Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1917-08-31
CHAPTER vl-contlnued.

d
LAW ventured to remark that zone
OF Blaze's enemies had grown fat In
prosecuting their fcuds, but this was
a subject which the elder man invn-
riably found embarrassing, and now
he said:
"Pshawi | never was the blood
letter people think. I'm MS gentle rs
a sheep" Then to escape further Gu
rioslty on that point, he suggested that
they round out their riotous evening
with n game Of pool.
The next morning at breakfast ra'
Iona announced, "Fnther, you must
help Dave hunt down these cattle
thieves"
"Aln't that sort Of a big orderf"
Blnze querled.
"Perhnps, but you're the very mnn
10 do Il. Ricardo Guzman Is the only
person who knows the Lewis gang as
well MS you do"
Jones shook his head doubtfully.
'Don Ricardo has been working up his
own private feud with that outfit. II !
was the kind that went looking for n
fight, I wouldn't have paid freight on
myself from the Panhandle down here.
I could have got one right ut home
any morning before breakfast"
"Rlcnrdo Guzmnn Is something OF n
black sheep himself" Law spoke up.
"Pshnwl He's ar right, I reckon
he has changed n few brands In his
time, but so hns everybody else. Why,
that's how old Ed Austin got his
start. II n cowman tells you he never
stole anything, he's either a good liar
or n bad roper. But Rlcardo's going
straight enough now"
"He has lost his share OF stock" Pa
Iona explained, and he'll work with
you II father asks him. You go along
with Dave"
I'm too busy" Blaze demurred,
"nnd | mint feeling good. | had bad
dreams all night"
II don't want you around me mere
this morning. That new dressmnker
Is coming"
Jones rose abruptly from the table.
81 reckon my business can wait.
Hustle up, Dave" A few moments
later, ms they were saddllng their
horses, he lnmented: "viat ala I ten
you? Here | go, on the dodge from a
dressmnkcr. I s'pose I've got TO live
like n road-agent now, til something
happens"
Don Ricardo Guzman was an Amerl.
can, but he spoke no English. An nc.
cldent OF birth had made him n citizen
OF the United States-hls father hay
Ing owned q ranch which lay north
lnstend OF south Of the Rio Grnnde.
1nasmuch as the property had fallen
to Ricardo, his sons, too, were yam.
KEGS In the eyes Of the law. But In
all other respects Dou Ricardo and
his family differed not at all from the
many GuzmHns 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 prospored. On the
hnnk Of q resaca "A former bed Vt the
Rio Grnnde-stood the house, an adobe
structure, squire, white and rnprotect'
cd from the sun by shrub or tree. be
hind " were some brush corfulS ant
n few scattered mad %jacals, In which
lived the help.
Ricardo nad Just risen from a siestf
when his two visitors rode up, and he
made them welcome with the best h,
had. In the cool Of the afternoon M
cardo rode with his visitors, and then
cordial relations being now estab
lished, ne pognn TO dfyuige Information
OF value to Law.
Yes, he had endured many depreda.
lions from thieves. II was shameful
but doubtless God willed that n certain
amount OF stealing should go on II
the world. The evlldoers were Ger
tnlnly favored by nature, In this local
It's, for the great expanse OF brusl