Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-09-01
CHAPTER VI--continued.

Law yentured to remark that non
Of Blaze's enemies had grown fat /
prosecuting their feuds, but this wa
subject which the elder man inva
riably found embarrassing, and nov
Ne said:
"Pshaw! l never was the blood
letter people think. I'm as gentle n
sheep" Then to escape further Gu
riosity on that point, he suggested tina
they round out their riotous evening
with game Of pool.
The next morning at breakfast Pa
Iona announced, "Father, you mus
help Dave hunt down these cattl,
thieves"
"Aint that sort of big order?'
Blaze queried.
Perhaps, but you're the very maj
to do Ii. Ricardo Guzman Is the only
person who knows the Lewis gang a.
well as you do"
Jones shook his head doubtfuily
Don Ricardo has been working up his
own private feud with that outfit. If
was the kind that went looking for q
fight, wouldn't have paid freight or
myself from the Panhandle down here
| could have got one right at home
any morning before breakfast"
RICARDO Guzman is something of q
black sheep himself" Law spoke up
"Pshawl He's all right. l 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 a good liar
or bad roper. But Ricardo's going
straight 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"
"Fm too busy" Blaze demurred,
land l 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.
II reckon my business can wait.
Hustle up, Dave" A few moments
later, as they were saddling their
horses, he lamented: "What did I tell
your Here / go, on the dodge from
dressmaker. 1 s'pose I've got to live
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 q citizen
of the United States--his father hav-
ing owned ranch which lay north
instead of south of the Rio Grande.
Inasmuch 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 a resaca-a former bed of the
Rio Grande-stood the house, an adobe
structure, square, white and unprotect-
ed from the sun by shrub or tree. Be-
l.
few scattered mud jacals, In which
lived the help.
Ricardo had just risen from siesta
when his two visitors rode up, and he
made them welcome with the best he
had. In the cool of the afternoon Ri
cardo rode with his visitors, and then,
cordial relations being now estab-
llshed, he began to divulge information
of value to Law.
Yes, he had endured many depreda-
tons from thieves. 1t was shameful,
but doubtless God willed that certain
amount of stealing should 60 on In
the world. The evildoers were GER
calmly favored by nature, in this local
ity, for the great expanse of brush
country to the north and east offered
almost perfect security, and the river,
70 the south, gave immunity from pur-
suit or prosecution. The beeves were |
driven north into the wilderness, but
the horses went to Mexico, where the
war had created market for them.
The federals had plenty of money to
buy mounts.
Whom did Don Ricardo suspect
The old man was noncommittal. |
suspicion was one thing, proof was
quite an4her; and conviction was diff
cult under the best of circumstances,