Page 259 (1/1)

The Brazos pony had traveled far that day but for only a trifle over ten miles had he carried a rider upon his back He was, consequently, far froed as he leaped forward to the lifted reins and tore along the dusty river trail back in the direction of Orobo

Never before had Brazos covered ten miles in so short a tiue, he stopped, staggered and fell in front of the office building at El Orobo

Eddie Shorter had sat in the chair as Barbara and Billy had last seen hi until Byrne should have an a the prisoner's escape Eddie had deterrinned as he anticipated the rage of Grayson and the Villistas when they learned that their bird had flown, and as he ht when Eddie awoke, and as he looked up at the little clock ticking against the wall, and saw the tiave an exclamation of surprise and leaped to his feet Just as he opened the outer door of the office he saw a horse He saw the aninized the pony as Brazos, and another glance at the nition of him, too

"You?" cried Eddie "What are you doin' back here? I gotta take you now," and he started to draw his revolver; but Billy Byrne had hiun

"Put 'em up!" adunplay or no such foolishness I ain't back here to be took--get that out o' your nut I'ht to swipe Miss Harding Coo see if she's here or not, an' don't try any funny business on ain, an' whoever tries it gets his, see?"

Eddie was down off the porch in an instant, andfor the ranchhouse

"I'm with you," he said "Who told you? And who done it?"

"Never mind who toldoff for Grayson Grayson wanted Miss Harding an' he was goin' to have her stolen for him"

"The hound!" muttered Eddie