Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-03
@D REX BEACF1

floSlty on tIlilt point, he suggested that
they round out their riotous evening
with game of pool.
.
The next morning Mt breakfast Pa
Iona announced, "Father, you must
help Dave hunt down these cattle
thieves"
"Ain't that sort of big order?"
Blaze queried.
Perhaps, but you're the very man
to do ii. Ricardo Guzmnn is the only
person who knows the Lewis gang as
well us you do"
Jcnes shook his head douhtfully.
"Don Ricardo has been working up his
own private feud with that outfit. If |
was the kind that went looking for Il
fight. wouldn't have paid freight on
myself from the Panhandle down here.
| could have got one right at home,
any morning before breakfast
"Ricardo Guzmnn Is something of a
btnck~ sheep himself" Law spoke up.
"pshaw. He's all right. reckon
he has changed a few brands IN his
time, but so has everybody else. Why,
that's how old Ed Austin got his
start. II q cowman tells you he never
stole anything, he's either good liar
or a bad roper. But Ricardo's going
strnight enough now"
HE has lost his share of stock" Pa
Iona explained, 'and he'll work with
you if father asks him. You go along
with Dave"
"Tm too busy" Blaze dcmurred.
sand | amt feeling good. had bad
dreams all night
II don't want you around me here
this morning. That new dressmaker
Is coming"
Jones rose abruptly from the table
81 reckon my business can wait
Hustle up, Dave" A few moments
later, as they We're saddling their
horses, he lamented: "What did tell
you? Here | 90, on the dodge from q
dressmakcr. l s'pose I've got to live
like road-agcnt now, till something
happens"
Don Ricardo Guzman was an Ameri
can, but he spoke no English. An ac
cident Of birth had made him a citizen
of the United Stntes--his father hay
ing owned ranch which lay north
instead of south Of the Rio Grande
Inasmuch rs the property had fallcr
to Ricardo, his sons, too, were Yam
KEGS in the eyes of the law. But If
all other respects Don Ricardo ant
his family differed not mt all from the
many GlI2mans who lived across The
border. The Guzman ranch comprised
q goodly number Of acres, and since
live stock multiply rapidly, its owner
had in some sort prospered. On tn,
bank Of n resaca--a former bed of thu
Rio Grnnde---stood the house, an adobe
structure, square. white and unprotect
cd from the sun by shrub or tree. BE
hind 1t were some brush corrals AM
q few scattered mud iacnls, In which
lived the help.
Ricardo had Just risen from siest;
when his two visitors rode up, and h
made them welcome with the best HI
had. In the cool Of the afternoon ri
cardo rode with his visitors, and then
! cordial relations being now estab
lIshed, he began to divulge information
Of value to Law.
Yes, he Ind endured many depreda
tons from thieves. 1t was shameful
but doubtless God willed that certail
amount Of stealing should go on II
the world. The evlldoers were Ger
tainly favored by nature, In this local
ity, for the great expansa Of brus
country to the north and east offere
almost perfect security, and the river
to the SOUTH gave immunity from pun
suit or prosecution. The beeves wer
driven north into the wilderness, br
the horses went to Mexico, where tn
war had created n market for then
The federnls had plenty Of money t
buy mounts. .rE
Whom did Don Ricardo suspect? :
The old man was noncornmlttn
Suspicion was one thing, proof wa
quite another; and conviction was diff
cult under the best Of circumstances
4 Why, even a cows recognition Of he
own calf was not evidence for a cour