Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-25


a good-hearted old man"
80. Yes" Dave agreed Then more gravely,
~ m sorry / let him 20 across the river
There was pause, III anybody harms
him ] reckon I'll have feud on my hands,
Tor I'm grateful person"
loyal"
II was starved on sentiment when
was little, but it's In me bigger than
skinned OK. They say gratitude Is an ele-
mental primitive emotion"
Perhaps that's why it Is so rare nova
days, said Alaire. not more than half
In Jest
You ind Il rare1" Dave looked up
n store OF II today"
Benito and his men had rounded up per-
haps 5000 head OF cattle when Alaire and
her companion appeared, and they were
In the process OF cutting out" Assembled
near flowing well which gave life 10 n
shallow pond. the herd was held together
by half-dozen horsemen who rode its
outskirts, heading OF and driving back
the strays. Other men, under Benito's
personal direction. were isolatinR the hest
animals and sending them back 60 the
pasture II was an animated scene one
ntted TO rouse enthusiasm In any plains
man, for the stock was fat and healthy
there were many calves, and the incessant,
rumbling complaint OF tho herd was blood
stirring The Las Palmas cowboys rode
IKE centaurs, doubling. lodging, yelling
ana whtrling their ropes like lashes: the
air was drumming TO swift hoof- beats, and
over all was the hoarse, unceasing under.
tone from countless bovine throats. Out
near the grub wagon the remuda wns
grazing, and thither at Intervals came the
perspiring horsemen 20 change their mounts.
benito, wet, dusty and tired rode up
to his employer to report progress
Dlosl This is hot work for an old man.
xgl A..
whereupon Law promptly volunteered his
services
Lend mo your rope. Benito, till I get
another caballo."
"Eh? That Montrosa n the best cut
ting horse Las Palmas."
But Dave shook his head vigorously
Il wouldn't risk her among those gopher
hoies. He slid out of his seat and with
an arm around the mares neck, whispered
into her ear, I'VE won't have any broken
legs and broken hearts, will we, honey
girlT Rosa answered by nosing the
speaker over with brazen familiarity; then
when he had removed her equipment and
turned away, dragging her saddle, she fol-
lowed at his heels like n dog
Diablo lie has way with horses.
hasn't he?" Benito grinned. "Now that
Montrosa Is wilder than n deer"
Alaire rode into the herd with her fore
man. while Dave settled hrs loop over a
buckskin, preparatory to Joining the cow
boys.
The giant herd mllled and eddied, re-
volving like a vast pool of deep, swift
water. The bulls were uuarrelson1e. the
steers were stubborn and the wet cows
were distracted. Motherless calves lodged
about In bewilderment
In and out of this confusion the cowboys
rode, following the animals selected for
separation, forcing them out with devious
turnings and twistings. and then running
them mAdlY n M
cent dashes over fats and hummocks,
through dust and brush. until they had
Joined the smaller herd OF choice animals
which were to remain on the ranch 1t
was swift, sweaty exhausting work. the
kind these Mexicans loved, for Il was not
only spectacular. but held an element of
danger. Once he had secured n pony Dave
Law made himself one Of them.
A new moon was swinging in the sky
as Alaire and Dave rode back toward Las
Palmas. The dry, gray grass was begin
ming TO Jewel with dew: the paths were
ribbons of silver between dark blots OF
ink where the bushes grew. Behind rose
the Jingle OF spurs and brides, the creals
OF leather. the voices OF men, II was an
hour in which TO talk freely. an environment
suited to condolences, and Dave Law was
happier than he had been for years.
He closed his eyes to the future, he
stopped his ears to mlsgivings with a song
in his heart he rode at the stirrup of the
woman he adored.
How or when Alaire Austin came 10 feel
that this man loved her she never knew
Certainly he gave no voice to his feeling
save. perhaps. by some unconscious tone or
trick of speech rather the knowledge came
20 her intuitively as the result OF some sub
conscious interchange of thought, some re-
sponsive vibration. which only a psychol-
oglst could analyze However IL was,
Alaire knew tonight that she was dear 10
her companion, and, strange TO say, this
certainty did not disturb her. Inasmuch as
the thing existed why deny its right 10
exlst2 she asked herself Since Il was In
nowise dlshonorable, how could II be wrong,
provided II went no further? Alaire had
been repeled by Luis Longorios evident
love for her, but a similar emotion In this
mans breast had quite the opposite effect.
She was eager for friendship, hungry for
every woman lives upon Having a whole.
character. and complete faith In Laws
sense of honor, she was neither alarmed
nor offended.
For the first time In years she allowed
her intimate thoughts free expression and
spoke Of her hopes, her interests and her
efforts: under the spell of the moonlight
she even confded something about those
dreams that kept her company and robbed
her world OF its sordidness. Dave Law dis
covered that She lived In a fanclful land OF
unrealties and the glimpse he gained of Il
was delightful.
supper was waiting when they arrived at