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/ TH1? PFOPI.E. B^RNWEM.. 8. C i iimiHi GOLD by Zane Grey !, Etc. Copyright by Harper ft Brother*. miii«»iiiiiiiiiiiiiMiM rUOnU CHAPTER XV^-Contlnuad. <7-15—• ” “Thorne ? Thortie! Ifa all right. XC* all right I" cried Gala, in plerdng tfloea. "Mercetle* la wife! Yaqu! nved her! Rojas la done fort Yaqol Jmupetl down the wall and drove the Nuidft off the ledge. Cut him loose from the wall, foot by foot. Land by hand! We’ve won the fluht. Tlmme." For Thome thebe Were raarveloirf strength-giving words. The dark hor ror left his eyea. nn<l they began to dilate, to shine. He stood up. dizzily but unaided, and he gased acro^a the crater. Yaqul had renched the side of Mercedes, was bending over her. She atlrred. Yaqul lifted her to her feet. She appeared weak, unuhle to stand alone. But she faced across the crater and wared her hand. Sim waa on banned. The Yaqul wared, too, and Gale saw In the action an argent signal. Hastily taking op canteen and rifle*. n«1e put a eupporttng ana around Thome Tome, old man Cen yen walk? Bur* you ran walk! I^een on me. ami we’ll euun get out ef thla iHm't look I>x>k whore you atop We've time before dart. Ob. t. I’m afraid Jim haa mahed la* ▲ad the i**t I mw of Loddy be waa badly hurt • (Jele *aa keyed op to a high pltrft •t esnieme^f aad alert aesmsi to be aKU t But a»*e *W the r«rt*d Mfrbr I laeu bMo the trail be with Tborwe a*d gase afttfllag -Lmrnrn TWw# • W Wat« ftetr ■aad rial*, baltaar mm they man* to a •era wkeeo the trail led iSa m the >••* TW was trying to assldt. Ladd, himself, was conscious, but he was a pallid, apparently a death-stricken man. The greeting between Mercedei and Thorne waa calm—strangely so, it seemed to Gale. But be was now calm himself. Ladd smiled at him. nnd evidently would have spoken had he t|ie power. Yaqul then Joined the group, and hla piercing eyea roved from one to the other, lingering long est over Lndd. “Dick, I’m flggftr’n’ hard,” said Jim, faintly. "In a minute It’ll be up to you an* Mercedes. I’ve about shot my holt. . . *. Reckon you’ll do—beat by, hrlndn* op blankets—water—salt— firewood. I.addy’s got—one chance— !n a hundred. Fix him up--first. Use hot salt water. If my leg’s broken— art It beat you can. That hole In Yaqul—only*!! bother hire a day.* Thome's bad hurt- . . . Now rustle —Dick, aid—boy.** Laah'a votes died away In a husky wbUpur. and be quietly lay back. awd yAsrm a vwsrw IW taeu * T•*% tW turn' Alaaeas krft Alt qwta* IW 1+4 r »»eu f* Jim * mned Oaw ft IW eaewe at la«w arw yaftf Oft yaw aaft ag a gaa* I tWwgWf yaw wava ftswd Oft t ■» fta4 la saw f«wt Jim am paw Jim tw*» ataed m IW ti •bw* M • II* •%* paW aw* maim • ara aiaad* A ItfkMy raa» I hia wfl am >aat aW*a IW loea TW keg Saag i:mft aftA iW 1 rar*«w I stay tM*4 Jim ft—t If yew waat *a feaaw * Iwftty • «ft • Save a tftfttvr “lie’s Jaat arviai IW erweft f ••• trying I* fet ta him We ft be* a a heavy a as pretty had •* <» ef> Wfaee W ta Head fteja« WP tW traA . . , fHrk <tvi yau *ae tW Yaqul gw after Rojav^ "fHd ir »«rlalm«d dele grlmfy. .The flotab waa all that wned me from runnlB' lore I rv*ia*i our chaocaa are agatnai flndln' (Add? alive ... I tell you l-cnH Rojaa wsa h- I Nent An' Mcr^ede* ee* game. I *aw her ahont him. Rut tuehNe bullet a rfmldnY atop him then. If I didn't aweaf Mood "hen Mcrcedea ana flshfln' him «>n the rllff! Then the flnlnh ! Only a Yaqul cmild have done that. . . . Thome, how about youT Dick, la he had hurt?” "No, he's n»*t. A hnrd knock on fhe •kull and a sculp wound.” reptled Dick. "Here. Jim let me help yon over this plnce." Step by step Onle got the two In jured men down fhe uneven declivity and then across the narrow lava bridge over the fissure. Here he hade them rest while he went along the frail on that side to search for I>addj. Onle found the r.»nger stretched out. fnee downward, n reddened hnml clutching n gun. (Jnle thought lie was dead. Upon examination, however, It was found that Ladd still lived, though he had many wounds. Dale lifted him and carried hlrri hack to the others. "He’s alive, hut that's »ll.” said Laddy la alive. Thome’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 hla hot face. Then she rose —a woman sucb as he had Imagined she might be in an hour of trlaL Gale took up Ladd as carefully and gently as possible. "Mercedes, bring what you can carry and follow me,” he said. Then, motioning for Yaqul to remain there, he turned down the slope with Ludd In hia arms. Neither pausing nor making a mis step nor conscious of great effort. Gale carried the wounded man down Into the arroyo. Mercedes kept at hia heels, light, supple, lithe aa a panther. He left her with Ladd and went back. When be had started off with Thorne In his anus be felt the tax on hla strength. Surely and swiftly, however, be bore the cavalry man down the trail to lay him !»e«lde Ladd. Again he started bark, and whea be began to mount tbe steep lava steps bo was hoc. wet. breathing bard. As be reached tbe scene of that alghi'a camp a voice greeted him Jim (Aab waa aHUag ap. “Hello. Dtrb. I woke some late this morula’ Where's Laddy? carried the roots and leaves of desert plants unknown to~Gale. From these tbe Indian brewed an ointment. Then he stripped the bandages from Ladd and applied tbe mixture to hla wounds. That done, he let him lie with tbe wounda exposed to the air, at night covering him. , Next -day he again exposed the wounda to the warm, dry air. Slfftvly they closed, and Ladd cealed to bleed externally. Days passed and grew Into what Gale Imagined must have been weeks. Yaqul recovered fully. Jim Lash be gan to move about on a crutch; he shared the Indian’s watch over Ladd. Thome lay a haggard, emaciated ghost of his former rugged self, but with life In the eyes that turned al ways toward Mercedes. Ladd lingered and lingered. Tbe life seemingly would not leave hla ballet-pierced body. Tbe tireless. Implacable, in- scnitahle savage wu ever at tbe ranger’s aide. HI* great somber eyea burned. At length he went to Gale, and with that strange light flitting acroaa the bard bronxed face, be said Ladd would live. ment’s hesitation tbe cavalryman n. plied "No,” Ladd tuen directed hla appeal t< Mercedes. Hla face was now con vulsed, and hia voice, thongh It had sank to p whisper, was clear, and beautiful with some rich quality that Gale had never before beard In It. "Mercedes, you’re a woman. You’re the woman we fought for. An’ some of us are shore goln’ to die for you. Don’t make It all for nothin’. Let ns feel we saved the woman. Shore yon can make Thorne go. He’ll have to go If you say. They’ll all have to go. Think of the years of love an’ happi- nesa In store for yon. A week or so an’ It’ll be too late. Mercedes, don’t make It all for nothin'. Say you’ll persuade Thorne, If not the others.” I reck os yam atel peckta' that awful la Jim—aa lb Laddy sad Laaft'a ca*i gwad ea- mdldecafti ■ gar* j* a mam sad wma. ’AJvayu karw yaa aa* a beaky ip Has, lac% yee'vv fta baas! Gel ■H| Tbe amend day after Ladd bad glvea such thin nourishment aa be caald sweltom be recovered tbe em ef bis t«mrae “Hiiii lbla*s ft—L* ft# whispered. That waa ■ cb*racte*1er1c qieech for tbe rmager. Gale tbought; sad Indeed tt made *M whe bad beard It aralle while their eyea wee* wet that ttme forward Ladd aftawty that *atf the eyea ef ftepe * maid hate seam say tmprwe i Jim Lftaft threw sway hla rvwttft | There* •%* weft. If atftl ameewhet rwft*ft tw Taftat iff itw raaaft eqa- maf ed the (keep “gVmw am * rapMed IMae §e ammhey “ •le cried ttw raegee tm >«■ e ew% >i m kk. and «m*e aaeee ameai ftmraad. Jkaa t-eaft eaa ike heetlwaa I aaaa <d ifte tbme kwd Gake i ■aaatdlft I *ka pH ha smmkhsee aarash ta tarry I haa aft the* hruAee taaft he< «rthe I bHk be aakM ftewft dawft eaftftft ( ee.fUy eftd serety eae* the bad ’ ydarea. aad at teas be Hhgjeewd lake ! the aevaya was ftarasftft ftemrt aad fmAftftaftad eyea a w« he had m a Bard trip wg the fta the eaftp aft**** whftft Ya qat had haem aaaM* fta ratty la the lahaw ad waarftftkg aad a era a* ft «aekaad te Gala that twe date sad twe nighta aftypad hf Mb* a few weaewftsd reft fta ef the rare aad wtMaft ap a> that Dick, as he laid the rancor down. "Do whnt you onn. Stop the blood. Lnd- dy’s tough «b ononis, yon know. I’ll hurry baok for Mercedes and Yfrqnl.” Gale, like a fleet, snre-footfvl moun tain sheep, mn along the trail. He oamc n^ton Mercedes nnd the Yaqul. She ran right Into Dick’s arms, nnd then her strength. If not her courage, broke, nnd she grew lax. "Mercedes, yon’rfL safe! Theme’s safe. It’s all right now.” “Rojas V* she whispered. "Gone ? Jo the bottom ef f?»e crater f A Yaqul* vengeance. Ifer He beard ti e girl whlapek the mme ef the Virgin Then be gathered her «P ta bis a he t trail a. TW tr>0 ftnated mm prprtplcra Galea fterdra eaa aet very baavy. bet Its bolb made It anwleltly. sad It waa always o verb* lane tog him ar knock tug agaloot the wall aide at the tralL At laet they reached a level, ami were aouo an tbe spot with Mercedes aod the Injured men. Dale then aet te werk. Yaqul'a part wae to keep the Are biasing and the water bet. Merced***’ to help Gale In wbat way she could Gale found ladd had many wounds, y«*t not one of them waa directly In a vital plat'*. Kvl- dently, the ranger hud almost bled ta death. He remained unconscious through Gale's operations. Jim Lash come on* of hla stupor. A mushrooming bullet had torn a great hole In hla leg. Gale, upon examina tion. could not be sure the bones had been missed, hut there 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 hLs sculp down to the line. When it had been dressed, Mercedes collapsed. Gale laid her with the three In a row assM hft _ <**••*■* Aw* ifte way am**ft eHe Galft efts *ftk paHftyw ifte IhH a^ ftftftair. iftrew ft*Hg te tft* r artefts **4 bft*w Ifte re*ga * ftawM g*t waft • e * a a • • "ftage e*aae paaaaft* aettf Lwftli m | bis law aaflvw “Aft* yee, Maeawbae I t Aft* eeft iHe Tftftft* * Lefts lay ta tfte aftafta af tft* aewaA I l Mkaftea tbwt bft4 ftaew aaaayaft Tbee* | ! aawaaaft toffie a# b*aa ftpt bmp, laqft I j lftaft afttf If || ft*4 ftaf bees fte b*a I tftawgftffwt liaftty ayeft ft** fare I baa* MwwmftAsft * ftaatft aasH I a# a ftaft war*aft la ft aft* wftei mawaftf" aHaft Leftft a a*wae bkft Tfta I wa ft* |e tfte atbeee I at tftet i anas ” waftt aa I t* tftet gieat K VaW’i **• * far.' Fee *1 w aftaei Ms Bppsal beft le me*# bar. Marveftea fttgftt bee* yarn waeaft a bee ft aa besft eftft Bbaft AS tfte twrraamftMft Is “Neaer *“ ftrbfte lb aft, wtrb meet btaeb eye# ftpafttaft tbe ftpaeftli girt ft Ha tbe werft (bat beewft pftfttafta la tbe i Gqle ibeeebt (bet be reeft a Hbloter peryaea ft IftftCU fttftft. T* Ms aataftlaftmswt. Leaft eama te Mas wttb tbe mme faery Aflae tftet they ftftfta eertele fbere ■**** wea a tfte to Gales three case imth of tbe tft* flamed wooed dUwppr«re«L Neqf Biornlag he was ceaaci«HiA aod Gala nnd covered them with blankets and the tarpaulin. Then Yaqul submitted to examina tion. A bullet had gone through the Indian’s shoulder. To Gale it npi>eared serious. Yaqul said It was a flea bite. But he allowed Gale to bandage It. and obeyed when he waa told to lie quiet in hla blanket beside the fire. Gale stood guard. The hour had come for him to face hla great prob lem. It was natural that be hung back A little at flntt; natural that when he went forward to look at the quiet deepen be did m with • grim and stern force nrrlng him. Yaqul stirred, rnnaafl. yawned, got apt aed. though he did not amII* at 0*1* a light swiftly acra«a Ms dark fftc* Hla Gala Carried the Wouqged Man Down Into the A(*toyo. grasped some of the hope that Mer cedes had never abandoned. He forced her to rest while he attended to Thorne. That day ho saw that tbe crisis waa past Recovery for Thorne waa now possible, and would perhaps depend entirely upon the cure ha ro ad Match * awM Jim “Bi n tra Aftrft see In Aft* ceeY yen feat it's ba«r ft IB April V- LeH ftewty, “Wall what Fm drfeM’ at la IT* fiat* ywa all *•* Mtttn* the trail to rwrbani lll*ar. before tbe weterbnlee dry wot " “Laddy. | rrefcoo well atari aa you’re able to be put on a "Shore that’ll be toe late." A alienee rnaoed. In which thorn who heard Iftdd gaxed fixedly at him and then at one another. Lath un easily shifted tbe |a>altloo of his lame leg. and Gale saw him moisten bis Ups with hla tongue. "Charlie Ladd, I ain’t reckonin’ you mean we’re to ride off an’ leave you here?” "What else la there to do? The hot weather's close. Pretty soon roost of the wnterholes will be dry. You can’t travel then. ... I’m on my back here, an’ God only knows when I could be packed oat Not for weeks, tnebbe. I’ll never he any good again, even If I was to get out alive. . . . You see, shore this sort of case cogues round sometimes in the desert. It’s common enough. I’ve heard of sev eral cases where men had to go an’ leave a feller behind. It’s reasonable. If you’re fightln’ tbe desert you can’t ’ afford to be sentimental. . . . Now. as I said. I’m all lq. So what’s the Sense of you waitin’ here, when it means'the old desert story? By goln’ now mebbe yoii’ll get home. Shore now, boys, you’ll, see this the right way? Jim. old pfird?" "No, Laddy, an’ I can’t Agger how yon could ever ask me." "Shore then leave me here with Ya qul an’ a couple of the bosses. We can eat sheep meat. An’ If the water holds out—” ^ "Nof” Interrupted Lash, violently. Ladd’s eyea sought Gale’s face. “Son, you ain’t bull-bended like Jlno. You’ll a^e the sense of it There's Nell a waitin' hack at Forlorn River. Think what it means to her! Ton’ll gp, ,aoo. won’t your Pick shook hia head. Tbs ranger turned Ms the keen, fftsteninf •yea had Marred. wttb Jbft*» • toot, an’ yo«ft( Galt has been by efteya there* He • gat mm Gradually a ■amber ftieft ftftad the raft ft rely free af It ha began to gather dally,. Tbaa ft waa as If be knew* patience- be phe bad •haw* ae well bow te wait Ha waa la a frmty to get w*K. Hie ap petit* could not bo aatlaOed The aan climbed higher, whiter, hot ter Every day the water In the lav* h*k> tank aa Inch. The Yaqul alone spent the waiting times In activity. He made trips up un the lava slope, and each lima ha returned with guns ar boots or som brero*. or something belonging ta tha bandits that had fallen. Those waiting days grew into week* Ladd gained very slowly. Neverthe less, at last be coski walk about and soon he averred that stropped to g horse, be could last out tha trip to Forlorn River. There wan rejoicing In comp, and plans were eagerly suggested. Tha Yaqul happened to be absent Whoa he returned the rangers told him they were sow ready to undertake tha Journey back across lava and cactua, Yaqul shook his head. They de clared again their Intention. "No!’’ replied the Indian, and bfv deep, sonorous voice rolled out upon the quiet of the^ arroyo. He spoke briefly then. They^had waited toe long. The smaller waterholes back in the trail were dry, Tbe hot sunt- mer wa£ upon them. There could bq only death waiting down In tha burn ing valley. Here v as water and grass and wood and shade from the sun’s rays, and sheep to be killed on tha peaks. "Walt for rain,” concluded Yaqul, and now as never before he spoke a« one with authority. “If no rain—” Silently he lifted n speaking hand. tTO BB OJWTINUBD.) Amsrieam Sv~tm*it provM^ft pfeftftftftt ftctloft lor your feetlt* •!•© penetrallnfj the crevices and cleansing them* Then, too. It nlds digestion. Use WRIGLEY*S alter •very meal-see hovr much better yoft will leeL V p ryvl LOOM Lloyds Baby Carriages CrFwmituro Ask Your Local Dealer I ■ — Write Now lor 32-Page Illus trated Booklet GOOD CIGARETTES OCNUINC ‘Bull* DURHAM TMACCO WHICH iriioam son. dt' tiled tt? Show at a glance the varieties of each vegetable to plant for eartwoftk yield, length of bearing aeaeoo. for whatever purpuoa U moot di The moat helpful catalog we over Issued la ready to be mailed you free on request. FREE FLOWER SEEDS 0*r IMS Otutof uUi hs* ftm au tw* tea «UJkMU cost. 8«o4 s post swd tat mu oof* T. W. WOOD A SONS, Sredsmm 37 S. 14th St. R*ciixon», Va. i —^ seir LVEPfv v : r*: Ryzon BAKiNG POWDtR ' i • * *' ■ t ’€'$& ? . "Only a Man.* Edith Wharton, the writer, told thh war story: "The American wounded were being brought in from the see uod Mara* baltto.” aha Hid. "and • fuaa>-looking watnan In a khaki out fora and Sam Browne bait. knelt over The otretefter and said. 'la thla or oafy • maaf PISOS /nr (oiiohi Siohil w. R. U. CHARLOTTE, NO. 8-1923. Usually Angela—A. clock la 41ffer«ot from a man. ' Andrew—What da you me#n? _ " Angela WeQ. whe* ft ~Tr gllfr ftoetM f«a wurklag /