The state herald., 1917-07-27
CHAPTER vi.
Blaze Jones and His NeIohbors.

Blaze Jones and His Neiohbors.
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
tethered 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-herea at least
was . person who knew a good horse,
good saddle and a good gun.
As he came up the walk he heard
Paloma 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 hearty greeting.
Dave Law! Where in the world
did you drop from?"
Law uncoiled himself and took the
ranchman's hand. "Hello, Blaze! /
been ordered down here to keep you
straight"
''Psbawi Now who's been giving
you orders. Davef"
why, I'm with the Rangers"
"Never knew word of 1t. Last I
heard you was fllibustering around
with the Maderlstas."
Blaze seated himself with a grateful
sigh where the breeze played over him.
He was big. bearlike. swarthy man
with the square-hewn. deep-llned face
Of n tragedian, md a head OF long.
curly hair. which he wore parted In a
line over his left ear. Jones was
character. n local landmark. This part
of Texas had grown up with Blaze,
and he possessed 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 q
tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than a
wheat straw. swell, you'd ought to
make right able thief-catchcr Dave.
only for your slze-you're too long for
n man and you amt long enough for
snake. sim, reckon n thief would
have trouble getting out of your reach.
and once you got close to him How
many men have you killedT"
Counting Mexicans?' Law Inquired
with smile.
Nobody counts them"
'Not many"
That's good" Blaze nodded and
relit his cigarette, which he had Der
mltted promptly 10 smolder out. "The
force amt what II was. Most Of the
boys nowadays Join NO they can ride
horse cross-lots. pack u pair Of
guns. and give rein to the predictions
OF vicious ancestry. They're bad
raus, most Of en-"
There aren't many" said Paloian.
"Dnve tells me the whole force l,as
been cut down to sixteen"
That's plenty" her fnther averred.
TITS like when Cap'n Bill Mcdonald
was sent to stop u riot In Dallns. He
came to town alone. and when the citi-
zcns nskcd him where his men was,
he said Amt enough2 There's only
one riot Are you workln' up u case,
DnvcT
"Um.m-yes! People nrc missing a
lot Of stock hcrcnbouts."
"It's these blamed refugees from the
wnr! A Mexican has TO steal some.
thing or he gets run down and pore.
II II nin't stock. It's something else"
Dave Laws duties M Ranger rest.
cd lightly upon him; his instructions
were vnguc. md he had a lelsurely
method Of 'working up" his evidence.
Since bc knew thnt Blaze possessed n
thorough knowledge Of this section and
Its people, It wns partly business which
had brought him to the Jones home
this afternoon.
Strictly speaking. Blnze wns not a
rnncAcr. Hc Ind spcculntcd heavily In
raw lands, and for scvcrni ycnrs pnst
he Ind devoted his energies to n ri.
gnntic colonization scheme. II wns by
no means . smnll operation In which
he was cngnscd. The venture Ind
taken foresight. courage. INFINITE hnrt
work: Blaze was burdcncd with rc.
rponsibilitics that would hnvs broksu
down q man OF weaker fibcr,