The Raymer enterprise., 1917-05-31

VeriHfatiOn. Dtun 1, fdiofnds
Miss Paloma's answer was unexpect-
ed. and came with equal emphasis:
"No, you didn't, father. The miserable
thing lost money
Blaze was only momentarily dis
mayed. Then he joined his visitors
laughter. How can man get along
without the cooperation OF his own
householdi" he inquired naiyely, May
be 1t was next year | was thinking
about" Thereafter he confined him
self to statements which required no
confederation.
Dave had long since learned that to
hold Blaze Jones to strict account.
ability with fact was to rob lis So
ciety Of its greatest charm. slaylsh
accuracy In figures. an arid lack OF
nagination. reduces conversation To
the insipidness OF fiat wine, and
Blaze's talk was never dull. He was
keen, shrewd, practical man, but some
where In his being there was con-
eealed tremendous, lopsded sense
of hnmor which took the form OF a
bewildering imagery. An attentive au-
dienee was enough for him, and, once
his fancy was In full swing, there was
no limit to his outrageous exaggera-
lions. A light Of credulity In hear
er's eye filled him with prodigious
inirth, and II Is doubtful II his listen
ers ever derived a fraction Of the
amusement from his fabrieations that
he himself enjoyed Paloma's spirit
Of contradiction was the only fly In
his ointment; now that his daughter
was old enough 10 keep books" on
him. much Of the story-teller's Joy was
denied him.
OF course his proclivities OCCASION
ally led to mlsapprehenslons: chance
acqualntances who recognized him as
an artfnl romancer were liable to con-
slider him generally untruthful. But
even In this misconception Blaze took
a quiet delight. secure In the knowl-
edge that all who knew him well re-
garded him as rock of integrity. As
a matter OF fact, his genuine exploits
were quite as sensational as those Of
his manufacture.
When, after supper, Blaze had
hitched pair Of driving mules to his
buckboaiI, preparatory to showing his
guest the glories Of Jonesville, Dave
said.
"Paloma's getting mighty pretty"
shes as pretty Us blue-bonnet
flower" he father agreed. "And she
runs me around something scandalous.
| amt Got the freedom Of a peon."
Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy
head. you know me. Dave; never
used to be scared of nobody. Well its
different now. She rides me with a
Spanish bit, and my seal amt my
own With sudden Tightening of his
gloom, he added; SAY. you're going TO
stay right here with us as long us
you're in town; want you 10 see how
l eringe."
In spite OF Blaze's plaintiye tone II
was patent that he was inor,llnately
proud Of Paloma and well content with
his serf1om.
Jonesyille proved to be typical
Texas town Of the modern variety and
altogether different TO the pictured
frontier village. All In all, the effect
was much like that OF prosperous,
orderly northern farming town. To It's
happy founder ii seemed well-nIgh per.
feet. and It's destiny reused his mad.
dest enthusiasm. He pointed out the
Odd Fellows hall. the Palace Picture
theater. with Is glaring orange lights
and discordant electric piano; he con.
Quoted Law to the First National
bank, Of which Blaze was a proud but
somewhat ornamental director: then
to the sugar mill, the ice plant and
other points of equally novel interest.
Everywhere he went Jones was
hailed by friends. for everybody
seemed to know him and 10 want to
shake his hand.
"Some town and some body of men,
eh| he inquired. finally, and Dave
agreed:
Yes. She's got grand framework.
Blaze. She'll be most as big as Fort
Worth when you fatten her up."
Jones waved his buggy whip In a
wide circle that took In the miles of
level prairie on all sides. "We'ye got
the whole blamed state to grow In.
And. Dave. haven't got an enemy In
the place! 1t wasn't many years ago
that certain people allowed I'd never
live to raise this town. Why, 1t used
to be that nobody dared ride with
me-except Paloma. and she used to
sleep with shotgun at her bedside" ("
"You sure have been a responsible
ity to her"
But I'm as safe now as II I was in
church"