The state herald., 1917-07-27

habit called upon his daughter for
verification. didn't I, Paloma?"
Miss Paloma's answer was unexpect-
ed, and came with equal emphasis:
mo, you didn't, father. The miserable
thing lost money"
Blaze was only momentarily dis
mayed. Then he Joined his visitors
laughter. "How can man get along
without the cooperation Of his own
householder" he inquired naively. "May-
be 1t was next year was thinking
about" Thereafter he confined him
self to statements which required no
confederation.
Dave had long since learned that to
hold Blaze Jones to strict account
ability with fact was to rob his So
ciety Of its greatest charm. A slavish
accuracy In figures, an arid lack OF
Imagination, reduces conversation to
the inslpidness of fiat wine, and
Blaze's talk was never dull. He was
keen, shrewd, practical man, but some
where In his being there was con-
cealed tremendous, lopsided sense
Of humor which took the form of
bewildering imagery. An attentive au-
his fancy was In full swing, there was
no limit to his outrageous exaggera-
tions. A light of credulity In hear
er's eye filed him with prodigious
mirth. and 1t is doubtful If his listen
ers ever derived fraction Of the
amusement from his fabricatlons that
he himself enjoyed. PalOma's spirit
of contradiction was the only fly In
his ointment; now that his daughter
was old enough to keep books" on
him, much of the story-teller's JOY was
denied him.
OF course his prOclivities OCCASION
ally led to misapprehensions; chance
acquaintances who recognized him as
an artful romancer were liable to con-
slider him generally untruthful. But
even in this misconception Blaze took
quiet delight, secure In the knowl-
edge that all who knew him well re-
garded him as n rock Of integrity. As
a matter Of fact, his genuine exploits
were quite as sensational as those Of
his manufacture.
When, after supper. Blaze had
hitched pair Of driving mules to his
blackboard, preparatory to showing his
guest the glories Of Jonesville, Dave
said:
"Paloma's getting mighty pretty"
"She's as pretty as blue-bonnet
flower" he father agreed. "And she
runs me around something scandalous.
l ain't got the freedom Of a peon."
Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy
head. "You know me. Dave; never
used to be scared of nobody. Well, it's
different now. She rides me with
Spanish bit, and my soul amt my
own" With sudden tightening Of his
gloom. he added: "Say. you're going to
stay right here with us us long us
you're In town: want you to see how
! cringe."
In spite Of Blaze's plaintive tone II
was patent that he was inortiinately
proud Of Paloma and well content with
his serfdom.
Jonesville proved to be a typical
Texns town Of the modern variety, and
altogether different TO the pictured
frontier village. All in all. the effect
was much like that Of prosperous,
orderly northern farming town. To its
happy founder II seemed well-nlgh per.
feet. and Its destiny reused his mad.
dest enthusiasm. He pointed out the
Odd Fellows hall. the Palace Picture
theater. with is glaring orange lights
and discordant electric piano; he con.
Quoted Law to the First National
bank. Of which Blaze was a proud but
somewhat ornamental director; then
to the sugar mill, the Ice plant and
other points OF equally novel interest.
Everywhere he went Jones wns
hailed by friends. for everybody
seemed TO know him and TO want to
shake his hand.
"Some town and some body Of men,
eh?" he inquired. finally. and Dave
agreed:
ayes. She's got grand framework,
Blaze. She'll be most ms big a. Fort
Worth when you fatten her up."
Jones waved his buggy whip In q
wide circle that took In the miles Of
level prairie on NIL sides. "we've got
the whole blamed state to grow In.
And. Dave, haven't got an enemy In
the place! II wasn't many years ago
that certain people allowed I'd never
live TO rnise this town. Why. II used
to be that nobody dared ride with
me-cxccpt Pnloma. and she used TO
sleep with a shotgun mt her bedside" I"
"Sou sure have been a responsible.
ity 10 her."
"But I'm ns snfe now ms II I was In
church."