Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-30


the women folks young chap rode
up an got of his horse and come I'm.
The widow didn't appear to take to
him. but Nettie did. She acted awful
sweet, and called him Tonight be-
fore my eyes. Well, he sweIied
around as If he owned the hull Of
San Miguel county, crackln' Jokes an
maxim himself right to home. Soon
he begins shootin' his mouth OF at
me. an I reckoned the time had come
Tor me to call him down some did
II, too-told him he looked Ike a
cross between a NANCY coyote an a
greaser sheepherder. He rose outen
his chair an plunked me in the eye.
an we mixed considerable on the
floor"
He paused and sighed heavily.
And what happened them" I de-
manded.
Why" said Red sheepishly. moth
Ing much. 'cept that reckon had
some the better OF him. But the
widow, she-she up an threw US both
out OF the place. an I came away.
Guess Nettie was sore. too. don't
allow that III go there so often after
this"
He kept his word. for from that
day his visits TO the Houston ranch
ceased altogether. with the warmer
weather came the usual work on the
range. Preparations for the spring
roundup were made, and the men
were sent out over the range TO ex-
anime the watering places, with or
ders 70 pull out OF the Doggy ground
about them any l. Bar cattle that had
become mired and unable 20 extricste
themselves. One morning Red rode
away from the ranch with instruc-
lions to examine carefully a certain
specified territory that lay in the
west His route led up Los Tanos.
and the afternoon OF the second day
OF his expedition found him approach
ing the Star s Ranch II had been a
perfect day in April. that best Of all
months in New Mexico. The gramma
grass had exchanged its winter coat
OF silver for a fresher one OF green ;
the few trees that grew along the
river were bright in leaf and blossom.
Even the sombre sage brush had put
was gorgeous in its yellow flowers.
Red dismounted st the ranch house.
and having unsaddled his horse.
turned him into the corral and strobe
into the bunkroom.
I'm from the l. Bar" he said to
one Of the two occupants there" an
reckon I'll put up with you tonight"
Sure" responded one OF the men.
Anything new over your way?"
NO" returned Red briefly; there
amt nothin' much stirrin'."
Bedtime comes early at ranch.
and there were a dozen men packed
away in the clubhouse that night.
Yet, although Red was tired. he could
not sleep. The injustice OF his expul-
sion from the widows premises stiIl
ranked in his breast and his thoughts
wandered insistently 10 that discour-
aging incident He was partially
reused from his reverie by hearing a
voice over In the darkest corner OF
the room say:
We'll. Jack was tellin' me you had
right pretty mixup with the Teller ''
Il sure did" assented the second
voice. why. he called me a greaser:
oughter have filled him with lead by
, rights"
When did you say you calculated
70 run OF the girl?"
Tomorrow. / guess. She'll be all
alone up 70 the place. The widow
Houston an her son has gone TO
Vegas, an III skip with Nettie while
they're away, an make for Santa
Rosa"
Red saw the whole business. This
was the scoundrel with whom he had
the fight at the Houstons last winter.
and now he was going to forcibly alb
duct Netue in the absence OF her
mother and brother. He determined
TO upset the plan, and save the help
less damsel from the tolls OF the vii
lain. He would His thoughts were
interrupted by the first voice speaking
again.
How was you hggerin' on doing it.
Tom?"
I'm going 20 hoist her on a pony
and make for Santa Rosa. I'll follow
the old overland-stage trail till we
come to the Montezumy marshes. and
then cross lots. There's a path over
the bog near the spring, and III save
five mile over goin' that way. AS we
SHAT had no rain in six months I
reckon the bog amt very shaky. /
want you to stand by me. Joe Bean,
an be over to Santa Rosa tomorrow
at three o'clock"
Sure. I'll be there; good night.
Tom Fallon. an good luck"
Good night, joe" responded the
second voice. and then the camp
slept
Before sunrise next morning Red
left the Star ranch. He had sworn
that come what might, Nette should
be saved, although ne had not been
properly treated by her or her mother.
He would intercept the party at the
Montezuma crossing. and do the deed
singlehanded Perhaps Nettie might
smile upon her perhaps she
might even marry him out OF graft
tude. His head grew dizzy at the
thought. and pushing his horse into
gallop. he rode out OF sight OF the
rancE.
AS the day grew older a small cloud
appeared in the western sky. gradual