Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-02

river guards watched Lewis ranch till
the embargo was lifted, and they never
saw anything"
81 believe Austin is Il strong rebel
sympathizer," Law ventured.
"Sure! And him and the Lewis out
fit are amigos. If you go pirootin'
around T.d's place you're morc'n apt
to make yourself unpopular. Dave. I'd
grleve some 20 see you In a wooden
klmOno. Tad's too we'll fixed to steal
cattle, and If he runs arms it's be-
cause he's a galvanized GringO' him,
self-married Mexican, you know"
When mealtime drew near, both
Jones and his daughter urged their
guest to stay and dine with t.em, and
Dave was glad to accept.
"After supper I'm going to show you
our town." Blaze declared. ITS the
finest city in south Texas, and grow
ing like Il weed. All we need Is good
farmers. Those we've got are mostly
back-to-nature students who leaped Il
drug counter expecting to light in the
lap of luxury. In the last outfit we
sold. there wasn't three men that knew
which end of a mule to put the collar
on. But they'll learn. Natures with
'em, and so am l. God supplies 'em
with all the fresh air and sunshine
they need, and when they want any
thing else they come to Old Blaze.
Amt that right, Paloma?"
"Yes, father"
Paloma Jones had developed won.
derfully since Dave Law had last seen
her. She had grown into most whole.
some and attractive young WOMAN
with an honest, humorous pair of
brown eyes. During dinner she did
her part with u grace that made watch
ing her pleasure, and the Ranger
found it q great treat to sit at hel
table after his strenuous scouting day.
in the mesquite.
I'm glad to hear Jonesville is pros
porous" he told his host. "And they
say you're In everything"
That's right; and prosperity's NJ
name for It. Everybody wants Blaze
to have n finger in the pie. I'm inter
ested In the bank. the sugcr mill, the
hardware store, the ice plant Say
the ice plants luxury for town this
4 size. D'you know what l made out OF
1t last year?"
1--WE no idea."
"Twenty-seven thousand dollars y
The father of Jonesville spoke proud
~, impressively, and then through
habit called upon his daughter for
verification. Didn't |, paloma|
Miss PalOma's answer was unexpect.
ed. and came with equal emphasis
mo, you didn't, father. The miserable
thing lost money"
Blaze was only momentarily dis
mayed. Then he joined his visitors
slaughter. "How can man get along
without the cooperation of his own
HOUSEHOLDER he inquired naively. May.
be it was next year | was thinking
about" Thereafter he confined him
self to statements which required nc
confederation.
Dave had long since learned that tc
hold Blaze Jones to a strict account
ability with fact was to rob his so
ciety of its greatest charm. A slavisl
accuracy In figures, an arid lack OF
Imagination, reduces conversation tC
the insipidness Of fiat wine, anc
Blaze's talk was never dull. He was o
keen, shrewd, practical man, but some
where in his being there was con
cealed tremendous, lopsided sense
of humor which took the form Of &
bewildering imagery. An attentive au
dence was enough for him, and, once
his fancy was in full swing, there was
no limit to his outrageous exaggera
tons. A light of credulity In hear
er's eye filled him with prodiglou'
mirth, and 1t IS doubtful If his listen
ers ever derived fraction OF thu
amusement from his fabrications tina
he himself enjoyed. Paloma's spiri
Of contradiction was the only fly II
his ointment; now that his daughter
was old enough to 'keep books" OF
him, much of the story.teller's Joy wa
denied him.
OF course his proclivities occasion
ally led to misapprehensions; chance
acquaintances who recognized him a
an artful romancer were liable to con
slider him generally untruthful. Blu
even in this mlsconception Blaze tool
n quiet delight, secure In the knowl
edge that all who !new him well re
gardcd him as a rock of integrity. A
a matter Of fact, his genuine exploit
were quite as sensational rs those o
his manufacture.
,r,A ,,r, 20, .-,prkyt.f.y,