Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-05-13

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cheeks.
At the ranch Loo Sing was closely
questioned and strongly denied steal.
ing bis masters chickens. The matter
was talked over at the supper table,
and Dick threatened to make trouble
for Gay Ransom. the bad man
THE country Is well rid Of such yer.
min." he muttered as be went to bed
Two hours later, at midnight. there
came the thunder of running boots on
the ground without and the pounding
Of revolver butt on the front door.
Dick Fancher threw up bis window
to find the glare Of grass tire red
dening the sky with lurid flickering
light and outlining the tall, graceful
form Of the bad man on his brown
horse.
"Wen. what Is itY' he demanded
sharply.
Fire! See 1t coming3 I've come to
help you ditch it around the house or
else get the women away. What do
you want to doY he asked the qnes-
ton impatiently. and indeed there was
little time to be lost. for the long red
wall of flame was approaching rapidly.
The ranch house was Of adobe and
would stand the fierce encircling
flames II they could manage the ditch.
They could turn the contents Of the
tnkp hn
thinking while he rapidly dressed and
ordered his family from their beds.
Loo Sing had quite disappeared. and
the three Mexicans. who We're all the
help Dick had on the farm at this sea-
son, were doubtless gambling down at
Cummings saloon. eight miles away.
There was nobody here but the bad
mun and Dick Fancher.
First they drove the frightened
horses to the shed near the house.
Then they turned loose the restless
cattle and saw them fee instincdveiy
to the refuge of the hills to the east.
II would take days to gather them In
again. The two men fell to work Win
shoyels and made wide ditch all
around the little lonely adobe house,
waiting there In the middle 0f the
crisp. parched plain to know what ner
fate would be. Would the heat OF the
flames crack her walls beyond endur'
ance of the women within. or wouiu
the two be able to complete the ditcn
and I'LL II with water, thus frustrating
the cruel tongues Of devastating lire!
The ditch was finished while the not
breath Of flame famed their cheeks.
They turned the water. an all too slen'
der stream. into the ditch. saw the
earth drink 1t up. drink and drink. ana
then when II could absorb no more
saw the ditch slowly I'LL to half It's
depth. Then Gay Ransom, hatless.
coatless, singed by flame and scorrhed
beyond recognition. threw pail after
pail OF water against the walls VI tho
house, even while the heated surface
hissed under the contact and the steati
rose in white drift Dick Fanrher
was everywhere ut once. beating back
little incursions OF fame. tossing a
bucket of water on flaming shrub.
chasing bewildered chickens into the
house. soothing first his family and
then his horses until the morning
dawned and found them safe.
Black and grimy beyond recognition.
they stared ut each other while the
smoke clouds billowed away to the
northeast. Then 1t was that Loo Sing
emerged from the adobe chicken house.
wild with fright and dragging AFTER
him the evidences Of his own gtlit IN
the shape of Il bag Of mutiled chickens.
81 owe you the sincerest apology.
Ransom" said Dick Fancher frnukiy
as he grasped the others hand. ana
I owe you more than can say for tho
help you've given me tonight"
81 think you've made mistake.
Dick. DEAR" said Mans soft voice. with
a hint of laughter in its tone. This
is not Gay Ransom. the desperado
am sure It is Mr.. Bleck himself. for
met him last summer ut the Tetleys."
"Of course, Of course" cried Bleck
excitedly. 81 knew Id seen you be-
fore. took you IN to dinner. you
know"
"Please explain" said Dick with
what patience he could muster. why
are you not Gay Ransom: Why are
you Mr. Bleck? Why are you posing
as q bad man and sheep herder"
Bleck laughed heartily. I'm Bleck
because | can't help it | came out
here to learn the business on my ranch
from the bottom up. and the bottom
seems to be herding. ! told my fore
man I'd be incog for awhile. and the
rascal planted on me the name and
reputation Of well known bad man
hereabouts I've just discovered the
fact. and marvel that I've not been
lynched before this"
This Is the story OF how the bad man
came to be Dick Fancher's warmest
friend and finally his brother-ln-law
and how Nan became her brothers
nearest neighbor and yet lived In the
next county.