in an inner pocket “This here paper! refresh your memory more'n likely.” He owed his nomination and election to Spiser and was therefore pleased to serve him Hen listened dumfounded while the sheriff read the warrant churging him with altering the L. X. brand on a two-year-old steer to Blakely’s and his ow “It's a lie!” flared Ben. “You might as well wag along Hopedale peaceable,” advised — the officer, “because we've come to git face blanched. It was useless to protest hia in e or \& realst Ho knew he mignt as well go. Walt till T get my coat.” Somebody's come to offer you a Job, honey-dump" “steady one, Ben answered laconically, "I'm ed." (To Be Continued.) & ALADDIN FROM BROADWAY, By Frederic S, Isham Witt BEGIN The strange exploits ofa New ¥ ork man who has ven recklessly into « “forbidden world” of the Orient. t & ' k f ' q ‘ek > ta | id