The Raymer enterprise., 1917-05-31
CHAPTER vi.
Blaze Jones and His Neiohbors.

Blaze Jones rode up 10 his front gate
and dismounted In the shade Of the big
ebony tree. He stepped back and ran
an approving eye over another animal
tethered there. or course the youths
OF this day were nothing like the
youths Of his own, and yet-Blaze let
his gaze linger fondly on the hlghbred
mare and her equipment--hcre ut least
was a person who knew a good horse,
good saddle and good gun.
As he came up the walk he heard
Paloma laugh, and his own face light
ened, for his daughters merriment was
contagious. Then as he mounted the
steps and turned the corner of the
gallery" he uttered hearty greeting.
Dave Law! Where Ia the world
did you drop fromi"
Law uncoiled himself and took the
ranchman's hand. Hello, Blaze! /
been ordered down here to keep you
straight"
"Psbaw! Now who's been giving
you orders, Dave?"
"Why, I'm with the Rangers"
"Neyer knew a word Of II. Last |
heard you was tilibustering around
with the Maderistas."
Blaze seated himself with grateful
sigh where the breeze played over him.
He was a big, bearllke. swarthy man
with the square-hewn, deep-llned face
of n tragedlan, and head of long,
curly hair, which he wore parted in
line over his left ear. Jones was a
character, local landmark. This part
of Texas had grown up with Blaze,
and he possessed Il splendid indlffer-
ence to the artificial fads of dress
and manners. He was plainly an out
door man.
So you're "A Ranger, and got notches
on Your gun" Blaze rolled and lit a
tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than
wheat straw. swell. you'd ought to
make right able thief-cateher, Dave.
only for your size-you're too long for
a man and you amt long enough for
snake. Still. | reckon thief would
have trouble getting out of your reach,
and once You got close to him How
many men have you klled?"
Counting Mexicans?" Law inquired
with smile.
Nobody counts them"
mot many"
That's good" Blaze nodded aud
relit his cigarette, which he. had per-
mitted promptly to smoIder out. "The
force amt what 1t was. Most of the
boys nowadays join So they can ride
a horse cross-lots, pack Il pair of
guns. and give rein TO the predictions
of vicious ancestry. They're bad
rams, most of EN-"
"There aren't many" said Paloiaa.
"Daye tells me the whole force las
been cut down to sixteen"
That's plenty" her father averred.
ITS like when Cap'n BIZ MeDon I'D
was sent to stop riot In Dallas. He
came to town alone. and when the citi-
zens asked him where his men was.
he said Amt l enough? There's only
one riot Are you workin' up a case,
DaveT
"Um-m-yesl People are missing a
lot of stock hereabouts.r
Its these blamed refugees from the
war A Mexican has to steal some
thing or he gets run down and pore.
II 1t amt stock, it's something else.a
Dave Laws duties as Ranger rest
ed lightly upon him; his instructions
were vague, and he had q leisurely
method Of working up" his evidence.
Since he knew that Blaze possessed
thorough knowledge Of this section and
It's people, 1t was partly business which
had brought him to the Jones home
this afternoon.
Strictly speaking. Blaze was not a
He had speculated heavily In
raw lands, and for several years past
he had devoted his energies to a a.
gantic colonization scheme. II was by
no means q small operation in which
he was engaged. The venture had
taken foresight. courage. infinite hard.
work; Blaze was burdened with re-
sponsibillties that would have broken
down Z man Of wsaker fiber.