Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1892 — ROYAL RANGER RALPH; The Waif of the Western Prairies. [ARTICLE]

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; The Waif of the Western Prairies.

BY WELDON J. COBB.

CHAPTER XVll—Continued. Darrel and his companion disappeared through the aperture in the wall. The two guards, recognizing the scout as an enemy, began firing at him. The latter sprang behind the bowlder that had blocked the exit from the cave, and which Darrel Gray had forced aside in entering the place. It afforded a strong inlrenchment lor him, and ho had his enemies at a decided disadvantage. A sharp fussilade ensued, during which one of the men, evidently wounded, retreated down the corridor with a savage howl of pain. His companion followed his examp e and boat a hasty retreat Ranger Ralph coulcj hear them calling for help to their companions in the main outer cave. “They have sounded the alarm and will soon* return with increased force, ” decided the old scout. He watched at his post for some time, abandoning it only when a wild commotion arose in the corridor. Armed men bearing torches came rushing in pursuit of the fugitives. Among them the scout observed Despard and Danton. He glided through the aperture leading to the outside, and found himself in the same moonlit valley into which Darrel Grey had fallen a few hours previously. Darrel and Inez were nowhere in sight, and the scout supposed that they had succeeded in making their escape. He therefore set about finding some way himself to leave the valley. The apparently inaccessible walls of the place made the task seem almost a hope ess one, however. His investigations were forced to be desultory and brief, for in a few minutes the outlaws arrived on the scene The scout had just time to safely ensconce himself in a small thicket, when Despard and his men came into view. Immediately the little inclosed valley was the scene of the wildest excitement. The men, with torches borne aloft, scoured every portion of the place. A shout of triumph thrilled the scout, aud a minute later he saw several of the bandits emerge from a smaller cave, where they had found Darrel and Inez. In the glare of the lights Ranger Ralph could discern the pale, distressed face of Darrel and the despairing one of Inez. With exultant cries the bandits tore their prisoners to the spot where Despard was. “Remove the girl to the cabin and guard her until morning,” ordered the bandit leader. “As to him,” and he indicated Darrel fiercely, “he has crossed our path once too often. Ho shall die. ” “No, no!” pleaded Inez, frantically; but she was borne away with her appealing words unheeded. Ranger Ralph could scarcely contain himse.f and he grasped his revolvers grimly. Despard, Danton and several of the men were standing near him, but he realized that it would be folly to attempt to fight against such uneven odds. “There was another of them,” ho heard a voice say excitedly. “Ha!” ejaculated Despard. “Who?” His informant was one of the guards. “A man dressed like a half-breed." Despard started violently. “He was friendly to the girl and the prisoner?" he asked. “Yes.” “Then he was no half-breed at all. Danton, wo have been deceived.” “By Tallula?” “Exactly. ” “You think he is no messenger from the Modocs?” “That's it.” “Who is he. then?” “A spy—a friend to the girl. ” “Ranger Ralph, probably." “Perhaps. Boys, search the valley thoroughly. He cannot have escaped, ” called Despard to the men. The bandits at once began a systematic scour of the valley. From ills covert the scout could see Despard and Danton and several of the men return to the cave. The outlaw chief repaired at once to the log house on the cliff where the disguised scout had been led by Vance. Inez, weeping, was seated in the room. Despard, a fierco glitter in his eyes, approached her at once. “Girl,” he said. “I have a few words to say to you ” Inez did not reply, but continued to sob bitterly. “You are entirely in my power,” resumed Despard, “and neither you nor your friends can defeat my plans. You must become my wifa ” Despard’s words aroused all the resentful womanliness in Inez’s nature. She started wildly to her feet, her eyes flashing, her face pale and defiant. “Never!” she cried. Her firm refJTy did not appear to disturb her captor. “There is no escape,” he continued calmly. “I will die first!” “No; you will obey me. You will not only become my wife but you will also do as I tell you regarding the fortune your father has left you.” “Take that fortune, then. Release my friends and myself, and it is yours. ” “No, my fair Inez,” jeered Despard. “Your charms have fascinated me, and I shall wed you. As to the fortune, that is in the hands of a man named Walford. You will visit hjm with me tomorrow morning. You will tell him that I am your legally wedde'd husband, and induce him to turn over your fortune to me. Then you will accompany me to some distant country and become my wife. ” Inez listened silently until Despard had concluded. “And if I refuse?” she demanded. Despard came a step nearer to her. There was a fierce glitter in his evil eye. “Shall I tell you?” he hissed. “Yes. ” “The man you love, Darrel Grey, shall die!” With a cry of dread dismay Inez Tracey recoiled. At that moment there was an interruption. One of the outlaws came rushing, excited and breathless, into the room. “Captain!” he cried, “we have found the half-breed!" “He is captured?” “No. He is armed and in a position where we cannot dislodge him.” Despard started from the place. “I give you an hour to decide your lover’s fate,” he cried, warningly, to Inez. What the outlaw had reported was true. Ranger Ralph had been discovered. Driven to a place behind some rocks, however, he held the bandits at bay. They were forced to retreat before his rapid fire. Still he knew that when reenforcements came he must necessarily be dislodged and cap.tured. With some dismay he saw Despard and others arrive on the scene. His situation was a critical ono. Hopelessly he glanced

up at the perpendicular walls before him. Then he resolved to battle desperately when his foes made another attack. Just then he seemed to hear a voice on the cliff above him. At the same moment a lasso dropped nearly before his face. “The lasso—seize it, quick!” spoke a low, silvery voice. The mystified scout obeyed. Some strong hand lifted him foot by foot from the ground. A series of savage yells escaped the bandits as they witnessed his ascent. A score of bullets flattened against the cliff. Steadily the lasso was drawn in. The scout reached the top of the cliff uninjured by the shots of the discomfited bandits. A small but sinewy hand drew him over the edge of th: cliff and led him out of view of the outlaws in the valley below. With profound curiosity Ranger Ralph surveyed his strang rescuer. A cry of amazement escaped his lips as ho recognized her. It was White Fawn, tho Modoc princess. CHAPTER XVIII. THE OLD HEKMIT. For some moments Ranger Ralph stood silently regarding the beautiful Indian maiden who had rescued him from a position of peril in so timely a manner. “White Fawn!” he ejaculated in be- j wildered tones. “Yes, it is the child of Shadow Snake. Who is the half-breed?” She peered curiously.into the scout’s face as she spoke. “I am no half-breed.” The Fawn thought so; at least she knew that ho was an enemy of the outlaws. “She knows you now. You are the great scout. ” “Ranger Ralph, yes. But how camo you here?” “The Fawn will tell her friend and rescuer all; but they must not remain here. ” “There is danger’” “Yes; the renegades will soon be on our trail. Come. ” She led the scout from the spot to a secluded portion of tho valley. Ranger Ralph noticed that near by there was a horse bridled and saddled. In rapid tones the Modoc princess related how she had rescued Darrel Grey and had led him hither. She explained that when she left him to reconnoiter the st:onghold of tho bandits, he must have wandered into the valley and later had been captured. The scout listened interestedly to her graphic recital, and noticed the fierce, revengeful light in her dark eyes when she spoke the name of her relentless foe, Dyke Despard, “You have seen him—you penetrated to his haunts to-night?” he asked. “Yes. ” “And you know his p’ans?” “I know that wi£h the morning he intends visiting the old hermit they call Walford. ” Ranger Ralph started “You are sure of this?” he asked. “Yes; White Fawn is not mistaken. ” “Then the outlaws have located the recluse?” “One of their men has, and no will lead the crowd thero with the morning. ” This information disturbed the scout not a little. The reader already knows that this man Walford was the lricnd to whom Inez Tracey’s father had intrusted the charge of tho fortune intended for his orphan daughter. Tho old scout knew Walford, but he had not seen him for years. He did not know his place of residence, however, except that it was located somewhere in tho vicinity. Now that Despard had discovered it, th ; scout readily saw that unless Walford was warned the former would succeed in his plans to secure the fortune. “Do you know where Walford lives?” he asked anxiously of the Indian girl. “No. White Fawn only knows that it is about ten miles down tho canyon. ” The old scout reflected deeply, inevitable disaster seemed imminent to all his plans for rescuing Inez Tr,acey. The Modoc princess watched his face impressively. Finally she asked: “What will my friend do?” “I do not know. Grey and the girl are captives, and the cave is well guarded. We can do nothing to rescue them. ” “White Fawn will!” There was a determined look in the dusky face. “How?” “By going back to my father. Shame, disgrace at my misery, caused me to fear to return to my tribe. F'or the sake of the friends who saved her life, the Fawn will go to the Modocs. They shall know all, and a terrible vengeance shall be brought against the Crow and his renegades. ” “You will go at once?” “Yea I stole a horse from the outlaws. I can reach my tribe in a few hours.” “You must make haste. Once Despard has seen the man named Walford, he will fly the country.” “Fear not. The Modoc warriors shall be on his trail with tho earliest morning light ” “They will rescue my friends—they will not include them in their vengeance?” “Fear not The Fawn will plead with her father’s braves for the safety of her friends. ” White Fawn sprang to the saddle of the horse near by as she spoke. Ranger Ralph saw her disappear rapidly down the canyon. He know that he must remain inactive, so far as the outlaws were concerned, until the morning. He realized that it would be folly to again attempt to penetrate to their stronghold. The thought of Walford, however, caused him to determine to endeavor to find the recluse, if possible. He made a wide detour of the cave and started down the canyon in the direction where he supposed the mountain home of the recluse to be. It proved' to be a profitless journey. All the long night through he wandered up and down the valley. Not a trace of human habitation could he find. The morning light did not materially change the situation of affairs. He finally determined to keep a close watch for Despard, theorizing that the outlaw leader would set out on his journey that morning for Walford’s place of abode. He ensconced himself in a thicket at the side of the canyon, and watched and waited patiently. It was. nearly noon when his vigilance was rewarded. Coming down the canyon, he saw finally a dozen or more persons. As they neared him he made out Despard, Danton and Vance on horseback. On another steed was Inez Tracey, surrounded by several of the bandits on foot. * They had evidently left Darrel Grey a prisoner at the cave with the remainder of the band. They passed so near to the scout that he could almost hear their conversation. A look of utter despair pervaded the countenance -of Inez Tracey- Apparently the threats of the heartless Despard • had induced Inez to agree to his schemes. To save her lover’s life she had consented to sacrifice her fortunn The scout waited for some time after the cavalcade had passed by. Then, cautiously and stealthily, he took up their trail. The bandits rroceeded straight down the canyon, and Ranger Ralph followed them at a distance until they finally came to a halt They seemed to have

some difficulty and delay in locating the hermit’s home, their evidefft point of visitation. Suddenly the entire party disappeared 'from view in a break in the canyon. When the scout roached the spot ho found a large opening in tho rock. Int) this cave-like aperture the bandits had evidently disappeared. Ranger Ralph threaded a dark, low passageway, groped his way blindly around and then pausod. lar above hl3 head he could see a light glimmering dimly. A series of steps cut in tho solid rock seemed to lead to the point where the light was. The horses of tho party had teen loft just outside the place. The scout began to ascend the stops and at last arrived at the top. Beyond him was a large apartment filled with evidences of a long career as hunter and trapper, consisting of trophios of the hunt, the skins of various animals which were hung up about tho place The apartment was a gloomy one, and was lighted by a lamp hung by a chain from the roof of tho cave. Standing beneath it was a man, whitehaired and august in appearance. His ,clear, steady eyes were fixed upon Despard, who was slightly in advance of the party that accompanied him At a glance the scout recognized the strange od hermit. Walford, whom ho had not seen for many years The latter was speaking as the scout roached the shadowed extreme of the < ave. “Who are you? What does this intrusion mean?” ho demanded, sternly. “We came from Miner's Gulch,” was Despard’s ready reply. “To see me?" “Yes. ” “How did you find this place?” “From description, Mr. Walford. You were the friend of a man named Tracey." Tho hermit started. “Yes,” he said; “what of it?” “I came in behalf of that man s daughter. ” “Ha! Then you know ” “All concerning the fortune ho left. I have come to claim that fortuno ” “You!” “Ygs ** “What claim ” “As the affianced husband of Inez Tracey. ” Walford glanced suspicious’y at the intruder. “Allowing that there Is a fortune,” he said, “I must have some further proof that you aro to receive it.” “It shall be forthcoming when you want it,” replied Despard, promptly. “Inez. ” At IBs word his despairing captive stepped forward. [TO 11E CONTINUED.]