Across the Border

Curley Smith, a lieutenant of the Texas Rangers, while patrolling the international line became suspicious of a load of hay which he saw going southward. Leaving a note telling of his intention for his comrade, he trailed the wagon into Mexico. After traveling half a day he saw the wagon descend into a deep gulch. Curley drew near and, peering from the overhanging bushes, saw at the bottom of the ravine a smugglers' camp. The men unloaded the hay and, as he suspected, the bottom of the wagon was filled with high-powered American arms and quantities of ammunition. His presence was discovered. The outlaws in great numbers pursued the lone American. In the chase his horse plunged over a steep hill throwing its rider. Anita, the smuggler chief's daughter, who was taking part in the chase, found him lying unconscious and after reviving him helped him to her father's cabin. After dressing his wounds she and her mother placed him in bed. Dean, a renegade American, who was deeply in love with Anita, recognized the prisoner and gave orders that he be closely guarded and not allowed to escape. Dean loaded his ponies and started off across the mountains to deliver the contraband to the Mexican general. During his absence Curley and Anita fell in love with each other. When Dean returned his jealousy was aroused and he determined to remove Curley by means fair or foul. During the absence of his chief, Amador, he seized the American, bound him to the ground and tied a rattlesnake close at his side and left the helpless prisoner to die a horrible death. Anita, missing her sweetheart, went in search of him and arrived just in time to shoot the snake and save him. With her aid he escaped and in the attempt to swim down the river past the sentry he was again captured and brought back to the smugglers' camp. in the meantime Dean had been trying to smuggle a load of Lydite bombs across the border, but in a fight with a party of Texas Rangers the bombs were exploded and Dean's men were forced to flee. He arrived at camp in a very ill humor and was enraged to find that his rival had not perished from the rattler's deadly fangs. Amador, the chief, reproved his lieutenant for the treatment of the prisoner and Anita, horrified at her former lover's cruelty, spurned him. Dean, maddened by jealousy and his desire for revenge, planned a mutiny, and in the dead of the night again entered the cabin and laid violent hands on the prisoner, determined that nothing would interfere with his