Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-23

The Ranger smiled pleasantly
"She's us easy as rOckin' chair
We're kind of swecthcarts. Amt we
kidW Again Bessie Belle tossed her
head high. "That's yes with the re-
verse English" the speaker explained.
He would not permit her to help with
the breakfast, so she lay back watch.
Ing her host, whose personality, now
that she saw him by daylight, mad be.
gun to challenge her interest. Phys
ically Law was Of an admirable make
considerably over six feet in height,
with wide shoulders and lean, strong
limbs. Although his face was schooled
to mask I'LL but the keenest emotions,
n pair Of bue-gray, medtative eyes
with whimsical fashion Of wrinklins
half-shut when he talked, relieved n
countenance that otherwise would
have been trifle grim and somber.
The nose was prominent and boldly
arched, the mouth was thin-lipped and
mobile. In his face there was nothing
animal in a bad sense. Certainly it
showed no grossncss. The man, de-
spite his careless use Of the plains ver-
nacular, seemed to be rathc' Nbove
the average in education ant. lntelli-
gence. On the whole, she rather re-
sented the good impression Law had
made upon her for on general prin-
ciples she chose to dislike and distrust
men. Rising, she walked painfully to
the pond and made u lelsurely toilet.
Breakfast was ready when she re-
turned, and opr> more the man sat
upon his heels nd smoked while she
ate. After Il while she remarked: "rm
glad to see Ranger in this country.
There has been lot of stealing down
our way, and the association men can't
seem to stop it. Perhaps you can"
"rhe Rangers have a reputation in
that line" he admitted. "But there Is
stealing all up and down the border,
since the war"
"The ranchers have organized. They
have formed sort of vigilance com
mittee in each town, and talk OF using
Uoodhounds."
"Bloodhounds amt any good outside
Of novels. If beef got scarce, them
Greasers would steal the dogs and eat
EN-" He added, meditatively, DOG
amt such bad eatin', either"
Have you tried it?'
Mr.. Law nodded.
did you join the Maderistas for ex-
citement?"
Mostly. Then. too I believed Pan
chito Madero was honest and would
give the poems land. An honest McXi-
can is .worth tightln' for, anywhere.
The pelados are still struggling for
their and--for that and chance to
live and work and be happy"
Mrs. Austin stirred impatlently
'They are fighting because they IRE
told to fight. There is no patriotism
in them said she.
Il think" he said, with grave delhi.
eratcness. "the majority feel something
big and vague and powerful stirring
inside them. They don't know exactly
whit 1t is, perhaps, but 1t Is there
Mexico has outgrown her dictators
They have been overthrown by the
same causes that brought on the
French Revolution"
1.-THE French Revolution !" Alairt
leaned forward, eying the speaker Will
startled intensity. "What do you know
about the French Revolutions"
Reaching for coal, the Ranger
spoke without facing her. "Tve read {
good bit, ma'am, and I'm a noble
listener. remember good, too. Why,
had picture Of the Bnstile once
He pronounced 1t "Bnstilly,' and hi
nearer settled back. "That was som'
calaboose, now, wasn't it?' A momen
later he inquired. ingenuously, II don
suppose you ever saw that Bastille
did your"
mo. Only the place where 1t stood.
"ShO'! You must have Travelled RICH
smart for such a young lady, II
beamed amiably upon her.
There was something winning abou
this young mans modesty, and some
thing futterlng in his respectful adm
ration. lie seemed, also, to know hi
place. n fact which was even more I
bis fnyor, Undoubtedly he had fore