The Lamar register., 1917-08-01

r.
painfully scrawled his slanting sigma
ture to the deed. 1t was a different
ranch now to what the old man had
known; indeed, it was doubtful if he
would have recognized IT, for even the
house was new.
AIaire had some such thought In
mind as she rode up to the gate on
the afternoon following her departure
from the water hole, and she felt a
thrill of pride at the acres of sprouting
corn, the dense green field of alfalfa
so nicely fitted between their fences.
They were like clean, green squares Of
mating spread for the feet Of summer.
A Mexican boy came running to care
for her horse, n Mexican woman greet
ed her as she entered the wide, cool
hall and went to her room. Dolores
fixed bath and laid out clean clothes
with a running accompaniment Of chat
ter concerned with household affairs.
She was a great gossip, and possessed
such n talent for gaining information
that through her husband. Benito. the
range boss, she was able to keep her
mistress in fairly intimate touch with
ranch matters.
Alaire, as she lelsurely dressed her
self, acknowledged that it was good to
feel the physical comforts Of her own
house, even though her homecoming
gave her no especial joy. She made It
a religious practice to dress for dinner.
regardless Of Eds presence, thor-gh
often for weeks at a time She sat in
solitary state, presiding over an empty
table. Tonight, Ed was nt home. 1t
was with a grave prcoccupution that
she made herself ready tO meet him.
In the dining room, Ed ucknowl-
| edged his wife's entrance with "a care
less nod. but did not trouble to re-
move his hands from his pockets. As
he seated himself heavily at the table
and with unsteady fingers shook the
folds from his napkin, he said:
you stayed longer than you intend
/ ed. Um-m-yOu were gone three days,
weren't your"
-Four days" Alaire told him, real
/ izing with n little inward start how
very far apart she and Ed had drlfted
l She looked at him curlou~ly for an in
stant wondering il he really could be
her husband, or--if he were not some
/ peculiarly disagreenble stranger.
Ed had been a handsome boy, but he
was growing fat from drink and soft
from idleness; his face was too full.
/ his eyes too sluggish; there was an
unhealthy redness in lrs cheeks. In
! contrast TO his wife's semi-formal
/ dress, he was unkempt-unshaven and
/ solled. His preparations for dinner
/ this evening had been
| simple; he had drunk three dry cock
tails and flung his sombrcro into a cor
ner.
I've been busy while you were
gone" he announced. Been down to
the pump house every day laying that
new intake. It was a nasty job, too.
I had Morales barbecue IA cabrito for
my lunch. and it was GOOD, but I'm
hungry again" Austin attacked his
meal with an enthusiasm strange IN
/ him. He was a heavy and constant
[ drinker at all times. What little ex-
erclse he took was upon the back of
horse, and. ms no one knew better than
| his wife, the physical powers he once
/ had were rapidly dcteriorating
BY and by he inquired, vaguely:
Lets see. Where did you go
/ this timer
Il went up to look over the Ygnaeio
| tract"
"Oh, yes. Think you1l lease itg'.
Il don't know l must find some
/ place for those Ia Ferin cattle"
Austin shook his head. Better leave
/ 'em where they are, until the rebels
take that country. 1 stand mighty well
with them"
That's the trouble Alaire told
| him. You stand too well-so well
that l want 10 get my stock out of
federal territory as soon as possible"
Ed shrugged caraIessly. "Suit your
self; they're your cows"
The meal went ou with a desultOry
flow of small talk during which the
husband INDUCED his thirst freely.
Alaire told him about the accident
| to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal
she had suffered in the mesquite.
Lucky you found somebody at the
water hole" Ed commented. "WhO
was this ranger? Never heard of the
fellow" he commented on the name.
The rangers are nothing like they
used to be-"
This fellow would do credit to any
organization" As Alaire described
u