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The roan, having been much refreshed by a few hours on grass,

proved to be a good traveller. The two men took a road-gait and

held it steadily till they reached a telephone-line which

stretched across the desert and joined two outposts of

civilization. Steve strapped on his climbing spurs and went up a

post lightly with his test outfit. In a few minutes he had Moreno

on the wire and was in touch with one of his rangers.

"Hello! This you, Ferguson? This is Fraser. No,

Fraser--Lieutenant Fraser. Yes. How many of the boys can you get

in touch with right away? Two? Good. I want you to cover the

Arivaca cut-off. Kinney is headed that way in a rig. His sister

is with him. She is not to be injured under any circumstances.

Understand? Wire me at the Mal Pais mines to-morrow your news. By

the way, Tom Long and some of the boys are headed down that way

with notions of lynching Kinney. Dodge them if you can and rush

your man up to the Mal Pais. Good-bye."