Western Story Magazine, May 12, 1934 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ 14 the three remaining” tes into an empty car.. They made their way to the horses, mounted, and rode off in the opposite direction, skirting the town to aveid possible questien- ing, then doubling back and taking the Calico Springs read. CHAPTER II. AT CALICO SPRINGS. HEN Alice and Sally ar- rived at the Geary ranch, the latter:looked briefly at her home, then shook her head. “TI haven’t seen Al, except a glimpse in the dark,” she. ‘said; “lm going on with you, Alice. There'll be plans to make, of course.” “And very little time to make them,” Alice suggested. “The posse will search the freight train, find nothing, then start for Calico Springs. What is done must be fin- ished before the posse shows up.” The girls rode on, and day was breaking over the Calico Ridge as they reached the springs. The ridge with its sheer walls was a riot of yellows, blues, tans, and _ greens. The ranch nestled snugly against the ridge. Te S SO beautiful here,” Sally ex- claimed, “and it just makes me sick to think you must leave it all.” “Yes,” Alice answered. “But what can we do? Our cattle are taken. To get them back, Al threw in with Sanchez, and now the law claims. he’s a rustler. If we stay, it’s a return to jail for Al, and that means his death. And yet’—she looked at the rolling country with its rich range land—“‘and yet, five generations of Fords have lived here. When I leave, something will be torn from my heart by the roots.” They dismounted at the. ranch, and a shy Indian boy ran to take the horses. Street & Smith's Western Story Magazine | “Has anybody been. See José?” Alice asked. “AT and: a stranger?” The boy looked startled at the mention of Al’s name, but sheok his ead. “Nobody,” he. said. The day dragged, a day of, watch- ing for dust movements in the lower country. “Where can they be?” Sally asked in a desperate voice. “Following back roads se they'll not be seen,” Alice.suggested. “Al’s experience with Sanchez taught him to be elusive.” José’s mother was preparing the evening meal when they heard the clatter of hoofs, then the horses, gray with lather and dust, dragged the battered buckboard into the yard. Again Alice Ford was con- scious of Dan Stuart’s instinctive leadership. The bank robber demi- nated the scene as his big figure leaped to the ground, but neverthe- less, she could not take her eyes from her twin ‘brother. Normally he weighed areund a hundred and seventy pounds. Now he was under a hundred and thirty. His cheek bones were covered with skin the color ef parchment, so tightly drawn it seemed as if the bones must burst through. His eyes were deeply sunken, and his hands were like claws. “Sis!”? he whispered. “‘And Sally!” He threw his arms about them, and their loving arms lifted him te the ground. Then it was the girls burst into Poor boy!” Sally “They've crucified you. . tears. “Poor boy! sobbed. ?”? MA “Tf I’d died, I wouldn’t have been. the first—and all because somebody wants the country,’ Al answered. “T thought a lot, but couldn’t figure the answer, though, Hezslev's_ part.