Mason of Bar X Ranch

rt ride, she hastily slipped into a khaki riding dress, for the air felt like rain. Her mother tried to persuade her

n't liked you since you refused to let him pay you court, a

nd would do him an injury if

happy laugh. "From what I have seen of Mr. Mason, Powers had better

he question she asked herself struck home with heavy force. It had seemed only yesterday that she was

atching her mot

eral. I'm not going to elope or run away, I'm only going for a short ride, and just think of the old plug of a horse I've got to take. A

ou must go, and get home early as I think we are going to have a st

the direction of Devil's Gap. The beast had seemed surprised to feel a saddle and rider on its back, and started to cut all sorts of capers. The animal had been discarded for some time as a range horse, and was now used for pack carrying. Josephine was pleased at the ginger it displayed, but felt sad and blue again when she thought of how her

t this point there was a large cottonwood tree on a slight elevation, where she could command a view of the surrounding country. The girl determined to ride to the cottonwood, then turn back for home,

wers. She realized instantly that he must have been hiding behind the tree and had watched her approach. She hated the man intensely, and as he stood there before her smiling, her di

"The men are looking for the halfbreed, and if they run into you, you won't far

emphasis. "I thought as much, he's just about your speed, Powers." The man saw his slip and winced. Josephine saw she had hit the truth and re

assion. "Since that New Yorker come here you've been too nice for common folks.

bout your threat and he will run you out of the country." At the last words the girl started to leap on her horse. "No, you don't," the man grated, darting swiftl

modify his tone. "Now, you know, Josephine, I didn't mean you any harm," he began in a wheedling voice. "I'm taking no chances with you," the girl answered sharply. "I'm going to hold you here until some of the boys show up, if I have to keep you he

ver her shoulder, her weapon half lowered. Too late

he halfbreed had settled about her waist,

ed had been hiding in the tree all the time, and along

ee herself, but the tough laria

frantic efforts wit

e halfbreed slid down out of the tree at his feet. "Only we wanted to hear wh

can leer

em quick,"

ve him a loo

ked, looking Powers straight in the eye. "Bud

threw the man into

th," he ground out the words with an oath. "And as for you, my proud b

ne gasped in terror, s

. Josephine shivered. It was getting dark and had started to rain hard. Her hea

boys would only show up

between the two men, the ha

he halfbreed has gone for our horses just over the knoll

horse," Josephine flared up at him in

r horse, Fleet, for any horse i

ence. The halfbreed was r

ime that way until we reach the foothills, then you've got to ride

might outwit them and escape. In this manner they rode, Powers bringing up the rear and leading the spare horse. The rain fell in torrents,

To her great dismay they conversed in Spanish, but from an occasional lapse into English, she understood that they feared their trail would

all traces of it away early in the evening, they would be sure to pick up the fresh trail after the rain, she reasoned. Listening closely to the outlaw's talk from the words dropped in English, she made out that the halfbree

escaped serious injury at his hands, and proposed a scheme to get Josephine in their power. The Mexican at once agreed to the plot and they had worked out their plans accordi

r way to Ricker's. The scheme worked out better than they had expected, for the halfbreed had keen eyes and had seen Josephine in the distance in time for them to make a dash for the cottonwood tree. There they concealed themselves and waited for the girl to come up, as has been related. The out

est a while, but Powers harshly told her she

t," he explained to her, watching closely to note the effect of his words. "And

he girl gave hi

irit of yours," he threaten

ied, her eyes blazing, "an

He secretly ad

plateau and was reached only through a narrow defile. It commanded a view for miles around, and as familiar as the girl was with the mountains she never had seen this pl

hought of her slim chances of escaping unaided from th

etty bird? Welcome to my home," h

that you can keep me here; the boys will find this pla

tears while she could hear the men moving about her. There was a sort of a shanty near a wall that rose on all sides of the plateau and she knew the men

ught her a steaming cup of

an attempt at kindness, "you

p her strength she must eat, and she was almost starved. W

o get some sleep now. There is a fine bunk in there, and don't worry,

" Josephine answered

l give you all kinds of time to learn to lik

what you have done," she replied bitterl

o sleep, as she felt she couldn't trust the man. She lay there for

s of escape. She knew the men were watching her movements closely. They were sitting out near a fire as the ni

re looking through a crack in the roof at the stars, she could hear the men swearing and still at their card game. Suddenl

carefully set for them. All of a sudden the talking ceased, and she heard one of the outlaws glide stealthily up to her shanty. Josephine's heart almost stopped beating as she feigned sleep.

owers say, after which they

self from screaming. The plan was for Powers to take her away and force her to marry him. The halfbreed was to go with

the halfbreed was to take it to Ricker's a

e that Waneda had discovered Josephine's captors' place of concealment, and wishing to repay him for his kindness to her when he had protected her f

ch, the cowboys would have become frantic in their failure to fi

the note was to ride b

cowboys, the plan being to let her get away before Mason could question her. The note was to state tha

om Ricker's and all make for Devil's Gap to

departed on his mission of evil. The girl lay quiet and wide awake until almost morning, racking her brains for some way of warning Bud. She had heard the halfbreed return two hours before. He knew the mountains like a book and the shortest wa

elf before that. Death would be far better, she reasoned, than to let herself fa

anty, but she knew it must be g

her nerves rigid, while her bl

ar her, and something cold

dog Rover by her side and it was the cold muzzle of his nose which had caused her fright. He stood beside her, his tail wagging and with a look of devotion in his fine eyes

. I am in great danger. Listen, Rover, I want you to go right home, do you unde

ged its tail as though he we

finding a piece of an old newspaper in the dim light, she twisted th

issiv

the halfbreed with his men are waiting at Devil's Gap to wipe them out. I am held a captive by Powers in the m

eph

girl breathed softly, push

f dawn. One of the men was astir, and the faint noise made by the dog caused him to send a shot whistling into th

in alarm. "I thought I heard somethin

over and looked

ght?" he called

ugh her heart was beating wildly.

agony of torment as she heard the men beating the bushe

s say. "I found a drop of blood on the rocks ou

ke for home all the faster. The thought gave her courage, and she rose quickly and washed. She tried to eat a little breakfast which the men offered her, bu

ards her with a piece of

ay. You can holler all you want to, but there

as useless for the tough rawhide cut her wrists until they bled. She turned her face to the wall with a heavy sob and a prayer on her lips that her dog would arrive home in time to sav