Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-05-26
CHAPTER vi.
Blaze Jones and His rlelahbora.

Gs
Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate
and dismounted in the shade of the big
ebony tree. He stepped back and ran
an approving eye over another animal
tethcred there. OF course the youths
of this day were nothing like the
youths of his own, and yet-Blaze let
his gaze linger fondly on the highbred
mare and her equipment-here at least
was person who knew good horse,
a good saddle and a good gun.
AS he came up the walk he heard
Paioma laugh, and his own face light
ened, for his daughters merriment was
contagious. Then as he mounted the
steps and turned the corner Of the
gallery he Uttered a hearty greeting.
Dave Law! Where in the world
did YOU drop from?"
Law uncoiled himself and took the
ranchmans hand. Hello, Blaze! /
been ordered down here to keep you
straight"
"Pshaw! Now who's been giving
you orders. Dave?"
Why, I'm with the Rangers"
"Never knew a word of it. Last
heard you was filibustering around
with the Maderistas."
Blaze seated himself with a grateful
sigh where the breeze played over him
He was a big, bearlike, swarthy man
with the square-hewn, deep-lined face
/ of tragedian, and a head of long,
curly hair, which he wore parted in
line over his left ear. Jones was
character, local landmark. This part
of Texas had grown up with Blaze,
and he possessed a splendid indiffer-
| ence to the artificial fads Of dress
and manners. He was plainly an out
door man.
$50 you're Ranger, and got notches
! on your gun" Blaze rolled and lit
tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than
wheat straw. "Well, you'd ought to
make a right able thief-catcher, Dave,
only for your size-you're too long for
n man and you amt long enough for a
snake. Still, 1 reckon a thief would
have trouble getting out of your reach,
and once you got close TO him How
| many men have you killed."
Counting Mexicans?" Law inquired
with a smile.
"NobOdy counts them"
mot many"
That's good" Blaze nodded and
relit his cigarette, which he had per-
United promptly to smolder out. "The
force amt what 1t was. Most of the
boys nowadays join so they can ride
a horse cross-lots. pack a pair of
guns, and give rein to the predictions
| of a vicious ancestry. They're bad
rams. most of EN-"
There aren't many" said Paloma.
Dave tells me the whole force has
been cut down TO sixteen"
That's plenty" her father averred.
''It's like when Cap'n Bill Mcdonald
was sent to stop riot in Dallas. He
came TO town alone and when the citi-
zens asked him where his men was,
he said Amt 1 enough? There's only
one riot Are you workin' up a case,
| DaveT'
"Um-m-yesi People are missing a
| 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.
II It ain stock, it's something else"
Dave Laws duties as a 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 1t was partly business which
had brought him to the Jones home
this afternoon.
81 richly speaking, Blaze was not a
runcher. lie la speculated heavily In
raw lands, and for several years past
he had devoted his energies TO a 'gi-
cautic colonization scheme. II was by
no mems a small operation in -qhic"
The wds engaged The venture had
taken foresight. courage. infinite hard
work; Blaze was bu;dened with re-
sponsibilltieS that would have broken
doHa man CT weaker fiber,