The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-04-26
CHAPTER VI.


Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate
and diSinounted In the shade of the big
ebony tree. He stepped back and ran
an approving eye over another animal
tethered there. or course the youths
Of this day were nothing like the
youths of his own. and yet-Bluzc let
his gaze linger fondly on the highbrei
mare and her equlpment-hcre ut least
was n person who knew II good horse.
n good saddle and u good gun.
As he came up the walk he heard
Paloma laugh, and his own face light
encd, for his daughters merrlment was
contagious. Then as he mounted the
steps and turned the corner Of the
gallery" he uttered II hearty greeting.
Dave Law. Where In the world
did you drop from?"
Law uncolled himself and took the
ranchman's hand. Hello, Blaze! |
been ordered down here to keep you
straight"
"pshaw. Now who's been giving
you orders, Dave?"
"Why. I'm with the Rangers"
"Never knew n word Of It. Last !
heard you was flibustering around
with the Maderistas."
Blaze seated himself with a grateful
sigh where the breeze played over him.
He was n big, beariikc. swarthy man
with the square-hcwn, dcep-lined face
of Il tragedian, and n head of long,
curly hair, which he wor parted in Il
I lf.. -..A Ii. 10. - -
character, n local landmark. This part
of Texas had grown up with Blaze,
and he possessed n splendid indifrer-
cnce To the artificial fuds of dress
and He was plainly an u
door man.
$50 you're n Ranger, and got notches
on your gun" Blaze rolled and lit Il
tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than n
wheat straw. "Wcll, you'd ought "a
make a right able thief-catcher. Dave,
only for your ~siZe-you're too long for
II man and YOU amt long enough for n
snake. still, | reckon II thief would
have trouble getting out of your reach
and once you got close to him How
many men have you kllledi"
Counting Mexicans?" Law inquired
with a smile.
Nobody counts them"
"Not many"
THAT'S good" Blaze nodded ant
rclit his cigarette, which he had per
mlttcd promptly To smoldcr out. 9TH,
force amt what 1t was. Most of III,
boys nowadays join so they can ride
Il horse crOss-lots, pack u pair OF
guns. and give rein to the prediction,
Of a vicious ancestry. They're baC
rams, most of 'em."
There aren't many" said Paloma
Dave tells me the whole force has
been cut down To sixteen"
THAT'S plenty" her father avcrred
ITS like when Cap'n Bill Mcdonald
was sent to stop n riot In Dallas. ii,
came To town alone, and when the clti
2cns asked him where his men was
one riot Are you workin' up u case
Dave?"
"Um-m-yes! People are missing 1
lot Of stock hereabouts."
ITS these blamed refugees from tn,
war! A Mexican has tn steal some
thing or he gets run down md pore
a.. If Il amt stock. it's something else.
Dave Laws duties as a Ranger rest
: ed lightly upon him; his instruction
/. were vague, and he had n lelsurel,
, method Of working up his evidence
Since he knew that Blaze possessed
, thorough knowledge of this section an,
, Its people, IL was partly business whlcl
| had brought him to the Jones HON,
this afternoon.
= Strictly speaking, Blaze was not
I rancher. He had speculated heavily Il
raw lands, and for several years pas
he had devoted his energies to Il Il
gantic colonization scheme. II was b
no means II small operation In whic
Q he was engaged. The venture ha
I taken foresight, courage, infinite har
I work Blaze was burdened with r,
s~ponsibllities that would have broke
q down a nan of weaker 6ber.