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30
TEE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE
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THE THIEVES TOSS THE BRANDING IRON IN DOLAn's YARD
"Are you sure your father took the ravine trail?"' he asked.
"Certainly," she replied in surprise. "I was over on the mesa and I watched him until he turned into the trail out of sight."
The crowd breathed more freely. Evidently the girl was speaking the truth. She knew nothing of the facts, they thought; she had simply seen her father galloping away, and was vaguely alarmed.
"Go on, all of you," directed Maynard. "I'll stay here and see to my horse."
The men looked astonished. It was unlike Maynard to be anywhere but in the thick of things, but his tone was final and no one questioned it.
As they rode away Maynard turned to the girl. Her clear eyes and trustful manner had touched him deeply. She looked very lovely and childish standing there with the troubled look in her dark eyes, her rich color coming and going with excitement.
"I'm so afraid father will be hurt," she said, "and he's all I have in the world — he and Beauty. ' ' She laid an affectionate hand on the grey, bravely trying to smile thru a sudden mist of tears from which her eyes shone like jewels.
Thru Maynard 's brain flashed a
vision of Dolan when that grimly pursuing band should catch him. What would this poor girl do when she learned the truth ? Who would take care of her? He spoke hastily to shut out the unwelcome thoughts which came crowding into his mind.
"Why should you think he will be hurt?" he asked. "Who would hurt him?"
"Pedro and his gang, of course, if they see him following them. Daddy's all alone, you know. Oh, I hope the boys will soon overtake him ! ' '
"Pedro's gang?" questioned Maynard, perplexed; "who are they?"
' ' Why, the half-breeds ; the thieves, of course. Weren't you chasing the thieves?"
"We certainly were. But your father — I dont understand."
"Oh, you dont understand how father knew. Well, we were out on the mesa when Pedro and his gang rode by. It looked queer, their riding so hard, and just after they passed I saw your men coming into sight. You see, we were on that little rise of ground, so we could see both ways. Father knew from the way you were coming that there must be something wrong, so he dashed off after them and I ran to tell you which way to go."