Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-10-17

finger upon Montrosa's foreheaa she
wears lone star. and I'd like TO call
her that-The Lone Star"
Alaire smiled in tacit assent; then
when the two friends had completely
established their intimacy, she mount
ed her own horse and led the way IL
the roundup.
Dawes unbounded delight filled the
mistress of Las Palmas with the keen
est pleasure. He laughed. he hummed
snatches of songs. he kept up chat
ter addressed as much to the mare as
to his companion, and under 1t Mont
rosa romped like tomboy. 1t was
gratifying to meet with such apprecia-
ton as this; Alaire felt warm and
friendly to the whole world, and de-
cided that out of her abundance she
must do more for other people.
OF course Dave had 70 tell of Don
Ricardo's thoughtful gift, and concud-
ed by saying, II think this must be
my birthday. although 1t doesn't fit In
with the calendar"
"Don Ricardo has his enemies, bur
he Is good-hearted old man."
"Yes." Dave agreed. Then. more
gravely, I'm sorry let him go across
the river" There was pause. eff
anybody harms him, 1 reckon I'll have
feud on my hands. for I'm grateful
person"
81 believe 1t. can see that you are
loyal"
81 was starved on sentiment when
was little, but it's in me bigger than
skinned OK. They say gratitude Is an
elemental. primitive emotion"
"Perhaps that's why it is 80 rare
nowadays" said Alaire, not more than
half in jest.
"You find 1t rareT Dave looked up
keenly. "Well, you have certainly laid
up store of it today"
BenitO and his men had rounded up
perhaps three thousand head of cattle
when Alaire and her companion ap
peared and they were In process Of
cutting out" 1t was an animated
scene, one fitted to rouse enthusiasm
in any plainsman, for the stock was fat
and healthy; there were many calves,
and the incessant. rumbIing complaint
of the herd was blood-stirring. The
Las Palmas cowboys rode like CEN
taurs; the air was drumming to swift
hOOfbeats, and over all was the hoarse,
unceasing undertone from countless
bovine threats. Out near the grub
ha nd utvrn
thither at intervals came the perspir-
ing hOrsemen to change their mounts.
Benito, wet, dusty and tired, rode
up to his employer to report progress.
"Dios! This Is hot work tssr an old
man. We will never finish by dark"
said he, whereupon Law promptly vol
unteered his services.
Lend me your rope. Benito." Dave
slid out of his seat and. with an arm
around the mares neck, whispered into
her ear. Rosa answered by nosing tho
speaker over with brazen familiarity.
"DiablO! He has way with horses,
hasn't he?" Benito grinned. snow, that
Montrosa Is wilder than deer"
The giant herd milled and eddied
revolving like a vast pool of deep
swift water. The bulls were quarrel.
some, the steers were stubborn. and
the wet cows were distracted. In and
out of this confusion the cowboys rode,
following the animals selected for sep"
aration. forcing them out through dust
and brush. until they had Joined this
re chni nj oil or
were to remain on the ranch. It was
swift. sweaty. exhausting work. the
kind these Mexicans loved, for it was
not only spectacular but held an
amount of danger. Dave Law made
himself one of them.
Alaire sat her horse in the heart Of
the crowding herd and watched the
Ranger. Good riding she was accus.
toned to. But Law seemed to inspire
his mount. In spite of the mans I'M
usual size, he rode like feather; he
was grace and life and youth persona
fed. Now he sat as erect in his saddle
az a swaying reed; again he stretched
himself out like whiplash. Once he
had begun the work he would not
stop.
All that afternoon the cowboys
labored. and toward shutdown the de
pIeted herd was driven to the water.
Then through the cool twilight came
the drive to the next pasture, and here
the patience Of the cowboys was taxed
to the utmost, for as the stronger men,
hora of the herd forged ahead tha
wearied. worried, littlest members fell
behind. But now these swarthy, dare
devil riders were as gentle as women:
they urged the tiny youngsters onward
with harmless switche.i or with pain
less blows from loose-coiled riatas: