The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 32: what you’re looking at

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_- -—"* + : $i a bluff. Fearful of the intense gloom, Ruby paused with the whispered query: “Shall we go on?” “No; we would better wait here for the present. Let us get off the path, though.” Together, then, they crept toward the foot of the bluff. Not a dozen paces had they taken when a trampling sound just ahead caused them to halt in alarm and dismay. Then, before either could stir, a white shape rose out of the gloom, and quickly advanced toward them. “Tt’s a horse,” exclaimed Ruby. “ No—a mule,” Polly quickly amended, with a chirp of surprise and delight. “ And it’s Poppy’s ‘ critter’ at that! ” True enough, it was the animal Zebu- ‘lon Peggs had loaned Belmont. Hitched ‘by the rancher in the vicinity of the out- jaw rendezvous, it had broken loose, and ‘was now wandering aimlessly. Neither of the girls, however, was aware of the facts, and they were puzzled to ac- -count for the presence of the beast. “ Poppy is somewhere near,” Polly de- cided, at length. “ He has been searching for us.” “That is it, I suspect,” Ruby agreed. “ But what shall we do? Await Gimps?” “ Certainly, unless we find that our es- ape has been discovered. In that event, ‘we'll make Sancho carry us away; that 4s, if you can ride bareback.” Ruby Ranger assented to this proposi- tion, and both sat down to await devel- opments. Presently the east began to flush with Might, and a new day was slowly ush- @red in. By the gray light of the dawn the fugitives anxiously watched the visi- ble portions of the path they had tra- “versed, For some minutes nothing to excite alarm was seen or heard. Then a hail ‘rang out some distance away, and both ' sprang to their feet. That the voice was not that of Gimps both knew, for it was full, strong, and resonant. A moment the fugitives waited, then again came the hail, even more distinctly: “Ruby! Ruby Ranger!” The girls shivered with apprehension, ‘The same thought was in the mind of each: the escape had been discovered and that cry came from one of the outlaws searching the timber. “’Sh! ”’ warned Polly. “ They are at- tempting to decoy us into revealing our- selves. “We must go before we are seen.” Im another minute both maidens had mounted Sancho. Riding out from the ‘shelter of the bluff, Polly urged the ani- mal into the narrow path, and the flight was resumed. In silence they rode down the hill. At the foot of the slope Polly attempted to turn from the path, but Sancho obsti- mately refused to obey her sharp tug on the rein. Instead he took the bit in his teeth and quickened his pace. Again and again Polly tried to turn him aside, until compelled to give up in de- #spair. “Perhaps your. father is somewhere ahead,” Ruby suggested at length. “Brute instinct may be better than hu- - man reason just now. Give him his head.” Polly uttered a vexed sigh. “Glad you mentioned it,’”’ she retorted, * Go it, Sancho!” The mule ambled slowly across the wide depression and ascended a long, broken slope covered with heavy thick- ets and strewn with huge bowlders, In the woodland above another halt was made. . “We won't run any further till we know what we are running from,” Polly declared in a decided tone. “ What if - -Gimps, finding it impossible to return, has sent some one in his stead ?”’ tom BS “That is true, Polly. We may have Leber from, a paaee. - ° q / ia ; re oe -. ; = ; M Ss f 4 Th, .* ot WV LI Le. ‘LILLE 1 i) Lp OC e.. «6rd LOW £8 : ' - 4 ats a 7 i. 48 if A BAS y ft 7. > &¥ ? ' ’ 4 a “ is! i< iy y ng fe o* ‘ é ; ¥ ee - batty “ber a » o vv ts " -~ ral a ‘. y, * . ; ; The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. ance of the lone trailer on the opposite slope. His coming was not long delayed, and he was yet alone. Crossing the elevation, he descended the slope, and started across the little valley with long, swinging strides. The fugitives watched him with the deepest interest. Was he friend or foe? Suddenly Polly touched Ruby on the arm and poinfed away in another direc- tion. There, sheltered by a ridge in the plain and racing along at break-neck speed, were five horsemen. The course they were on would lead them directly past the two girls, and both sprang to their feet in alarm. Then, in the foremost of the riders, they recognized Spanish John, and their faces blanched with fear. “The man yonder is a decoy,” uttered Ruby in a suppressed tone. /“‘ We have not a minute to lose! ” They had proceeded nearly a mile when a single rifle shot rang out far behind them. It was followed by a shrill yell. Involuntarily Polly shuddered and drew rein. “I’m afraid the trailer was a friend after all,” she exclaimed. “I wish we had taken some measure to warn him! ” “Tt is useless to talk about it now. Let’s go on,” urged Ruby, coldly. Silently inclining her head, Polly start- ed Sancho onward, and for an hour neith- er spoke, Then suddenly the animal turned out of the path, plunged briskly into a hidden draw, and stopped. Before them was the cobbler’s cart, and at sight of the homely vehicle a cry of amazement burst from Polly Peggs. “ Poppy is somewhere near—depend on that,” she exclaimed. Ruby quickly looked around, then point- ed to an opening in the surrounding tan- gle of bushes, saying: “Look through there! old ranch house! ” Polly obeyed and an affirmation came from her lips. Dismounting, the two girls tied Sancho to a tree, then climbed into the cart. Neither just then had the courage to ap- proach the gloomy old house, the scene of such recent perils. Then a number of men rushed swiftly into the draw and both sprang up with cries of dismay! See—it is the CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE MAJOR’S PROPOSITION. A flash of exultation crossed Spanish John’s yellow face when he recognized in the man in the valley his late captive and enemy, Major Nathan Duncan. | A single gesture brought his well- trained followers to a silent stand; an- other sent them scurrying out of sight be- hind the ridge. “Steady, lads—all!” the gambler warned, when a safe distance beyond the summit. * Easy, now, and listen, and we'll turn bitter defeat into sweet victory. “Yon man, as you all know, is Major Duncan, and his presence here, alone, is not without significance. “Look to your lariats, then, lads, and follow me. “Tf I mistake not, the trail leads into yonder timber, and there we may surely find a covert from which to rope our prey. “ Now—silence, all, and ride like the wind.” A thrust of his spurs sent his horse into the lead, then in single file the out- laws swept rapidly along behind the ridge, heading for the timber clump in which the two girls were concealed. Recognizing the gambler, the latter mounted and fled, as we have seen, yet not so quickly as to elude the vigilant eyes of Spanish John and his men. In the timber the chief rode behind a Copies and dismounted. Leaving one man al ee aged ee ¢ ef, Yih 5h ) of the horses, he at once started | Aes iad ac sti bin along under cover of rock and bush, and in a moment the ambush was formed. Wholly unsuspicious of that cunning trap, Major Duncan came boldly up the slope. Just as he reached the centre of the little rock-girt open, a faint signal rang out, and the coils of three lariats whirled through the air. Thus apprised of his danger at the last moment, Duncan dodged and flung up his rifle barrel, warding off two of the nooses, but the third sped true and settled snugly around his shoulders. A jerk on the lariat brought the game- ly struggling man to the ground, where he was quickly disarmed and bound, Then Spanish John spoke: “Well, Nate, old boy, you didn’t travel far this heat!” he jeered. “Foxy you are! I declare, your departure this morn- ing was fully as great a surprise to Me as this meeting is to you! “ And your charming daughter—she ran away, too— the minx! Do you know any- thing of her whereabouts?” White with disappointment and anger, Major Duncan twined his blazing eyes upon his merciless foe, and surveyed him with silent scorn. “Won’t speak, eh, dear brother? Grief and anxiety too deep for words, I sup- pose? “Now, Nate, old boy—business!” Span- ish John continued after a moment’s pause. “ Forty thousand buys you clear!” “Forty thousand! A large sum of money; but listen to me, I have a propo- sition to make: “Permit me to go my way unmolested with my daughter, and I will pay you, three days from now in the city of Guth- rie, thirty thousand dollars.” “TI said forty, Nate!” “ Well, forty thousand, then! ” Keenly the gambler’s glittering black optic scanned Duncan’s face, then asked: “Can I trust you, Nate?” “You have my word.” “Tt is enough! I will meet you in Guthrie three days hence.” “ Alone? ”’ “ Alone.” At that juncture, Noolan: glanced in- quiringly at his companions. Both nodded sharply, and he stepped forward. “ Beg yer pardon, gents, but that leetle game is no go,” he curtly informed, Uttering an oath, Spanish John leaped to his feet. “Qurse you! What do you mean?” he grated. “ Jest what I say. Ther deal ye’ve made is off. We don’t trust ye ter go alone.” “Ye bet we doesn’t!’ “We all goes or none! ” The gambler scowled darkly; but three revolvers covered his heart, and he real- ized that he was helpless. “ Very well, then,” he returned. “ But what do you propose, pards?”’ “ Thet we capter ther gal, an’ hold both her an’ her dad till ther ransom is paid. Then we want an equal divvy.” “All right, Noolan; but have a Care that you do not spoil the game! “You understand, Nate? These gents object to the course you proposed, and the plan will have to be amended.” Major Duncan made no reply, but wear- — ily turned his head. Mentally cursing himself for not send- ing the trio safely out of earshot ere com- ing to terms with Duncan, Spanish John issued his orders, and in a few minutes the men were again in the saddle, Noolan with the captive behind him. Of the ride that followed, nothing need be said, save that it was accomplished in silence. Arrived in the vicinity of the old ranch house, the entire party dismounted. Then a man was detailed to remain with the horses and the captive, while the oth- ers, headed by the gambler, searched for the girls. ————— The hunt was brief. Guided by girlish © voices, the outlaws stealthily approached — the hidden draw. Then a glance through ~ fugitives, and the four men leaped wwittly: forward. 3 oe the undergrowth discovered the Resistance or attempted ¢ or, ee ~ f a M * of . ork y « | A J eat vs oe a a han. Mramicbooks com”