The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-06-26

c0pXR1dHT 1901 by 5TREET4ShTTH
ferring the boxes to the car, but at
the unexpected advent of this
stranger-this astonishingly speck-
less apparition from the effete east
they had paused to give to Rand
their undivided attention.
Rand looked away from them,
ghost of frown gathering between
his level brows. His eyes sought
the southern horizon-a line OF
white light, beneath which, he
knew, lay Nampa and the ranches
in the green of their growing lemon
trees. From his feet almost gray
and dusty road stretched due
south, straight as ribbon laid
across the desert growth. That was
to be his road, Rand knew; but he
had not counted upon finding such
a total lack Of accommodation at
Hydrant; he had expected that
some mode. of transportation would
be forthcoming upon demand.
Otherwise he would have tele-
graphed.
Rand's frown deepened. Was he
to be forced to abandon his cher
ished project, his scheme of sur
! prise?
One of the men on the wagon sat
himself down and began to swing
his legs comfortably over the side.
He considered Rand deliberately
and finally yelled at him:
eli, there, stranger"
Rand took his gaze from the dusty
road with it's border Of telegraph
poles and nodded to the man. At
the same time his face frightened
For he had overlooked the cayuse
which was languishing near the
furthermost of the freight cars-a
depressed animal whose ears
dropped in keeping with the reins
which had been carelessly thrown
| over it's head.
"Hello!" said Rand, pleasantly.
He stepped down from the platform
plunging ankle-deep in powdery
dust through which he plowed oyer
to the wagon. where's Nampa:'
he asked, smiling broadly.
"Y'u want to go there?" 49,
81 did, Rand confessed.
The speaker jerked his thumb
vaguely to the southwark. ."Thar's
the road, stranger" he told Rand.
"Jes' step along lively, and yell git
thar about shutdown. It's about Is
mile"
His companions laughed joyous
ly, and Rand joined them. NJ want
to find a man named Wheelock,"
he suggested. ANY of you know
him.
This gained him their sober in
terest
"Wheelock?" repeated he who had
first spoken. Know Wheelock?
| Y'u mean the manager of Rand's
ranch? Seems to me we're some
acquainted with him. We works
under him.
THAT SOP" said Rand. "Then,
presume, these are Rand's lemons? ?"
He nodded toward the oblong wood
en- boxes.
"Y'u presoom correct, stranger
If y'u want t. wait round till we're
quit of this job, calculate we en-
drive yu over"
"Well," Rand suggested, I'm in
something of a hurry, and | was
wondering if could hire your cay
use. I'll pay you $5-"
But it developed that he was adj
dressing the owner of the animal
who told him, with exceeding affa-
bility and a wave of his hand:
Take him right along, stranger
and it won't cost y'u nothin', Meth
err I'd jes as leave drive back,
m'self."
THANK you," Rand said. "And-
would it be too much to ask you
to carry my baggage over to the
ranch?"
"Cert'nly not. stranger. Proud to
accommodate y'u."
I'm greatly obliged to you"
Rand strolled over to the cayuse,
caught the bride, threw it over the
animals neck and mounted with
careless ease that won the owners
| admiration.
"He kin ride announced the man
to his comrades.
Rand refined in by the wagons
side.
Follow the road, | supposed"
Straight ez as a string, strange
| Y'u come to Nampa. n anybody'r
tell y'u whar Rand's ranch lis. S
long"
$50 long" II
81 say-stranger" Il
Rand turned in his saddle. 4
"Mought l ask yer manner"
Certainly" The youngs man
smiled; they couldn't head him off
now. I'm Rand" he explained,
and struck the road at a rapid Tope.
The men whom he had left gasp
ed with amazement, the owner Of
the cayuse exhibiting particular af-
Fiction. I'm damned" he com
planned; and then, more cheerfully,
Damned eff I'd want t. be in Vince
locks shoes this night" y