The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-05-24
CHAPTER VI-Continucd.

Law venturcd to remark that none
Of Blazc's enemies had grown fat in
prosecuting their feudS, but this was
subject which the elder man inva-
rably found embarrassing, and now
he said:
''PShaw | never was the blood
letter people think. I'm as gentle as
sheep" Then to escape further GU
roSity on that point, he suggested that
they round out their riotouS evening
with Il game of pool.
The next morning at breakfast Pa
Iona announced Father, you must
help Dave hunt down these cattle
thieves"
Amt that sort of big ordcr?"
Blaze qucried.
perhaps, hut you're the very man
to do ii. Ricardo Guzman is the only
person who knows the Lewis gang as
well rs You do"
Jones shook his head doubtfullv.
don Ricardo has been working up his
own private fcud With that outfit. I'll
was the kind that went looking for a
tght, wouldn't have paid freight on
myself from the Panhandle down here.
| could have got one right at home
any morning before breakfast"
Ricardo Guzman IS something of a
mack sheep himself" Law spoke up.
"PShaw' He's all right. reckon
ne mas changed a few brands in his
'iinc nut so has everybody else. WHY.
mats how old Ed Austin cot his
start. If cowmnn tells you he never
stole anything. he's either good linr
or bad roper. But Ricnrdo's going
straight enough now"
He has lost his share of stock" D.,
iona explained, "and he'll work win
you If father asks him. You 90 alone
with Dave"
I'm too busy" Blaze dcmurred
ana sin't feeling good. had bnd
dreams all night"
u don't want YOU around mo hero
'''S morning. That new drcssmaEcr
Is coming"
Jones rose abruptly from the ,nblo
reckon my business cnn w,i,
hustle up. Dave" A few momnn,>
lat"r' MS they were saddlinp moi,
h"rSes, he lamcntcd: "What did 7 tnl
Sou iicr' go. on the dodge from I,
''S'''"her -, sposc I've got to ]iy,
'"e road-ngcnt now, til somethin,
happens" '''
Doh Ricardo Guzmnn was an Anori
can, but hc spoke no English An
..'.n' OF hirth had made him Il ctizr
VI the United States--his father ho,
,"s owhcl ranch which Law nor,
n'H'eaa OF south Of the Rio Grand,
.""Sl!''ich as the property had fullc
~ Ncardo, his sons. too, were Yu,
Nues III the eyes Of the law Hut i;
~. oth"r respects Don Ricardo nm
ms i''hliy differed not at o)l from -,
many Guzmans who lv,1 ,n,,,., -,
'u'', me GuZman ranch compris.
s'oo'y number of acres. ana sirn
Wv, s'ocK multiply rapidly. it's own,
'"" !" some Sor, prospcrcd IN ~
N " reSaca--n former bed of IN
" VI stood the house an ,dol
tiuc,ure square, white ana unnro,a,,
gu from the sun by shrub or trno -
hiild II were some brush c,rr.,'
lew scattered mud ,ocolc - "''
lived the help. WING
Ricardo had just risen from .,
when his two visitors rodo IN
liaue them welcome with thn w., ,
had. In the cool of the artcrnnon !,
cardo rode with his visitors nnd -,
cordial relations being now WV
Hshcd, he began to diyulge inrnrr.,,' ,,'
OF value to Law. '''''
les, he had endured many dcnr,,
tons from thieves. 1t was SHAM =
but doubtless God willcd that n cor,,
amount of stealing should 90 nm
the world. The evlldocrs were =
tainly favored by nature, in this 10,
ity, for the great cxpans; OF br,
country to the north and cast off,
almost perfect security, ana tho ri,
10 the south. gave immunity from u
suit or prosecution. The bccycs ",
driven north into the wilderness !
the horses went to Mexico, whore !
war has created a market for mo
The fede,nls had plenty of money
buy mounts.
Whom did Don Ricardo suspect?
The old man was noncomn,tt
suspicion was one thing, proof w
quite another; and conviction was di
Z 5s cult under the best OF cirnumo Of Z no.