Newspapers / Jackson County Journal (Sylva, … / Aug. 3, 1923, edition 1 / Page 6
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Desert Gold ZANE GREY h Author of Riders of tKe Purple Sage, Wildfire, Etc. Copyrlg f!!?/"^r^^noooooooooooa?oooooooooogc^ ooooooooo66o65oooooooooo^ CHAPTER XII.? Continued. ?13? More shots rang out. Yuqul was seen standing erect firing rapidly at r lie darting Mexicans. For all Gaile could make out no second bullet took effect, ltojas and his men vanished behind the bulge of lava. The Yaqul 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 waa 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 cast by the choyas, Gale was of the opinion that it was a long wait. But it seemed short. Gale had the upper position, farthest to the right, and therefore was best shielded from posslbe fire from the higher ridges of the rim, some three hundred yards distant. Jim came next, well hidden In a crack. The positions of Thome and Ladd were most exposed. They kept sharp lookout over the uneven rampart of their hiding-place. Suddenly the dead stillness was rent by a shot, clear and stinging, close at hand. It was from a rille, not a carbine. With startling quick- ^ ness a cry followed ? a cry that pierced Ga16 ? it was so thin, so Jilgh-' y keyed, so different from all other1 cries. It was the Involuntary human shriek of death. . "Yaqul's called ouf another pard ner," said Jim Lash, laconically. Carbines began to crack. The re * ports were quick, light, like sharp spats without any ring. Gale made out round spots, dark against the background of red, and In front of them leaped out small tongues of fire. Ladd's .40.") began to "spang" with ,its beautiful sound of powerv Thome was( firing, somewhat wildly. Gale thought. Then Jim I.ash pushed his Winchester over the rim under a cl'ova. and between shots Gale could h.ar bin) singing: "Turn the lady, tnrii-?-turn the lady, turn! A!uman left! Swjng.your pardners! . . . Forward an' back! . . . Turn the lady, turn!" Gale got Into tl'f fight himself, not so sure that he I k hit any of the round, bobbing objects be aimed at, but growing sure of him self as action liberated something forced and congested within his bfrensf. Then over the position of the rang ers came a hail of steel ballets. Those that struck the lava hissed away into the crater; those that came biting! through the elvayas made a sound ?which resembled a sharp ripping of silk. Bits of cacttis stung Gale's face, and he dreaded the flying thorns more thnn he did the flying bullets. "Hold on, boys," called Ladd, as he crouched down, to reload his rifle. "Save your shells. The Gceasers are spread in' on us, some golri' down be low Yaqui, others movin' up for that high ridge. When they get up there Tm d ? d If It won't be hot for us. There ain't room for us to hide here." Ladd raised himself to peep over the rim. Shots were now scattering, and all appeared to come from below. A volley of shots from a different angle was followed by the quick ring of steel bullets striking the lava all around Gale. His first Idea, as he heard the projectiles sing and hum and whine away Into the air, was that they wore coming from above him. He looked up to see a number) of low, white and dark knobs upon the high point of lava. They had not been there before. Then he saw ittle, pale, leaping tongues of fire. As he dodged down he distinctly heard a bullet strike Ladd. At the same instant he seemed to hear Thome cry out and fall, and Lash's boots scrape rapidly away. Ladd fell backward still holding the .405. Gale dragged hini Into the shel ter of his own position, and dreading to look at him. took up the heavy weapon. It was with a kind of sav age strength that he gripped the rifle; arid it was with a cold and deadly In tent that he aimed and fired. The first Greaser huddled low, let his carbine go clattering down, and then crawled behind the rim. The second and third jerked back. The fourth seemed tc flop up over tho crest of kiva. A dark arm reached for him, clutched his leg, tried to drag him up. It was In vain. Wildly grasping at the air the bandit fell, slid down a steep shelf, rolled over the rim, to go hurtling down out of sight. "Shore ? I'm d? n glad? them Greas ers ain't usin' soft-nose gullets," drawled a calm voice. * Swift as lightning Gale whirled. "Laddy! I thought you were done for,"- cried Gale, with a break In his voice. - Tbe ranger's blouse was open at the neck, and on his right shoulder under the collar bope was a small hole just beginning to bleed. "Sure It's high, Laddy," repliediGale. gladly. "Went clear through, clean as a whistle!" H*? tore a handkerchief Into two parts, made wads, and pressing them close over the wounds he bound them there with Ladd's scarf. "Laddy, I? I'm afraid Thome's done XXXXXOOOOCXXXXXAJ^^ for," whispered Gale. "He's lying | over there In that crack. I can see part of him. He doesn't move." "I was wonderin' if I'd have to tell you that. Dick, he went down hard hit, faliln', 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 Tiiorne had to be the man." "Laddy. maybe he's not dead," re plied Gale. He called aloud to his friend. There was no answer. Ladd got up< and, after peering keenly at the height of lava, he strode I 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 rlslngf- 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 a car bine cracked and a bullet struck the flinty lava, striking sparks, then sing ing Into the air. Thorne was either dead or uncon- I scious. and Gale, with a contracting throat ,and numb heart, decided for the former. Not so Ladd, who probed I the bloody gash on Thome's temple, and then felt Ills breast. "He's alive an' not bad hurt. That bullet hit him glancin'. Shore them steel bullets are some lucky for us. Dick, you needn't look so glum. I tell J you he ain't bad hurt. I felt his skull with my finger. There's no hole In it. Wash him off an' tie ? Wow! did you get the wind of that one? An' rnebbe it didn't sing off the lava!" It was Indeed a joy to Gale to find that Thorne had not received a wound necessarily fatal, though It was seri ous enough. Gale bathed and hound it, and laid the cavalryman against the slapt of the bank, his head high to lessen the probability of bleeding. Ag Gale straightened up Ladd mut tered low and deep, and swung the heavy rifle around to the left. Far along the slope a figure moved. Ladd began to work the lever of the Win chester and to shoot. At every shot Gale saw the bullets strike the Java behind, beside, before the fleeing Mexican, sending up dull puffs of dust. On the sixth shot he plunged down out of sight, either hit or frightened into seeking cover. "Dick, inebbe there's one or two left above; but we needn't fiKEer much on it," said Ladd. as, loading the rifle, he jerked his fingers quickly from the hot breech. "Listen ! Jim an' Yaqul are hittin' it up lively down below. I'll sneak down there. You stay here an' keep about half an eye peeled up yonder, an' keep the rest my way." There seemed a lull in the battle. Gale ventured to stand high, and, screened behind clioyns, he r.wept the three-quarter circle of lava with his glass. In the distance lie saw horses, but no riders. Below him. down the slope along the crater rim and tha trail, the lava was bare of all except tufts of cboya. Gale gathered assur- | It Looked as If the Day Was Favoring ' His Side. ance. It looked as if the da.- was favoring his side. Then Thorne, com ing partly to consciousness, engaged Gain's care. < The cavalryman stirred and moaned, called for water, and then for Mercedes Gale held him back with a strong hand, and present ly he was once more q'llet. 'Suddenly harsh, prolonged yells brought Gale to his feet. Far down the trails where the crater rims closed in the deep fissure he saw moving forms. They were three in number. Two of them ran nimbly across the lava bridge. The thtul staggered far behind. It was Ladd. He appeared hard hit. He dragged at the heavy rifle, which he seemed unable to raise. The yells came from him. He waS\ calling the Yaqui. Gale's heart stood still momentnr lly. Here, then, was the catastrophe! He hardly dared sweep that fissure with his glass. The two fleeing fig ures baited? turned f Are at Ladd. < Gale recognized the foremost one ? small, compact, gaudy? Rojas I The bandit's arm was outstretched. Puffs of white smoke rose, and shots rapped out. When Ladii went down Rojas threw his gun aside and vwith a wild yell bounded over the lava. His com panion followeJ, A tide of passion, first hot as fire, then cold as ice, rushed o\er Gale 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 seemed to run full Into an invisible obstacle, then fell Iar, inert, lifeless. Rojas sped on unmindful of the spurts of dust about him. Taqul, high above Ladd, was also firing at the bandit. Then both rifles were emptied. Rojas turned at a high break In the trail. He shook a defiant hand, and his ex ulting yell pealed faintly to Gale's ears. About him there was something desperate, magnificent. Then he clam bered down the trail. Ladd dropped the .405, and rising, gun In hand, lie staggered toward the bridge of lava. Before he had crossed It Yaqui came bounding down the slope, nnd In one splendid leap he cleared the fissure., > He ran beyond the trail and disappeared on rhe lava above. Rojas had not seen this sud den, darting move of the Indian. Gale wondered, fearfully, what had become of Lash. Presently, when Rojas came out of the cracks and ruts of lava there might be a chance of disabling him by a long shot. His progress was now slow. But he was making straight f of Mercedes' hiding place. What was it leading him there ?an eagle eye, or hate, or Instinct? Why did he go on when there could be no turning hack for him on that trnil? Ladd was slow, heavy, stag gering on the trail; but he was re lentless. Only death could stop the ranger now. Surely Rojas must have known that when he chose the trail. From/ time ,(to time Gale caught glimpses of Taqui's dark figure steal ing along the higher rim of the crater. He was making for a point above the bandit. < , . Ladd staggered along the trail; at times l:e crawled. The Yaqui gained; he might have! had wings; he leaped from jagged crust to Jagged crust ; his sure-footedness was a wonderful thing. But for Gale the marvel of that endless period of watching was the purpose of the bandit Rojas. He had now no weapon. Gale's glass made this fact plain. There was death he hind him, death below him, desth be fore him, and though he could not have known it. death above him. He never faltered? ne%er made a misstep upon the narrow, flinty trail. When he reached the lower end of the level ledge Gale's poignant doubt became a certainty. Hojns had seen Mercedes. It was Incredible, j-et Gale believed it. Then, his heart clamped as In an Icy vise. Gale threw forward the Reming ton, and sinking on one knee, began to shoot. He emptied the magazine. Puffs of dust near Rojas did not even make him turn. Gale wheeled, rigid now, steeling himself to one last forlorn hope ? that Mercedes could defend herself. She had a gun. He doubted not at all that she would use it. But, remembering her terror of this savagf, he feared for her. Rojas readied 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 faint shots patted the air, broke in quick eJjo. Rojns went down as it struck by a heavy blow. He was hit. Cut even afi Gale yelled in sheer madness the bandit leaped erect. He seemed too quick, too sup ple to be badly wounded. A slight, dark figure flashed out of the cave. Mercedes! She backed against the wall. Gale saw a puff of white ? heard a report. But the bandit lunged at her. Mercedes ran, not to try to pass him, but straight for the precipice. Her intention was plain. But Rojas outstripped her, even as she reached the verge. " Then a pierc ing stream pealed across the crater ? a scream of despair. Gale closed his eyes. He could not bear to see more. Thorne echoed Mercedes' scream. Gale looked round just In time to leap and catcli the cavalryman as he stag gered. apparently for the steep slope. And then, as Gale dragged him back, both fell. Gale saved his friend, but he plunged into a choya. He drew his hands away full of the great glis tening cones of thorns. "For God's sake. Gale, shoot! Shoot! Kill her! Kill her! . . . Can't ? you ? see ? Rojas ? " Thorne fainted. Oalo, stunned for the instant, stood with uplifted hands, and gazed from Thorne across the crater. Rojas had not killed Mercedes. He was over powering her. His actions seemed slow, wearing, purposeful. Hers were violent. Lake a trapped she-wolf, . Mercedes was fighting. She tore, struggled, flung herself. Rojas' Intention was twribly plain. 1 In agony now, both mental and physical, Cold and siqk and weak, Gale gripped bis rifle and aimed at the struggling forms on the ledge He pulled the trigger. The bullet struck up a cloud of red dust close to the. struggling couple. Again Gale fired; hoping to hit Rojas, praying to kill Mercedes. The bullet struck high. A thirds-fourth ? fifth time the Reming ton spoke ? in vain ! The rifle fell from Gale's racked bands. Bow horribly plain that fiend's In tention ! Gale tried to close his 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 you dead?" cried Gale. "Oh. Laddy ! ... Oh, Yaqul !" 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. "Yaqul !w screamed Gale, and he waived his bleeding hands till the blodd bespattered his face. Then he choked. Utterance became impossible. The Indian bent over Rojas and flung him against the wall. Mercedes, sinking back, 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's hand. Rojas turned and ran. Yaqui followed slowly. His figure was dark and menacing. But he was not In a hurry. When he passed off the ledge Rojas was edging farther and farther along the wall. He was clinging now to the lava, creeping inch by inch. Perhaps he had thought to work Gale Heard ? or Imagined He Heard ? That Wild, Strange Yaqul Cry. o around the luttress or climb over it. Evidently he went as far as possible, and there lie clung, an unscalable wall above, the abyss beneath. The approach of the Yaqui was like a slow dark shadow of gloom. If it seemed so to the stricken Gale what must it have been to Rojas? He ap peared to sink against the wall. The Yaqul stole closer and closer. He was the savage now, and for him the. mo ment must have been glorified. Gale saw him gaze up at the great circling walls of the crater, theij down into the depths. Perhaps the red haze hang ing above him, or the purple haze be low, or the deep caverns in the lava, held for Yaqui spirits^of the desert, his gods to whom he called. Perhaps he invoked shadows of his loved ones and his race, calling thein 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. IIow slow were his motions! Would Yaqui never ? never end It? ... A wail drifted across the crater to Gale's ears. Rojas foil backward and plunged sheer. The bank of white choyas caught him, held him upon their steel spikes. How long did the dazed Gale sit there watching Rojas wrestling and writhing in convulsive frenzy* The bandit now seemed mad to win the dela yed death. o When he broke free he was a white patched object no longer human, a ball of choya burrs, and he slipped off the hank to shoot down and down into the purple depths of the crater CHAPTER XII/ ? Changes at Forlorn River. The first of March saw the ederal occupation of the garrison at Casita. After a short, decisive engagement the rebels were dispersed into small hands and driven eastward along the boundary line toward Nogales. It was the destiny of Forlorn River, however, never to' return to the slow, sleepy tenor of Its former existence. Belding's predictions came trne. That straggling line of home-seekers was but a forerunner of the real Invasion of Altar valley. Refugees from Mex ico and from Casita spread/the word that water and wood andj grass and land were to be had at Forlorn River; and as if by magic the white tents and red adobe houses sprang up to glisten in the sun. Keldlqg was happier than he had been for a long time. He believed that evil days for Forlorn River, along with the apathy and lack of enterprise, were in the past. He hired a couple of trustworthy Mexicans to "What?" "Not to mention it to mother, not to pack a Run down there, and never, never tell Dick." Belding was silent. 'Seldom did he mnke promises readily "If you don't promise I'll never tell, that's all," she declared, firmly. (< Belding deliberated a little longer. He knew the girl. "Well, I promise not to tell moth er," he said, presently ; "and seeing you're here safe r.nd well, I guess t won't go packing a gun down thrt-e, wherever that is. But I won't promise to keep anything from Dick that per haps he ought to know." Nell, regaining her composure, wlpetf her eyes and smoothed back her hair. "The other day, Wednesday," sh? be^an, "I was coming home, and In front of that mescal drinking place there was a crowd. It was a noisy crowd. I didn't want to walk out Into i the street or seem afraid. But I had to do both. There were several young men, and if they weren't drunk they certainly were rude. I never saw them before, but I think they must belong to the mining company that was run out of Sonora by rebels. Any way, these young fellows were Amer icans. They stretched themselves ; across the walk and smiled at me. I , had to go out in the road. One o< them, the rudest, followed me. He was a big fellow, red-faced, with prom inent eyes and a bold look. He came up beside me and spoke to me. I ran home. And as I ran I heard his com panions jeering. "Well, today, just now, when I wu riding up the valley road I came upon the same fellows. They had instru ments and were surveying. Remem bering Dick, and how he alwayt wished for an instrument to help work out his plan for irrigation, I was cer tainly surprised to see these stran&or? surveying ? and surveying upon Lad dy's plot of land. It was a sandy road there, and Jose happened to be walking. So I reined in and asked these""' ?ngineers what they were do- j ing. The leader, who was that same ! bold fellow who had followed me, ' seemed much pleased at being ad? dressed. lie said he was glad to tell me he was going to run water all over Altar valley. Dad, you can bet that | made me wild. That was Dick's plan. I his discovery, and here were surveyors on Laddy's claim. "Then I told him that he was work ing on private land and he'd better get off. He said something about not seeing any squatters on the land, and then he shut up tight on that score. But he began to be flirty again. He got hold of Jose's bridle, and before I could eaten my breath he said I was a peach, that he wanted to make a date with me. that his name wad Chase, that he owned a gold mine In Mexico. He said a lot more I didn't gather, but when he called me 'Dearie' I ? well, I lost my temper. (TO BB CONTINUED.) How Barbados Got Name. Barbados is the Spanish name of the bearded figtree, native to the island ; It has a trunk of pnenomenal thicknesi in proportion to Its height, concealed from view by the low t branches benO ing down aronnd it ; ( ride the ooundary line, aac ft* aettlaa down to think of ranching and Irriga tion and mining projects. Every morn ing he expected to receive some word from Sonoyta or Yuma, telling him that Yaqul had guided his party safe ly across the desert. Among the many changes coming to pass in Forlorn River were the install ing of post office service and the building of a mescal drlnking-house. Beldlng had worked 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. Belding, with Carter and other old residents, saw the need of a sheriff for Forlorn River. One morning early In this spring month, while Belding was on his way from the house to the corrals, he saw Nell running Blanco Jose down the road at a 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-foot wire fence, and came clattering into the yard. It did not take more than half an eye for Belding to see that she wan furious. i "Nell, what's come off now?" asked Belding. 'Tin not' going to tell you," she re plied, and started away, leading Jose toward the corral. Belding leisurely followed. She went Into the corral, removed Jose's bridle, and led him to the watering trough. Belding came up, and with out saying anything began to unbuckle Jose's saddle girths. But he ventured a look at Nell. The red had gone from her face, and he was surprised to see her eyes brimming with tears. Most assuredly this was not one of Nell's tantrums. While taking off Jose's , saddle and hanging it in the shed Belding pondered in his slow way. When he came back to the corral Nell had her face against the bars, and she was crying. He slipped a big arm around her and waited. "Dad, I don't want von to think me a ? a baby'any more," she said. "I've been insulted." With a specific fact to make clear j thought In Belding's mind he was never slow. "I knew something unusual had come off. I guess you'd better tell j me." "Dad, I will, if you promise." Have a packet in your pocket for ever-ready refreshment. , Aids digestion. Allays thirst. Soothes the throat. For Quality, Flavor and the Sealed Package, VICTIMS RESCUED Kidney, liver, bladder and uric acid troubles are most dangerous because of their insidious attacks. Heed the first warning they give that they need attention by taking LATHROP'S B3333S33 The world's standard remedy for these disorders, will often ward off these dis eases and strengthen the body against furtherattacks. Threesizes.alldnjpgisti. Look for the name Gold Medal on every box and acccpt no Imitation Cuticura Soap SHAVES Without Mug Cotieora Soap is the faTOriteforsafetyraior^.a-.-.^g MORPHINE and WHISKEY HABITS Succesjfuil) treated by new painless method. 13th fuccesj lul year. Correspondence confidential. William* Private Sanitarium. Greensbo??. N. C W. N. U., CHARLOTTE, NO. 29-1923 DIVERSIONS OF THE ROMANS ' Sporting Men Used Quail as Well cs Cocks for Popular Combats in the Arena. I The Romans used qunils as well cocks for fight ins. Quail cnnih.it* were well Renown anions the ?n<-i?*nt*. | and especially at Athens. Tire <1ii nese have been always extremely fond of quail-fighting. as appears fnn ninny accounts of those people. Th" Sumatrians likewise use the l?ir<Is !n the manner of gamecocks. Cocks and quail, fitted for the pur pose of engaging one another ,t?? t!." last gasp for diversion are frequently compared by the Rom. in writer- to gladiators, remarks the IVtroit NVr-v A circle was made in which the I>:p!< were placed, and he whose aju.-til wa* driven out of the circle lost the stak*. which was sometimes money ;in<l ?>? casionallv the quails themselves. An other practice was to produce one of the birds, which being first filliped with the middle finger, a feather was tl.Ti plucked from its head. If the quail bore this operation without fliw-Mn? his master pained the st:ik<", hut l"*t It If the bird ran away. The Young Philosopher. A young philosopher wa< empl^.wil In one of the stores at a sahry $6.50 per week. He told his efnph'J'W one morning that he was p<>ins *" leave, having found a better p!.:"' "A better, place?" echoei his em ployer. "What wapes are y.ui t<? ? "Six dollars a week.-' "But that is not as much y" here." / , , "No." said the boy. "but then i".-* better to do less and g'-r - > run'1.! than to do more and not P-'t er.Aj!-'* Let Sleeping "Dogs" Lie. She ? \VhiIe you are askitt" ; my hand, I'll play somethln. !?' the piano. He ? I'd father you wouMn't, ?! You know some people > ? ? keep their feet still when *h lively music. ? Boston KvenlJfc script. . . r^St. ?an'* Trar.
Jackson County Journal (Sylva, N.C.)
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Aug. 3, 1923, edition 1
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