Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-16
CHATTER Ym-tcort,nu.al

sslITTIcN ia got dressed. l sneaked up 20
w the Galvcz for a drink. In the bar
were lot OF stookmen and they asked mo
where ia been. told 'em ia been nursing
a sick lodge member, and they said;
" Too badl You missed the damncdest
fght since Custer was licked. We couldn't
got very close for the jam, but It was
great
The story went all over Galveston. The
husband swore he'd XIII the man who at
tackled his wife, and the newspapers called
on tho police 20 discover the ruftian"
There was a pro,racted silence; then Law
controlled his voice sufficiently TO say; IT'S
fortunate he didn't recognize you tonight"
Maybe he did Anyhow. his wife is the
new dressmaker Paloma's hired. l amt
got n chance. Dave. That story win ruin
me in the community, and Paloma VIII turn
me out when she learns I'm IA lady
pincher."
what are you going TO do about it7'
Blaze sighed 81 don't know, yet. Prob
| ably I'll end by running from those scor-
pions. like did before"
The next morning at breakfast Paloma
| announced, Father, you must help Dave
| hunt down these cattle thieves"
"Ain't that sort OF n big order7' Blaze
queried.
Perhaps, but you're the very man to do
II. Ricardo Guzman is tho only person who
knows the Lewis gang as well as you DO.
Jones shook MS hcau uCuptluAiys bSh
| Ricardo has been working up his own pri-
vate feud with that OUTFIT.
| "If was the kind that went looking for
| a fight | wouldn't have paid freight on my
| self from the Panhandle down here 1
could have got one right at home any
| morning before breakfast"
RICARDO Guzman is something Of black
sheep himself Law spoke up.
"Pshaw Hos all right. reckon he
| has changed few brands In his time, but
so has everybody else. Why, that's now
| old Ed Austin got his start. II cowman
| tells you he never stole anything, he's either
| a dam good liar on n dam bad roper. But
Ricardo's going straight enough now
| ''He has lost his share OF stock" Paloma
| explained, "and he'll work with you II father
| asks him. You so along with Dave
"Im too busy" Blaze demurred. and
aln't feeling good. ] had bad dreams all
night"
II don't want you around here this morn
| ing That new dressmRker is coming.
Jones rose abruptly from the table i
reckon my business can walt Hustle up
| Dave" A few moments later, as they were
saddling their horses, he lamented; What
did / tell you? Here l 20, on the dodge
from a dressmaker. s'pose I've got to live
like n road agent now till something hap
| pens"
Don Ricardo Guzman was an American
but he spoke no English An accident OF
birth had made him a citizen OF the United
|
which lay north instead OF south OF the RiC
Grande. Inasmuch as the property had
fallen 20 Ricardo. his sons, too, were Yam
KEGS in the eyes of the law. But In al
other respects Don Ricardo and his family
differed not at all from the many Guzmans
who lived across the border. The Guzmar
ranch comprised n goodly number OF acres
and, since live stock multiply rapidly. it'
owner had in some sort prospered. on thu
hank of a resaca~-a former bed of the Rio
Grande-stood the house. an adobe struc
ture. square, white. and unprotected from
the sun by shrub tree. Behind It wer,
some brush corrals and few scattered mut
jacals in which lived tho help.
Ricardo had just risen from a siesta wheI
his two visitors rode up, and he made then
welcome with the best he had. There fol
lowed complimentary exchange OF greet
ings and the usual flow of small talk. Ri
cardo had suffered n severe toothache-th
same abomnable affiictlon that had los
Porfrio Dlaz an empire. II had been a DIR!
J spring. but praise God. the water still hel,
in the resaca-his two sons were branding