Pictures and the Picturegoer (April - September 1915)

PICTURES AND THE P1CTUREGOER 292 Wk;.,: aKDrtre Jfl.V i;, ;9;5 RAMERREZ STAGGERED DOWN . , . AND COLLAPSED INTO A CHAIR. RAMERREZ RECEIVED THE KISS WHICH HAD BEEN DENIED HIM. to satisfy a private revenge and to gain the reward. The note indicated where the noted outlaw was likely to be captured. Several hours later Ranee returned with a peculiar look on his face. He entered the Polka Saloon, which was just closing for the night. The Girl resented his intrusion after hours, and it was only in his official capacity that he obtained admittance. ""Where is Mr. Johnson?" was the sheriff's first query. Mr. Johnson was peacefully resting in :i room he had secured for the night at the end of the bar. The Girl was about to inform him, when something in the sheriff's tone vaguely alarmed her. and she equivocated. •" He lias just gone." she said, with the object of gaining time to fathom the sheriff'9 reasons. " Well, the next time you see Mr. Johnston, tell me about it." said the sheriff, grimly. He took a photograph out of his pocket and handed it to the Girl. " Who is that ? " he demanded. The Girl looked at it in amazement. '• Mr. Johnson," she replied. The sheriff roared ! with merriment. •' Mr. Johnson, of Sacramento, happens to be Ramerrez, the highwayman. I've just got that photo from a Mexican girl in his crowd. He doesn't want her, and she's turned on him." The sheriff went out again after bidding the Girl good-night. She remained for several moments as though stunned, then she tapped at the door of the visitor's room. The young man immediately opened the door. Apparently he had lint been asleep, and the Girl, examining his face narrowly, knew that lie had heard t he whole conversation. So you came to rob my saloon of the gold dust that the boys trust me with?" -aid the ( rirl passionate]} The man looked at her for several moments in silence. '"Yes," he admitted at last. " It was a ruse of mine to get the sheriff out of the way that caused him to leave the saloon to-night with his crowd. I could have robbed the saloon with ease, but I already told my messenger, who had my party waiting about a mile away, that the job was off, so your gold is quite safe." " Indeed." retorted the Girl, sarcastically. " Why this change of purpose? " The man reddened a little. " I couldn't do it." he replied, haltingly. " You see I took a fancy to you that day at the river-side, and I did not know you were running this saloon until I walked in. When I found it was you I dropped my plans immediately. Don't you believe me ? " The Girl hesitated. For a notorious highwayman Ramerrez looked remarkably young and handsome, and it was only the dash of recklessness in his face that suggested anything of his occupation. The Girl felt herself wishing that Ramerrez was the sheriff and the sheriff Ramerrez. "I do. "said the Girl at last. -But you had better go immediately, now that your identity is known. The sheriff may get suspicious and come back any moment." "Very well," said the man. carelessly. Then he turned suddenly and placed his arm caressingly on the Girl's shoulders. " May 1 have a kiss? " he asked, looking boldly into her face. The Girl shrank back. " I've never allowed any man to kiss me vet." she re] died. Ramerrez smiled and went out. The Girl barred the deor behind him, and listened intently to the sound of his departing footsteps. When all was quiet, and she was about to undres-. the sound of revolver shots broke the silence. The Girl became alert again. There was a doise of si iggering steps, and a dull thud against the door outside. " Let me in,"' pleaded a faiut voice. The Girl rushed to the door and unbarred it. Ramerrez staggered in. holding his wrist, which had apparently been hit by a bullet. -They winged me at the top of the hill,'' he said quickly. " Can you hide me ? " There was no time for explanations. The Girl pointed to a loft overhead, reached by a ladder, which, when not in use. was rixed to the ceiling. The fugitive had hardly reached the loft and the ladder been replaced before the sheriff was.at the door demanding admittance. Ranee entered, with a revolver in each hand, looking alert and dour, and quickly glanced round the place. "• You didn't happen to see Mr. Johnson, or rather Ramerrez?" he asked, eyeing the Girl suspiciously. Mabel laughed. " You can search the place. Ranee," she said at last ; " but if you do I'll never forgive you." The sheriff laughed. Then he searched, but completely overlooked the loft. " 1 thought he might have got in somehow." he sail apologetically, "and I'll go if you say that you forgive me. and will give me a kiss." The Girl's answer was the same as before, and the sheriff felt ruefully at scratched face and hands. •' You're a little t_ ess." he remarked admiringly. Tin . be gazed at his hand and noticed a drop of blood, which lie wiped away. But another drop appeared, and the amazed sheriff glanced upwards. It was not his ov. 11 blood. It came from the wound of the highwayman hiding in the loft twer his head. The sheriff's revolver immediately pointed upwards. ' (,'ome down." he shouted menacingly. Ramerrez staggered down, and immediately collapsed into a chair and fainted from loss of blood. Ranee ey< d the Girl with grim amusement. "So you were playing a game all along." he said. " Well! 1 guess I've won the trick this time "