Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-09
CHAPTER Vl-Continued.

! Law ventured to remark that none
of Blaze's enemies had grown fat in
prosecuting their feuds, but this was
subject which the elder man inva-
rIably found embarrassing. and now
he said:
"Pshaw! l never was the blood
letter people think. I'm as gentle as
n sheep" Then to escape further Gu
riosity on that point, he suggested that
they round out their riOtous evening
with a game of pool.
The next morning at breakfast Ia
iona announced, "Father, you must
help Dave hunt down these cattle
thieves"
"Ain't that sort of a big order"
Blaze queried.
"Perhaps but you're the very man
TO do It. Ricardo Guzman Is the only
person who knows the Lewis gang as
well as you do"
Jones shook his head dOubtfully.
"Don Ricardo has been working up his
own private feud with that outfit. Ii l
was the kind that went looking for
ashA, wouldn't haun pntd freight on
myself from the Panhandle down here.
I could have got one right at home,
any morning before breakfast"
"Ricardo Guzman is something Of a
black 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. If cOwman tells you he never
stole anything, he's either good liar
or a bad roper. But Ricardo's going
straight enough now"
"He has lost his share Of stock" Pa
iona explained, land he'll work with
you If father asks him. You go along
with Dave"
"Im too busy" Blaze demurred,
land l amt feeling good. l had bad
dreams all night"
81 don't want you around me here
this morning. That new dressmaker
la coming"
Jones rose abruptly from the table.
II reckon my business can wait.
Hustle up, Dave" A few moments
later, as they were saddling their
horses, he lamented: "wnat nid ten
you? Here CO. on the dodge from a
like road-agent 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 States-his father hav-
Ing owned ranch which lay north
instead of south of the Rio Grande.
Inaslnuch as the property had fallen
to Ricardo, his sons, too, were Yam
KEGS in the eyes of the law. But in
all other respects Don Ricardo and
his family differed not at all from the
many Guzmans who lived across the
border. The GuZman ranch comprised
a gOOdly number of acres, and, since
live stock multiply rapidly, it's owner
had in some sort prospered. On the
bank of resaca-a former bed of the
1910 STiHuc-SlOOu tllc an |
structure, square, white and unprotect-
ed from the sun by shrub or tree. Be
hind it were some brush cOrrals and
Il few scattered mud jacals. in which
lived the help.
Ricardo nad Just risen from slesta
when his two visitors rode up, and he
made them welcome with the best he
had. In the cool of the afternoon RI
.nrdO rode with his visitors, and then,
cordial relations being now eStab-
ished, ne pegan to oivuige Information
IF value to Law.
Yes he had endured many depreda.
ions from thieves. 1t was shameful.
nut doubtless God willed that a certain
amount of stealing should go on In ,
he world. The evildOers were GER
ainly favored by nature, in this local .
ty. Tor the great expanse of brush