The record-union., 1893-01-17

clan, metaphysician and drunkard your
esteemed grandfather. If you will go
over my case carefully, you will see that
ii is not so remarkable after ALL"
What could | say to an argument of
this kind? l realized all its horrid truth
All that l had heard of my grandfather
Harper, his brilliant qualities OF mind
and his untimely end, came before me
vividly. With few sympathetic words
to poor Dick, left him and went straight
to fathers office. Far into the night we
sat talking OF the trouble that had come
to us, and before we parted plan OF
action had been decided upon. | was to
take Dick to New Mexico, where we had
reason to believe he would experience a
beneficial change. 1t seemed to be the
only thing to do. 1t was not a case for a
physician. that was clear enough. When
the matter was mentioned to Dick, he
surprised us all by expressing a very
positive determination to remain at home.
Pressed for reason, he would only say
that he had changed his mind, and that
the West was no place for him. Later, l
believe it was the following day, he told
me alone that he had made up his mind
to have another battle with his evil ten
denotes, and to conquer or die.
1.-The struggle can be made here" said
he, with greater hope of success than in
the West, where l should be banshed
from the influence of home."
For the next few weeks his conduct
was exemplary in every respect. In
August he returned to- school, and APP
piled himself with renewed vigor. We
firmly believed that he had reformed,
and indeed there was nothing in his con-
Duct to lead us to any other conclusion.
About this time, father received another
letter from Uncle Ben, who still per-
sisted ii drawing glowing pictures of
western possibilities, and l decided to
visit him, not exactly in the capacity
which he wished, for 1 had resolved to
study law, but it was agreed that a few
months rest would do me good prior to
the commencement OF work in my
fathers office. Accordingly l was soon
ready for the journey, which was made
without incident worthy of mention. NV
trip at an end, l found my uncle in an
exceedingly precarious condition. A
complication Of disorders brought on by
early exposure, OverWork and OLD age
had rendered him forever unfit for active
lie. His business | soon learned was in
the hands of a half-breed Mexican,
named Hank Grlt1iths, who was manag-
ing the property on his own terms. He
was the typical man of the plains, the
man of whom l had read. Tall and
gaunt, with jet-black mustache, cover
ing small, cruel mouth, ana deep set,
piercing eyes, he was known and feared
on all the large cattle ranges of
the West, where his whole life
had been passed. He was a dead
shot with a rifle or pistol, and the
best horseman that L have ever known.
L found 1t very convenient to make a
friend of Gritnths. Together we rode
over the ranges, and by him L was given
my ilrst lessons in the use Of fire arms
and the hghtning-like RATA. liked the
country, and in few weeks | had shown
an interest in the business and fondness
for the life that more than pleased Uncle
Ben.
A year rolled by and l was still on the
ranch, with no Immediate intention of
returning home. 1 was making
money rapidly and had become welded
to the stern, fearless life of the plains
Uncle Ben had gone to Southern Califor-
MIA for his health, and 1 was running the
business on my own responsibility.
Que day | received letter from mother
which is referred to in the opening of this
story. My duty in the matter was plain,
and l answered it at once, inclosing a
note to Dick, begging him to come to me
without delay. He assented readily, and
in due time arrived on the ranch. He
had aged rapidly, and his pale face bore
unmistakable traces of dissipation. There
We're deep, dark circles under his dreamy
brown eyes, and haggard expression
about the mouth that told all too
plainly of his return to the old habit, and
the seduction of new vices in the form of
drugs. On the evening after his arrival he
told me of his life since my absence in
the West, dwelling at great length upon
his struggle with the demons that now
held him fast. He recounted his brief ex-
perience at Harvard, and his expulsion
at the close of the second term. He told
me of his promises to mother from time
to time, and how they had all been broken
by desire too strong for his will.
sit is no use," said he, in conclusion.
II am doomed, as l have told you before
If could only die here and end it all.
Even the hope of Immortality is denied
me, wretched man that l am. Mother
says that l have closed my heart to all
things good. All! She does not know of
my days and nights of torture in seeking
this hope that has been the consolation of
many generations OF men. No, Henry,
there is no hope for memo hope"
Dick did not take kindly 10 the life
about him, and manifested no interest
whatever in the affairs of the ranch. He
learned to ride, and soon made friends
with Hank Gritfiths, with whom he spent
much of his time, drinking and gam
bling. Sometimes l argued with him for
better conduct, and he would always
promise a speedy reformation, but I soon
saw the utter useleSSness of all argument
and suffered him to come and go at will,
A bout two months after taking up his
residence with me he became acquainted
with girl named Henley, "Bet' Hen
ley as she was known to every settler
within a radius of a hundred miles,
Bet" was the daughter OF old Downing
Henley, one OF the most daring cattle
thieves in the West. The girl possessed
kind of rugged beauty, vigor of ex-
preston, and an air of tearlesSness that
made her an object of the most devout
admiration among the cowboys far and
near. AS for her father, whom she alb
horred above all things on earth, he
rather enjoyed his reputation as the
leader Of ''rustlers." He had experienced
any number of marvellous escapes from
the rope, which he so richly deserved, for
his numerous acts OF laWleSsnesS, only to
return to his old vocation, for which he
seemed singularly well fitted. In his
precarious calling he had gathered about
shim dozen men as desperate as himself
and this band at the time of which write
was making things exceedingly lively
for stockmen throughout the entire Ter
ritOry. 1t was not alone in New Mexico.
however. that Henley's gang had made
itself known and feared. They had been
driven out of Old Mexico by troops. and
in Arizona two of their number had been
landed in the dim beyond by the iron
hand of Judge Lynch.
During their predatory raids "Bet''
always remained at the camp, which
served as a base of supplies and general
rendezvous for the bold marauders.
Here it was that Dick called one day in
his wanderings, and formed an acquaint-
ance that cost him his life. Though ire
quently warned that all visitors at the
Henley place were regarded as common
enemies of the community, he persisted
in calling upon the prairie queen nearly
every day. She had been reared in the
saddle, and handled firearms with skill
born of constant practice. Together this
strange pair would ride over the ranges.
day after day, until their association be-