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li Hi IJ il S II :fl THE PEOPLE. BARNWELL. S. C. « CHAPTER XII.—Continued. —13— . ; More sliote rang out. Taqijl wna. seen .standing erect firing rapidly at the darting Mexicans. For all Gale could make out oo second bullet took effect. Rojas and his men vanished behind the bulge of lava. The Yaqui deliberately backed away from his po sition. He made no effort to run or hide. Presently he turned and came straight toward the position of the rangers, sheered off perhaps a hun dred paces below It, and disappeared In a crevice. Plainly his Intention wa» to draw pursuers within rifle shot. Another wait set In then, and Judg ing by the more direct rays of the sun and a receding of the little shad ows cost hy the choyas, Gale was of the opinion that It wav a long wait. Rut It seemed short. Gale had the upjter position, farthest to the right, and therefore was best shielded from posslbe (Ire from the higher ridges of the rim, some three h&ndred yards distant. Jim came next, well hidden In a crack. The positions of Thome and Ijidd were most exp«*ed. They kept ahurp lookout over the uneven rampart of their hiding-place. Suddenly the dead stlllnesa was rest by s shot, clear and stinging. «lose at hand. Jt was from a rifle, nor a carbine. With startling quick- neat a cry fotlnmed—a cry that pierced Gale—It was •«* thin, so high- keyed. *• different fr«i»n all other It «aa the Involuntary human of death. "Taqols called nut another psrd ■aid Jim I .ash lamntrally rsrMnea began |n crack The re port* aere quick, light, like sharp apata atthout any ring Gale made oat round sy-.t • dark against the background of red. and ta front of them leaped oat amall Inagae* of (Ire lathis *«‘ hegaa ta ~spaag~ atth Its beautiful aauatj •»# poaef Tbwfns # »ss Seta# xmeuhat olhllf, Gala thought Then Jim |a«h pa»licd his Wt*ct teat r r a«er the rtm afMire a rha*a and hetereai »h <a flale rwald hear him atngtag _, | aru the lady, turn turn the lady, turn ’ A lama a left • Ha tag »•mr yurdneeu * I nruatd aa* hark * Tara the lady tarn*” <*a|e g»>t lata the light himarlf n*U an aure that ha ' hH aay nf the r»mn«t h»Atitag Wet* he aimed at hat graulag aute «d him ‘ self sa act um 1 theca fed » — 'thing rangeutrd althta hi* Thru aver the p> era came a hall at i that atrorfc the the crater* fb* ileet hoi a htaard that n the rhayas Mahled a sharp t the raag lets Th.«m a a ■ r lata taae Mt my a anond t'pptna uf for,” whispered Gale. “He’s lying over there In that crack. I can see part of him. He doesn’t move.” *T was wonderin’ if I’d have to tell you that. Dick, he went down hard hit, failin’, you know, limp an’ soggy. It was a. mortal cinch one of us would get It In this . fight; but G—d! I’m sorry Thorne hud to be the man.” *T,nddy, maybe he’s not dead,” re plied Gale. He called aloud to his friend. There was no answer. ' Ladd got up, and, after peering keenlymt the height of lava, he strode swiftly across the space. It was only a dozen steps to the crack In the lava where Thorne had fallen In head first. Ladd bent over, went to his knees, so that Gale saw* only his head. Then he appeared rising with arms round the cavalryman. He dragged him across the hole to the sheltered corner that alone afforded protection. He had scarcely reached it when \ car bine cracked and a bullet struck the flinty lava, striking sparks, then sing ing Into the air. Thome was either dead or uncon scious, and Gale, with a contracting throat and numb heart, decided for the former ~Not so Ladd, who probed the blifody gash on Thorne’a temple, ami then felt hla breast. “He’s alive an’ not had hart. That bullet hit him glancin’. Shore them ■feel bullets are some lucky foe us Dick, yam neetln't took an glum. I tell y«u be ain’t bad hart. I felt hla ahull with my finger. There’s no hole la If Wash him tdf an’ Uo— Worn! did you get the wind of that one? An’ rnebbe It didn’t slag off (he lam ”* It was Indeed a )oy ta Gale ta And that Thorne had not received a wound tartuuarilv fatal, though If waa seri ous enough. Gale bathed and hound It. and laM the cavalryman again** the slant mt the honk, hla bend high to leuwm the vndmMUtj mt Meedlag Am Gale straightened up I .odd mat tered |mu aud dmp. and snung heavy rifle * round to the left Par •hmg the sliqm a flgwre Otuved Iwsdd began •• work iW lever of the Win • (mater and tu sAfeunS A4 every shot Gale ana the huflefs aCrthe the lava behind, hewlde. he#nea the fleeing hieg hun. mu ding op dad puffs mf • U the sixth shad h out mt sight either hit ar into seeking rover Id**k .uehhe l here‘a one sleeve; but ue oeedn‘1 it “l sold I a Ad. a«. loading t he Irrhed bin Angers quickly fmm the h«4 breech TAoten * Jim ok* Tnqal are biffin’ N op lively dawn below Gnle recognized the foremost one— smnll, compact, gaudy—Rojas! The bandit’s arm was outstretched. Puffs of white smoke rose, and shots rapped out. When Ladd went down Rojas threw his gun aside and with a wild yell bounded over the lava. His com panion -followed. A tide of passion, first hot as fire, then cold as Ice, rushed over Gnle when he saw Rojas take the trail to ward Mercedes’ hiding-place. The little bandit appeared to have the sure-footedness of a mountain sheep. The Mexican following was not so sure or fast. He turned back. Gale heard the trenchant bark of the .405. Ladd was kneeling. He shot again— again. The retreating bandit seeiied to run full Into an Invisible ohstaTle, then fell lax, Inert, lifeless. Rojas sped on unmindful of the spurts of dust about him. Yaqui, high above Ladd, was also firing at the bandit. Then both rifle* were emptied. Rojas turned at a high break In the trull. He shook a defiant hand, and hla ex ulting yell pealed faintly to tiale’a ears. About him tfiere was something desperate, magnificent. Then be Ha in hered down the trail. Ladd drop|*ed the .405, and rising, gun In hand, h* staggered toward the bridge of lava. Before he had croosevl It Yaqui mm* bounding down the alopr. and la «oe splendid leap he cleared the Aware. He ran beyond the trail and disappeared on the lava above. Rnjaa had o«tf seen this and den. darling mace of the Indian Gale w.eulered fearfully, what had become of ? Prrwenily. when Rnjaa came •■at of the era His sad rats uf lava there might he a chance of dtaabting him hy a tong a Hot Hla pmgrese waa new slew Hot he woe phyalcal. cold and sick and weak. Gale gripped hla* rifle and aimed at the struggling forms on the ledge. He pulled the trigger. The bullet struck up a cloud uf red dust close to the struggling couple. Again Gale fired, hoplnj'- to hit Rojas, praying to kill Mercedes. The bullet struck* Jiigh. A third—fourth—fifth time the Reming ton spoke—In valp ! The rifle fell from Gale’s rucked hands. - Mow4ion;lbly plain- that tWad-’s In tention I Gale tried to close lilk eyes, but could not. He prayed wildly for a sudden blindness—to faint as Thorne had fainted. But he was transfixed to the spot with'eyes that.pierced the red light. Mercedes was growing '..weaker, seemed about to collapse. “Oh, Jim Lash, are ^ou dead?” cried Gale. “Oh, Laddyl ... Oh, Yaqui I” Suddenly a dark form literally fell down the wall behind the ledge where Rojas fought the girl. It sank In a heap, then bounded erect. “Yaqui!” screamed Gale, and he waived his bleeding hands till the blood bespattered his face. Then he choked. Utterance became Impossible. The Indian bent over Rojas and flung him against the wall. Mercedes, sinking hack, lay still. When Rojas got up the Indian stood between him and escape from the ledge. Rojas backed the ether way along the nar rowing shelf of lava. His manner was abject, stupefied. Slowly he stepped backward. It was then that Gale caught the white gleam of a knife In Yaqul'n hand. Rojas turned and ran. Yaqui followed slowly. Ills figure was dark and menacing. Ret he was not In a hurry. When he passed off the ledge Rojas was edging farther and farther along the wall. •He was dinging now to the lava, creeping Inch 1>y Inch. Perhaps he had thought to work making straight for Merrevletf hi place. What was It Irodtag him 1 —an eagle rye. wr hate, or fast Why 4Wt he gM mi whew there < tmei f 1.4dd wav •I** ••m the trad: him hea the tar trad? ■ertqpfl tewttrsa tmly flrath e*mld raagee qnw Harety Rola* a kneaw that whrw he rhsae Proas flam t<* time tials rtimt ■ *e mf Yoqafs d*rh dgi lug m hmg I hr Mghee rim mt tl He aa* making far a pntat < homAM I n«M etaggerei! abmg the times he crawled The Tsqw he might hate had ■ lags I from lagged i*rvmt la ksgged < swraflasdadflam as* a a»wider Hut far Gate the amrvel el? « that L stag lay here I rvaft thraflflh a Mrfc re ■Ilk Blis of cartas stung Gate’q fare ■ad he dree-led iHe Pi tag iHoma more thaa he did the fltl'tg bullets “Hutd aa hr*ys “ called l-S'ld. as he crouched ib*«n tu reload his rifle -Have your sheila The Greasers are ■prrsdia on w* *ua>e g<*tn d**wn he Ina Tsqul, <4ber« movin' up fnr that high rl'lgc When, they get up there I’m d—«l If It woa't l*e bot for us There ain’t room far w« lo hide here J “ ^ I.«'!d rsl«e«l hlni<u*lf to |e*ep over the riui Shot* wer»^»n*w *a*attrrlng. ■ nd all'sp|>enrcd |h come from ^•elow. A volley **f shots from a different angle wn* followed by the qub*k ring of h**e| bullet* striking the lava all around Gab*. Hi* first Idcn. n* he heard fhe pn>Je<*tlles sing and hum and whine away Into the air, wns that they were romlug from above him. He looked up to *♦'«* n number of low, white and dark knobs upon the high point of lava. They hnd not been then* before. Then be sjiw* Rtle, pule, leaping tongues of fin*. As be dodged down he distinctly hennln bullet strike Ladd. At the same instant he seemed to hear Thorne cry out and fall, and Lash’s boots s< rape rapidly a pay. Ladd fell backward still bolding the .405. Gnle dragged'him. into fhe shel ter of bis own position! 'unci (Treacling to look at him, took up the heavy weapon. It was .vifh a kind of sav age strength that be gripped the rifle; and it was with n cold and deadly In- tent that be* aimed and fired. The first Greaser huddled low. let ids carbine go clattering down, and then crawled behind,!he rim. The second and third jerked buck The”' fourth seeitied to flop up over the crest of lava. A dark ann reached for him, clutched his leg, tried to drag him up. It whs In,vain. Wildly grasping at the air fhe bandit fell, slid down a steep shelf, rolled over the rim-, to go hurtling down out of fcighf. -Shore—I’m d n glad-thvin Grw^ ers ain’t usin’ soff-nose bullets.” drawled a culm voice. ^ Swift as lightning Gale whirled. “Laddy I I thought you were done for.’ cried Gale, with a break in hla voice. The ranger's blouse waf open at the neck, and on hla right shoulder nndrr the collar bone was a small bole Just beginning to bleed. “flor* It’s high. Laddy,** replied Gale, gladly -went -tear through. cWan as ■ wfcttfter He tore a haadkrrr-bipf taie sod | ft! Ill sneak «b>aa there \mm ■a' keep ■ heart half aa eye > i. a Are. aa* keep (ha real my srnf«“ There sieved a tall Ip tbe battle Gale veatared srreere.1 behind rbree-flaarter rlrrle mt lava with la the dtati > rider*, helms him. down ■ long the crater rim aod the trail, the lava a a* hare mf all except tufts of rbaya Gale gathered aaaar- ¥ trail { at gqIPed; a leaped rvmt. hi* PI I hla*. mt that aa* the He had >rldt the boundary line, and hr settled down to think of ranching and Irriga tion and mining projects. Kvery morn ing he exjiected to receive some word from Sonoyta or Yuma, felling him that Yaqui had guided his party safe ly across the desert. ’ Among the many changes coming to pass In Forlorn tylver were the Install ing of post office service and the building of a mescal drlnklng-house. Beldlttg iuul .wotked.,hard^ for the post office, but he did not like the Idea of a saloon for Forlorn River. Still, that was an Inevitable evil. The Mex icans would . have mescal. A good many Americans drifted Into Forlorn River—miners, cowboys, prospectors, outlaws, and others of nondescript character; and these men, of course, made the saloon, which was also an Inn, their headquarters. Beldlng, with Carter and other old residents, saw the need of a sheriff for Forlorn River. One morning early in this spring month, while Beldlng was on his way from the house to the corrals, he saw Nell running Blanco Jose down the road at n gait that amazed him. She did not take the turn of the road to come in by the gate. She put Jose at a four-fopt wire fence, and came clattering into the yard. It did not take more than half an eye for Beldlng to see that she wg* furious. “Nell, what’s come off now?” askeJ Beldlng. “I’m not going to tell you.” she re plied. and started away, leading Jose toward the corral. , Beldlng leisurely followed. She went Into the corral, removed Jo*e's bridle, and led him to the watering- trough. Beldlng came up. and with out saying anything began to unbuckle Jose’s saddle girths. But he ventured a look at Nell. The red had gona from her face, and he was surprised to see her eyes brimming with tears Moat sssumlly this waa not one of Nell's tantrums While taking off Joee’a ■addle and hanging It la tbe shed Beldlng papflered In hi* slow way . WT.. n I e i . , ’ ■- k ? . ci.r . ••rrsl Ne 1 fac# against the bars, and rr> log He slipped a big arv her and watted. “tipd. I don't want yew ta think roe a—a baby any more.” ah^sald “I've beep loan lied “ With a speetfle fan ta make Hear thought la iWldlPg'A mtod he was | never slaw “I knew vowel blag anususl bad 1 ratnw off. I gva v you'd be* tee teti , COULD HARDLY DO HER WORK lydU LFinUumi'* Vejetflble Com pound Made Her Eat, Sleep . and Feel Better Every Way -•v. * Chicago, DL—“I wag weak and run down and in <mch a nervous condition | that 1. could hardly do my work. I wa* tired all the time, and dizzy, and could not fieep and h*dro appetite. I tried dif ferent medicine* for years, but they dW not help me. Then I rend in tbe paper# about Lydia E.Pink- ham’s Vegetable Compound and what it bad dona for other women and gave it a trial. I began to eat better and could aleep, and consider it» wonderful medicine. I recommend it to my friends and will nei%r be without it. -Mrs. M. Ohlen, 8640 S. Marshfield Ave., Chicago, Illinois. It is such letters as these that testify to the value of Lydia E. Pinkham • Vegetable Compound. This woman speaks from the fullness of her heart She describes as correctly as she can her condition, first the aymotoms that bothered her the moat, and later the disappearance of those symptoms. It is a sincere expression of gratitude. For nearly fifty years Lydia E. Pink- ham's Vegetable Compound baa been so Drained by DON’T DESPAIR If you are troubled with poms or fewl tired; have hoed echo, tion, insomnia; painful [e of urine, you prill find relief by regularly taking LATHROP’S W HAANLIM OH. ^>4 {'€. C ~tie4 I aflt. ,f j -Wbaf y “No* ta amvkftap N ta i * peep s swP •b*a a tbefs*. sv at tvdl | cp-q “ * fVbilttg a as sttoaf . »•! Os vat. flatdasa «M ir It Looked as If the Day Was Favor His Side »nee. It looked ns if the dm/ iv-is fuvorThpslils side. Then Thorne, com- Iqg partly tb-^otiselousness, en go Keel Gale’s care. The 't'uvnhyman stirred jind moaned, culled fdr \vnter, and titen fetr Merredes Gate huede with t> -strung !>• he \i«s ohee more quiet. Suddenly hn'rsh,* prolonged yells brought- Gale to his feet. Fnr down the trails where the crater rims closed in the deep firoure lie saw moving forms They were three In nnmher. Two of them ran jilmbly across the lava bridge The third staggered far l»ehtnd It wa* Ladd. He appeared hard hit. He dragged at tbe heavy rifle, whirt be seemed unable to raise. Tbe jeO# caaro from him. Ha was rsfitag the Taqpt. Gale’s bcejl stood still asamoptar tfy. Hega. Be I «*f 9 ba baodit N**Ja* •aa pa seap«*i Gala's glove arodr I ibl* fad ptata Tbaea aa* death ba bied blot, dretb Hr taw blsa. da tb ba- faew biro, sod tbawgb ba roald ad bare kp»ap If. daalb above biro. He | never faltered never erode a misstep epM«i the aarrow, flinty trail Wbeo he reacbed the lower ewd af tbe level ledge tiole's potgnatit a ccerlatatj. Hnjaa bad It was ItM-revlllvIe. yet Gale bedeved ft hi* Heart e1am|>ed ■« In aa Icy Oofe threw finrvrard the Rerofng Ion, and sinking on one knee. Iteguii to sh«-*t. He emptied the magazine. Puffs of dust near RoJa* did not even’ tnske him turn. Gnle wheeled, rigid new. steeling |ilms«*|f to one Inst fc»rb*m hope—that Merredea cotibl -defend herself. She had a gun. He doubted not at alt that she weald use P. But. remembering her terror e*f-thl* savage, he feared for her. Ib*lns n ached the level of the ledge. He halted.- He crouched. It waa the* act of a panther. Mani festly he* saw Mercedes within the cave. Then fn'nt shots patted the air, broke In cjulck e. ho. Rojus went down ns If struck hy a heavy blow He* wnn hit. But ever ns Gnle yelled In sheer irndnc*ss tlie Icandlt leaped erect. He seemed too cpclck. too sup- I>|e to he hndlv *'otindc*d. A tdlght. dark figure ftasjied ot:r of the cave. Mercedes! She hacked against the wall. Gale saw a pnYT of white heard n report. But the* bandit I tinged nt her. Mercedes ran, not to tl*y-4o pass him. hot st’-alght for the precipW. Her Intent’on was plain. But Ro.hir _<w*istripped her, even as she reached tin* vbrye. Then a plerc- ing scream pealed across-the cratei scream i»f despair. GiRo^ciosetl Ills eyes. He ccculd nht hear to se'e more. Tlncrne c'ehoc'd Mercedes' scream. Gale looked round Jm-T ln time to leap and catch the cavalryman hs-fie stag- . , -4 Rered. uipparently for the-Aleep slope., him Ost* Hoaefl—w Tirol Wild. r larofltaad H« H««rd- fltraag* Vaqai Cry. KtMi utly •ad M~ waH ab* (ba lot ba w i ba i Iba r- •- a* far | f| ma TW appmerh of tba Yaqal was tike a alow dark abedow at gUmm* If It aorwrod mm to tba strirkea Gale a Ha I roost It bava bera la Rojas? lie ap peared ta sink against tba wall Tba beraroa I Yaqui stola riaaar aod.rbwar. lit was Marrolas. | tba savsga caw. and for him th« too meal must lava haen glorified Gala i f tea him goxa up at Iba great einrilM I f wall* of the crater, then down Into tbe ' depths. Perhaps thq red haze hang ing above him. or the purple haze be low. or the deep caverns In the lava, held for Yaqn! spirits of the desert. Ida go«N to whorn he called. Perhaps he Invoked shadows of his loved ones and hla race, calling them In this mo ment of vengeance. Gale heard—or Imagined he heard— that wild, strange Yaqui cry. Then the Indian stepped close to Rojas, and bent low, keeping out of reach. How slow were his motions! Would Y’aqul never—never end It? ... A wall drifted across the crater to Gale’s ears. Rojas fell backward, and plunged sheer. The hank of white choyas caught him, he#l him upon their steel spikes. How long did the dazed Gale sit there watching Rojus wrestling and writhing in convulsive frenzy? The bandit now seemed mad to win the delayed death. When he broke free be was a white patched object po-htpger-lmman, n~ tu waffv g* l« keep Hapa ba Nall, r bar oyoa *“Tba Hofwn. * fr«4M of there Wl rffuwff.1 in fdkfl*** fIj I w •if tfl ‘9 |*fbflfR . 4MT ] * •tuff •lirff'f® fi**| ■I* Ml aratsff a iba girl | |i#if old. prawrwilj ; ^ _ _ t Me ft mm porktag n gvw l bat k* Bel I t H or* or loll, flnaly Itttla lunger ng I • toll •ml H. I flara * tbor* i on *t prvmiM kk Ihet par kn * than- ftf boundary line towtrrd-NbjnifPs. Jbpth'fell. Gale saved his friend, but he plunged Into a choya. He drevlr his hands nway full of the great glis tening rones of thorns. ^ “For God’s sake. Gnle. shoot! Shoot’ Ktll her! Kill her! . Gan't—you—aao—Rojas—“ Thorfle-falntad. Gsle. stunned for the Instant. Mood with uplifted hand*, and gazoit from Thorne a* ross the crater. Kojaa bad not kilted Morcedo*. He ball of choya burrs, and he slipped off tbe bank to shoot down 'imd clown, into the purple depths of tbe ereler' 'V CHAPTER XIII Changes at Forlorn River, The first of March saw the 'ederal occupation of the garrison at Cusita. After n short, decisive, engagement the rebels were dispersed Into small bands and driven eastward along the It wn* the destiny of Forlorn River, however, never to return to the slow, sleepy tenor of Its former existence. Beldlng’s predictions cam« true. That straggling line of home-seekers was but a forerunner of the real Invasion of Altar \alley. Refugees from Mex Ico and from Cailta spread the word that water and wood and grass and land were to he had at Fotlorn River; and as If by magic the white toots and | sprang up to glisten the own vgalnlog Her <'«*mpnaaro, *» iped i sad •* ••chad back hqp balr at bar clay, IV rrtar sflayshe *1 eat cnrolng b«wao. aod In ’ that roasrai tl rink tog piece as a crowd. It was a noisy I didn't want to walk owt Into the street or seem afraid. But I had to do both. There were several young men and. If they weren't drunk they rortn them before, but 1 think they must lielong to tbe mining company that w as run out of Sonora by rebels. Any way, these young felhvws were Amer icana. They stretched themselves across the walk and smiled at me. I had to go out in the road. One of them, the rudest, followed me. He was a Mg fellow, red-faced, with prom inent eyes and a hold look. He came up beside me and spoke to me. * I run home. And us I run I heard his com panions Jeering. “Well, today. Just now. when I was riding up the valley road I came upon the same fellows. They had Instru ments and were surveying. Remem bering Dick, and how he always wished for an Instrument to help work curt his plan for imitation, I was cer tainly surprised rto sec* these strangers surveying—and surveying upon Bad dy's plot of land. It was a sandy road there, and Jose happened to be walking. So I reined In and asked these enpineers wbat they were do- inp. The reader, who was that same bold fellow who had followed me, seemed much pleased .at being ad dressed. He said he was glad to tell "me he was going to run water all over Altar "volley. ’ Dad, you can bet that made me wild. 17 iat " ns Y^ck’s plan, his discovery, artd here were surveyors on Buddy's claim. “Then I told bln* that he ivas work ing on private land and he’d better get off. He said something about not seefng nnj'squatter^ on ffie land, and then he shut up tight on that score. But he began to be flirty Again. H* got hold of Jose's bridle, and ‘ heforq I could catch my breath he gold 1 was a peach, that he Y*bt*d to make a date with me, that hla name was Chase, that^ie owned a gold mine Mexico He said a lot more I dldn t gather, but urhoa be called ’Dearie’ I—well. I lo*t »y tamper CTO US rosTIHCkU t C OUGHS gnd toLk expooa you to <i*a- frepout lung gad bron chial dixcgoee. Bear '• EmuLuon bring* rtlicf from cough*, cold* bron chitis gad weak lungs. Break* up colds quick ly—pleasant to takfl, builds up tho run-duwu system. For sals at Isoding dr Ists. Ms feet.from ■Ml gists. May L* ordered «J» JOHN D. BEAR CO* r Clear brook, V*. HELP YOURSELF GET WELL FAST I F you have been id, and it aeems as if you never would get your 'strength back, you need the won derful strengthening and rebuilding qualities of Gude’s Pepto-Mangan. It has helped thousands of invalids and convalescents to get .back their strength, put on firm flesh, eat well, sleep well, feel well and BE well! Your druggist has Gude’s Pepto- Mangan—liquid or table's, as you pre- a Gude’s Pepto-Mangan Tonic and Blood Enricher* French City's Gooc Work. The city of Calais. France, hat started a municipal drliy and clair; farm, the milk from v’hlch Is to bi testwL-py hentttr offtccVf Und tfre rovrr*; - fed scientifically to ket-ji the qualit: up to that prescribed for voting babies * Sure Relief FOR INDIGESTION