The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1913-07-18

rODaDly nom where It nau lodged in
M of the upper drawers. Ranse took
it to the lamp and read it %curiously.
Then he took his hat and walked to
one of the Mexican ~iarlls.
Tia Juana,' he said. Il would like
to talk with you awhilc.'
An old. old Mexican woman. white
haired and wonderfully wrinkled, rose
from Il stool.
sit down. said Kanse, removing
his hat and taking the II chair i'll
the iacal. WHO an |, Tia Juana:'
he asked. speaking Spanish.
Don Ransom, our GOOD friend and
employer. Why do YOU ask?' answer
ed the old woman vonderingly.
Tia Juana, who am T. he repeated,
with his stern eyes looking into hers.
\ frightened look came i'll the old
woman's face. She fumbled with her
black shawl.
who I'M 1, Tia Juana"' said Ranse
once more.
"Thirty-two years I have lived on
the Rancho Cibolo." said Tia Juana.
Il thought to be buried under the
coma mott beyond the garden before
these things should he known. Close
the door Don Ransom. and l will
speak. | see in yo1r face that you
KNOW
An hour Ranse spent behind Tia Jul
ana's closed door. As he was IN his
way back to the house Curly called
to him from the wagon shed.
His face. now shaven smooth. SEEM
ed transformed. His hair had been
combed. and it fell back from the
culiar wave The moonlight chart
tahly softcned the ravages Of drink.
and bis auuiline. we'll shaped nose and
small. square cleft chin almost gave
distinction to his looks.
Ranse sat on the foot Of the cot and
looked at him c~uriouSly.
"Where did YOU come from-have
YOU got any home or folks anywhere:''
Me? Why. I'm a dock" said Curly.
I'm Sir Reginald-oh. cheese it. No;
I don't know anything about my an
cestors. I've been a tramp ever since
l can remember. Say, old pal. are YOU
going to set 'em up again tonight or
not?'.
You answer my questions and may
he l will. How did YOU come to be a
tramp"
Me" answered Curly. why. l
adopted that profession when l was
an infant. Case of had to. First thing
| can remember l belonged to a big,
lazy hobo called 'BeefSteak Charley.
| wasn't hardly big enough to reach
the latch Of a gate"
Did he ever tell YOU how he got
your asked Ranse.
! Once when he WAS sober he said he
bought me for an old siXshooter ant
6 bits from a band Of drunken Mexi
can sheep shearerS. But what's the
diff? That's all | KNOW
All right said Ranse, II reckon
you're a maverick for certain. In
going to put the Rancho Cibolo brant
on YOU. I'll start You to work in ONE
of the camps tomorrow
"Work..' shifted Curly disdainfully
what do YOU take me for: DO yo,
think I'd chase cows and hop. ski,
and jump around after crazy sheel
like that pink and yellow guy at tn,
store says these Reubs do? Forget it,,
"Oh. you'll like it when you get uSet
to it." said RanSe.
Ranse paid u visit to the store be
fore going to the house. Sam Revel
was taking off his tan shoes regretfuI
ly and preparing for bed.
ANY of the boys from the san Ga
briel camp riding in early in the MORN
ing?' asked Ranse.
Long Collins,' said Sam briefly
For the mail"
Tell him. said Ranse. ito take tina
tramp out to camp with him and kee
him till l get there
Curly was sitting on his blankets i
the San Gabriel camp cursiny talented
ly when Ranse Truesdell rode up an
~dismounted on the next Afternoon
The ~cOWpuncherS We're ignoring tn
stray. He was -rimy with dust an
black dirt. His clothes were maxim
their last stand in favor of the con
v%entions,
Ranse went ny to Buck Rabb, til
camp boss. and spoke briefly.
Hes a plumb buZzard.' said Bucl
He won't work. and he's the lo'
downest passed. of inhumanity | ev'
see. didn't know what Nou Wante
& done with him. lIanse, so | Just It
him set. That seems to suit him. He
been condemned to death by the boy
l n dozen times. but | told EN- nlaNl