Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-02

| Z
| lot of stock hereabOuts."
ITS these blamed refugees from the
war! A Mexican has to steal some
thing or he gets run down and pore
IL ii amt stock. it's something else. y
Dave Laws duties as Ranger rest.
ed lightly upon him; his Instructions
were vague, and he had a leisurely
method of working up" his evidence.
Since he knew that Blaze possessed a
thorough knowledge of this section and
its people, it was partly business which
had brought him to the Jones home
this afternoon.
Strictly speaking, Blaze was not a
rancher. He had speculated heavily In
raw lands. and for several years past
he had devoted his energies to a gi-
gantic colonization scheme. 1t was by
no means small operation in which
he was engaged. The venture had
taken foresight, courage, infinite hard
work; Blaze was burdened with re-
sponsibilities that would have broken
down man of weaker fiber
But his pet relaxation was reminis-
cence. His own experience had been
wide. he knew everybody in his part
Of the state, and although events In
his telling were sometimes colOred by
his rich imagination. the information
he could give was often of the great
est value-as Dave Law knew.
After time the latter said, casually,
"Tell me something about Tad Lewis"
Blaze looked up quickly. What do
you want to known
Anything. Everything"
"Tad owns n right nice ranch be-
tween here and Las Palmas," Blaze
said cautiously.
Paloma broke out impatiently. "Why
don't you say what you think?" Then
to Dave: Tad Lewis Is bad neigh
Dor, and always has been. There's
ford on his place, and we think he
knows more about wet cattle than
he cares to tell"
"It's a good place to cross stock at
low water" her, father agreed. land
Lewis land ruIH back from the Rio
Grande in its old Spanish form. It's
a natural outlet for those brush-coun-
try ranches. But I haven't anything
against Tad except natural dislike.
He stands well with some of our best
people, so I'm probably wrong. l usu-
ally am"
you can't call Ed Austin one of our
best people," sharply objected Paloma.
"They claim that arms are being
across to the rebels, Dave.
and, If it's true, Ed Austin"
"Now, Paloma," her father remon-
strated mildly. 1.-THE regulars and the
river guards watched Lewis ranch till
The embargo was lifted, and they never
saw anything"
II believe Austin Is q strong rebel
Law ventured.
"Sure And him and the Lewis out
it are amigos. If you 60 plrootin'
around Tad's place you're more'n apt
o make yourself unpopular, Dave. I'd
yrieve some to see you in wooden |
llmOno. Tad's too well fixed to steal
'attle, and If he runs arms it's be- |
'ause he's galvanized GringO' him
Mexican. you know"
When mealtime drew near, both
ones and his daughter urged their
,uest to stay and dine with them, and
Dave was glad to accept.
"After supper Pm going to show you
ur town." Blaze declared. Its the
nest city in south Texas, and grow
ng like weed. All we need is good
armers. Those we've got are mostly
students who leaped a
rug counter expecting to light in the
up of luxury. In the last outfit we
old there wasn't three men that knew
hitch end Of mule to put the collar
n. But they'll learn. Natures with
IN. and so am /. God supplies 'em
18th all the fresh air and sunshine
.:ny need, and when they want any
1isg else they come to Old Blaze.
int that right, Paloma?"
Eyes, father"
Paloms Jones had developed won
erfully sin,e Dave Law had last seen
er. She hat grown into most whole
,me and attractive young woman,
ith an honest humorous pair of
own eyes. Dur:ag dinner she did r
er part with grace that made watch
g her a pleasure, I'D the Ranger
und 1t great treat - sit at her
BILE after his strenuous scslting days
the mesquite.
I'm glad to hear Jonesvile ~ pros
,rous," he told his host. "An1 they
y you're in everything"
That's right; and prosperitJ's no
lme for it. Everybody wants Blaze
have finger In the pie. I'm nter-
ted in the bank, the sugar mill the
rdwdre store, the ice plant SAY, r
e ice plants luxury for q town this !,
Ic. Dyou know what made or VI n
last Year," ~
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