Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / March 2, 1923, edition 1 / Page 2
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.i Si: :. IDE'S Copyright by Harper A Brother. . . : U(hWi!IIIIIlllM CHAPTER XV Continued. 19 "Thome 1 Thornel Iff all right If a all right tM cried Oale, tn piercing tones. "Mercedes la safe I Taqul saved her I Rojaa Is dona fori Taqul Jumped down the wall and drove the bandit off the ledge. Cut him loose from the wall, foot .by foot, Land by hand I We've won the fight, Thorne, For Thorne these were marvelous Strength-giving words. The dark hor ror left his eyes, and they began to dilate1, to shine. He stood np, dizzily but unaided, and he gazed across the crater. Taqul had reached the side of , Mercedes, was bending over her. She !tpai1 V o n I lfftiwf hoi to hap foat She appeared weak, unable to stant? alone. But she faced across the crater and waved her hand. S'ae was un harmed. The Taqul waved, too, and Oale saw In the action an urgent tignaL v Hastily taking up canteen and rifles. Gale put a supporting arm around Thorne. . "Come, old man. Can you walk? Sure you can walk! Lean on me, and we'll soon get out of this. Don't look across. Look where you step. We've v not much time before dark. Oh, Thome, I'm afraid Jim has cashed In I And the last I saw of Laddy be was badly hurt," Gale was keyed np to a high pitch of excitement and alertness. He seemed to be able to do many things. But once off the ragged notched lava 1 Into the trail he had not such difficulty with Thorne, and could keep his keen gaze shifting everywhere for sight of enemies. "Listen, Thorne! What's thatr asked Gale, halting as they came to a place where the trail led down through rough breaks in the lava. The silence was broken by a strange sound, al- most unbelievable considering the time and place. A voice was droning , "Turn the lady, turn I Turn the lady, turn ! Alomon left. All swing ; turn ' roe lady, turn!" , "Hello, Jim," called Gale, dragging Thorne round the corner- of lava -wnere are you? on. you son of a , gun! I thought you were dead. Oh, I'm glad to see you t Jim, are you hurt?" . Jim Lash stood in the trail leaning ow the butt of his rifle, which evl deiitly he was utilizing as a crutch. He was pnle but smiling. His bands were bloody. A scarf had been bound tightly round his left leg Just above tbo knee. The leg hung limp, and the foot dragged. "I reckon I ain't Injured much," re plied Jim; "But my leg hurts like n I, If you want to know." "Laddy! Oh. Where's Laddy?" "He's Just across the crack there, I was trying to get to him. We had It hot an' heavy down here. Laddy was pretty bad shot np before he tried to head . Rojas off the trail. . Dick, did you see the Taqul go after Rojasr y - "Did ir exclaimed Gale, grimly. "The finish was all that saved me : from runnln' loco. I reckon onr chances are against flndln' Laddy alive. . . .1 tell you, boys, Rojas was h 1-bent. An' Mercedes was game. I saw her shoot him. But . ' .mehhe bullets couldn't stop him then. If I didn't sweat blood 'when Mercedes was fightln' him on the cliff! Then the finish I Only a Taqul could have done that. ", ; . Thorne, how about , 700 T Dick, Is he bad hurt?" ; "No, he's not. A hard knock on the ' skull and a scalp p wound." replied Dick.' "Here, Jim let me help you vr this place. :'... Step by step Gale got the two In jured, men down the uneven declivity and then across the narrow lava bridge I over the; fissures Here be bade them ... - ---j-eet while he went along the trail on , that side to search for Laddy. Gale found the ranger stretched out, face downward, a reddened hand clutching a gun.1 Gale thought he was dead. upon examination, However,', it was frtund that Ladd still lived, though he had many wounds. Gale lifted him and carried him back to the others. "He's alive, but thafs all," said Dtck. as he laid the ranger down.. "Do what you can. Stop the blood. Lad dyS tough as cactus, you know. IT) hurry back for Mercedes and Taqul." Gale, like, a fleet, sure-footed mount tain sheep, ran along the , trail. He came upon Mercedes and the Taqul. She ran right Into Dick's arms, and then her strength. If aot her courage, broke, and she grew lax. . - I "Mercedes, you're safe! ' Thome's safe. It's all right now." . "Rojas I? she whispered. , "Cone! To 'the bottom ' of the crater! A Taqul's vengeance, Mer er '." . I heard t! e girl whisper the name (f the Virgin. Then he, gathered her 1.1 in his nrms. ' . . ' "Come. Yaqul." ' ', ' e Indian grunted He had one I pressed close ver a bloody place '? shoulder. Gnle looked keenly 1. Taqul was Inscrutable, as of ". yet (!nle somehow knew ' that i nipnnt little to him. Thela f ""-(;! Mm. ;. -:v- ?'rcetos np to the s ' f t e t." r Jim Lpsh . cvr I " "I T'. Author o" Riders of the Purple !.'! till' was trying to assist Ladd, himself, was conscious, but he was a pallid. apparently a death-stricken man. The greeting between Mercedes and Thorne was calm strangely so, It seemed to Gale. But he was now calm himself. Ladd smiled at him, and evidently would have spoken had he the power. Taqul then joined the group, and his piercing eyes roved from one to the other, lingering long est over Ladd. "Dick, I'm flgger'n' hard." said Jim, faintly. "In a minute It'll be up to you an' Mercedes. I've tibont shot my bolt. . . ; Reckon you'U do best by bringln' up blankets water salt firewood, ; Laddy'sgot one chance In a hundred. Fix him up -first. Use hot salt water. If my leg's broken- set It best you can. That bole in Taqul only'll bother Llm a, day, Thome's bad hurt. . . . Now rustle Dick, old boy." - Lash's voice died away In a husky whisper, and he quietly lay back, "Thornel Thornel It's All Right, It's All Right!" Cried Gate, In Pierc ing Tones. "Mercedes la Safe!" stretching out all but the crippled leg. Gale examined It, assured himself the bones had not been broken, and then rose ready to go down the trail. Mercedes, hold Thornel head np, In your lap so. Now rll go." On the moment Taqul appeared to have completed the binding of his wounded shoulder, and he started to follow Gale. The descent to the ar- royo was swift and easy. Gale hastily put together the things he needed; and, packing them all In a tarpaulin, be turned to retrace his steps up the tralL Darkness was setting In. The trill was narrow, exceedingly steep, and In some places rronted on precipices. Gale's burden was not very heavy, but Its bulk made It unwieldy, and It was always overbalancing him or knocking against the wall side of the trail. At last they reached a level, and were soon on the spot with Mercedes and the Injured men, Gale then set to work. ..Taqui'a part was to keep the fire blazing and the water hot, Mercedes' to help Gale, In what way she could. Gale found Ladd had many wounds, yet not one of them was directly In a vital place. Evl dently, the ranger had almost bled to death. , He remained unconscious through Gale's operations. - 4 ' Jim Lash came out of bis stupor. A mushrooming bullet had torn a great hole In his leg. : Gale, upon examina tion, could not be sure the bones had been missed, but 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 his scalp down fo the tone. ' When it had been dressed, Mercedes collapsed. Gale laid her with the three In a row and covered them with blankets and the tarpaulin. ', , ,. , Then Taqul.. Submitted to examina tion. A bullet had gone through the Indian's shoulder. To Gale It appeared serious.' Taqul said It was a flea bite. But he allowed Gale to bandage It, and obeyed when he was told to Me quiet in his blanket beside the fire. -. Gale stood guard.. The hour had come for him to face his great prob lem. , It was natural that he bung back little at first;. natural that when he went forward to look - at the quiet sleepers he did so with a grim and stem force urging him. Taqul stirred, roused,, yawned, got up ; and, though he did not smile at Gale, a light shone swiftly across . his dark face. Ills shoulder drooped and appeared stiff, otherwise he was himself. Mer cedes1 lay In deep slumber. Thome had a high fever, and was beginning to show signs of restlessness. Lad ! seemed Just barely alive. Jim La;-!i slept as if he wns not much t!ie worse for his wound. OHf ; . , ' ' Laddy la alive, Thome's not not so bad. ' But we've got a Job on our hands. Ton must help me." She bent over Thorne and laid her hands on his hot face. Then she rose a woman such as he had imagined she might be In an hour of trial. Gale took up Ladd as carefully and gently as possible. "Mercedes, bring what you can carry and follow me," he said. Then, motioning for Taqul to remain there, he turned down the slope with Ladd in his .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 his heels, light supple, lithe as a panther.. He left her with Ladd and went back. ' When he tad started off with Thorne In his arms he felt the tax on his strength. Surely and swiftly, however, he bore the cavalry man down the trail to lay him beside Ladd. Again he started back, and when be began to mount the steep lava steps he was hot wet breathing hard. As he reached the scene of that night's camp a voice greeted him. Jim Lash was sitting up. "Hello, Dick. I woke some late this morn in", Where's : Laddy? Where's Thome an' Mercedes? Look here, man 1 I reckon yon ain't packln' this crippled outfit down that awful trail r "Had to, Jim an hour's sun would kill both Laddy and Thorne. Come on, now, For once Jim Lash's too! good na ture and careless Indifference gave precedence to aroase and scorn. Always knew you was a husky chap. But, Dick, you're no hoss I Get me a crutch an' give me a lift on one side." "Come on," replied Gale. "Pva no time to monkey." - He lifted the ranger, called to Taqul to follow with some of the camp out fit and once more essayed the steep descent Jim Lash was the heaviest man of the three, and Gale'3 strength was put 'to enormous strain to carry him on that broken trail. Neverthe less, he went down, down, walking swiftly and surely over - the bad places; and at last he staggered Into the arroyo with bursting heart and red-blinded eyes. When he had re covered he made a final trip np the slope for the camp effects which Ta qul had been uoabl? to carry! In the labor of watching and nurs ing It seemed to Gale that two days and two nights slipped by like a few hours. Then Gale succumbed to wea riness. After his much-needed rest he relieved .Mercedes of the care and watch over Thorne which, np to that t,me she ha absolutely' refused to re,lnqulsh The caTalrymall required relinquish. The cavalryman required constant attention. His condition slowly grew worse, and there came a day Which Gale thought surely was the end. But that day passed, and the night, and the next day, and Thome lived on, 1 ghastly, stricken, raving. Suddenly, and to Gale' amaze and thanksgiving, there came an abatement of Thome's fever. ; With It some heat and redness of the in flamed wound disappeared. Next morning he was conscious, and Oale A V, Gale Carried the Wounded Man Down I Into the Arroyo. grasped some of the hope that Mer cedes 1 had never abandoned. lie forced her to rest while, he attended to Thome. That day he saw that the crisis was past Recovery for Thor-9 was now possible, and would perbnf s depend entirely upon the care he re ceived. . "Jim Lush's wound healed wlthort any aggravating symptoms. It won' ! be only a matter of time until he ha .1 the use of his leg again. Ail thf" days, however, there wrs II! tie 1 - ff!ent clianjre In Lndd's condition, 1 if m 1 1 r "N e I I les It v-s t!int te "ed I fade away as l.e Hajrcn J. TL- by Zane- Grey j Sage, Wildfire, 'Etc " carried the roots and leaves of desert , I plants nnknown to Gale. From these 'the Indian brewed an ointment Then he stripped the bandages from Ladd and applied the mixture .to bis wounds. That done, he let blm lie with the wounds exposed to the air, at night covering - him. . Next day he again exposed the wounds to the warm, dry air. Slowly they closed, and Ladd ceased to bleed externally. Days passed and grew into what Gale Imagined must have been weeks. Taqul 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. The life seemingly would not leave his bullet-pierced body.. The tireless, Implacable, In scrutable savage was ever at the ranger's side. His great somber eyes burned. At length he went to Gale, and with that strange light flitting across the hard bronzed face, he said Ladd would live. ' The second day after Ladd had been given such thin nourishment as he could swallow he recovered the use of his tongue. "Shore thls's h 1." he whispered. That was a characteristic speech for the ranger, Gale thought; and indeed It made all who had heard it smile while their eyes were wet. From that time forward Xadd gained, bnt he gained so Immeasurably slowly that only the-eyes of hope could have seen any Improvement Jim Lash threw away his crutch, and Thorne was well. If still somewhat weak, before Ladd could lift Ms arm or turn his bead. His whispers grew stronger. And the day arrived when Gale, who was perhaps the least op timistic, threw doubt to the winds and knew the ranger would get welL "Boys, come round." said Ladd, In his low voice. "An yon, Mercedes. An' call the TaquV Ladd lay in the shade of the trash shelter that had' been erected. There seemed little of him bnt long, lean lines, and If It had not been for his keen, thoughtful, kindly eyes, his face would have resembled 'a death mask of a man starved. "Shore I want to know what day is it an' what month r asked Ladd. Nobody could answer him. The question seemed a surprise to Gale, and evidently was so to the others. Look at that cactus," went on Ladd. "I reek-Mi according to that giant cactus It's somewheres along the end ' March" ald Jim Lash, soberly. ' "Shore it'a April. Look where the sun la An' cant you feel It's gettln' hot?" "Supposln' it Is April T queried Lash, slowly. "Well, what rm drlvln' at is It's about time yon all was hlttln the trail back -to Forlorn River, , before the waterhnles dry out" ; -wmny, 1 recaon we n start soon as you're able to be put on a boss." "Shore that'll be too late." A silence . ensued. In which those who heard Ladd gazed fixedly at him and then at one another. Lash un easily shifted the position of bis lame leg, and Gale saw him, moisten his Una with his tongue. : 1 "Charlie Ladd, I rfln't reckonln' yon mean we're to ride off an' leave yon here?" 1 ', , "What else Is there to dot The hot weather's close. Pretty soon most of the. waterholea will be dry. ; Too cant travel then. ' . , ,' Pm op my back here, an' God only knows when I could be packed out Not for weeks. mehhe. m never be any good again, even If I was to get out alive, . , , Ton see, shore this sort of case comes round sometimes m the desert it's common enongh. Tv heard of 'sev eral cases where men had to go an' leave a feller behind. It's reasonable. If yon're figbtln' tha desert yon can't afford to be sentimental. , ,. . Now, as I said, I'm all In. So what's the sense of you waitln here, when It means me 01a aesert story? By goln' now mebbe youH get heme. Shore now, boys, youll see this the right way? Jim, old pard?" "No, Laddy, an' I cant flgger how you could ever ask me." . ; Shore then leave me here with Ta qul an' a couple of the bosses. We can eat sheep meat An If the water holds out" .. . ; ; ! "No !" Interrupted XRh, violently. ; Ladd's eyes sought Gale's face. j "Son, you ain't bull-headed like Jim! ! Tou'U see the sense of It There's Nell a-waitfn' back at Forlorn River. Think what It means to her! TouH go son, won't your , ' v ' Dick shook his head. The raneer turned his gaze cpon Thorne, and now the keen, gUJenlng cys hnd Murre.L "Thome, ' It's (";reT:t wfl "yon. :'s a fool, an' jo' ':r.1 1 ..- r' t . 1 ' ill i 1 f) i. 1 t.t.t t. . menfs hesitation tha cavalryman t piled "No." - . Ladd tnen directed his appeal tt Mercedes. His face was now con vulsed, and his voice, though it had sunk to a whisper, was clear, and beautiful with some rich quality that Gale had never before heard In It. "Mercedes, you're a woman. Tou're tha woman we fought for. An soma of ns are shore go In' to die for yon. Don't make It all for nothln'. Let ns feel we saved the woman. , Shore yon can make Thome go. Hell bava to go If you say. They'll all have to go. Think of the years of love an' happi ness In store for yon. A week or so an' it'll be too late. Mercedes, don't make It all for nothln'. Say youH persuade Thome, If not the others." "Mercedes, You're a Woman. "You're , the Woman We Fought For." For all the effect his appeal had to move her, Mercedes might have pos sessed u heart as hard and fixed as the surrounding lava. "Never r White-faced, with great black eyes flashing, the Spanish girl spoke the word that bonnd her and ber com panions In the desert , The subject was never mentioned again. Gale thought that he read a sinister purpose In Ladd'a mind. To his astonishment, Lash came to him with the same fancy. . After that tney made certain there never was a a within reach of Ladd's .clutching; dawllke hands. Gradually a somber spell lifted from the ranger's mind. When he was en tirely free of It he began to gather strength daily. Then It waa aa If ha had never known patience he who had shown so well how to wait Ha was in a frenzy to get well. His ap petite could not be satisfied. The sun climbed higher, whiter, hot ter. Every day the water in the lava hole sank an Inch. . The Taqul atone spent the waiting times in activity. He made trips up on the lava slope, and each time ha returned with guns or boots or som breros, or something belonging to the bandits that had fallen. ; Those waiting days grew Into weeks. Ladd gained very slowly. , Neverthe less, at last he could walk about and soon he averred that, strapped to 4 I horse, he could last out the trip t. Forlorn River. 1 '. t v j There was rejoicing In camp, an A plans were eagerly suggested. Tha Taqul happened to be absent. - When he returned the rangers' told him they were now ready to undertake the Journey back across lava and cactus. Taqul shook his head. They de clared again their Intention. "Nor replied the Indian, and his deep, sonorous Voice rolled out npoa tha quiet of the arroyo.- He spoke briefly then. They bad ' waited too long. The smaller waterholea back In the trail were dry. The hot sum mer was upon them. There could be only death waiting down In the burn ing valley. Here "as water and grass and wood and shade from the sun's rays, and sheep' to be killed on tha peaks. v ' "Walt for rain," concluded TaquL and now as never before he spoke as one .with authority. "If no rain " Silently he lifted a speaking hand. (TO SB CONTINUED.) Only a Man." Edith Wharton, the writer, told t!il war story: "The American woundci were being brought In from the sec ond Marne battle," she said, "and 1 fussy-lwkliig woman In a khnkl 11: 1 form and Tarn Erowne " belt knt 'l over t!.e stretch "r and s-ild, 'Is tl;U an cT-ccr, tr t ,:y a man?" "T; 8 bravxy r t'.a str;!; ,.: . r ! ! !: corporal who s!od r rive I r a f ; , 'Y.Y,i, l '7, Is n-.-:t j t t I 1 I i I L HUH. -- I- ' - 1 t t ? 1 i f i I " 1 S ) 1 l IB I'll J.lucterole Works Without the ; Blister Easier, Quicker There's no sense In mixing a mess of mustard, flour and water when you can easily relieve pain, soreness or stiffness with a little clean, white Musterole. Musterole is made of pure oil of mustard and other helpful Ingredients, combined in the form of the present white ointment. It takes the place of mustard piasters, and will not blister. Musterole usually gives prompt relief from sore throat, bronchitis, tonsilitis, croup,, stiff neck, asthma, neuralgia, headache, congestion, pleurisy, rheuma tism, lumbago, pains and aches of thr back or Joints, sprains, acre muscles, bruises, chilblains, frosted feet, colds of the chest (it may prevent pneumonia). 36c and 65c, jars and tubes. ' staffer than m mtutmrj plotter ' i5g BABIES LOVE TW UwhT aai OoWtfcfittM PlMiant to tflwm plteunt to take. Guarantaad purely Te Ubwand tbaoluUlr hannlM. It quickly e-rvrooniil eolii diarrhoea, oatnlaney am and r Other Uke alarm! m. The epea publiabad lonzraia appaara w r Ubal" AlABDwal Clearthlnkhw! normal agcstuM rtsUunt Dr. KINGS PILLS -Jor constipation , Nothing to Nothing. . 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Ave. ' If you need a building-up tonic for atomach or blood, obtain Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery from your druggist in tablets or liquid, or writo Dr. Pierce, President Invalids' Hotel in Buffalo, N. Y, for free medical advice. ' (, m RID OF THAT DO you feel run down and half sick all the time? Ara you thin pale, easily tired no energy, no ambition, no "pep"? Now is the- time to take Gude'a Pepto-Mangan. It will brace you up, , give you a delightful feeling of vigor and ambition, enrich your blood, build , firm, solid flesh, and bring the healthy color back to your akin. - . Your druggist has Gude'a Liquid or solid, as you prefer. , ....... ' , . It I -v. mmimm ''.II ii -I -8 3 .f.l Gnle awoke Kcrccles. wir:!y 1" V,i'" I '''' J for t";e cf I f ' 1. T snt tin. :j :.. .11,' f 1 c a ' ' , r ". ' 1 I 1 . ! .orcedes -cor.; a. Ara yea t'.l t' ' ' ?
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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March 2, 1923, edition 1
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