The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1919-11-06
CHAPTER ~.

DuNe opportunity NuIllt SVViiti
than he had expected. After the de-
parturc of the Hardys things at the
old ranch were, as both father and
son had predicted, very different.
They found themselves on n sort of
good BEHAVIOR behavior which. un-
happily. excited In each other grave
suspicious as to purpose. The tension
steadily increased. and both looked
forward to the moment when some
thing must give way.
For several weeks the old man re-
mained entirely sober but the call Of
the appetite In him grew more and
more insistent as the days went by,
and at last came the morning when
Dave awOke to find him gone. He
needed no second guess; the craving
had become irresistible and his father
had ridden to town for the means to
satisfy It. The passing days did not
bring his return, but this Occasioned
no anxiety to Dave. In the course Of
a carOuse his father frequently re-
NAMED away for weeks at a stretch.
He mOped around the ranch build
ings. sat modify by the little stream,
casting pebbles In the water, or rode
over the old trails on which she had
SO often been his companion.
Then the old mans horse came
home. Dave saw 1t coming up the
trail. not running wildly but with
nervous gallop and many sidelong
turnings of the head. AS the boy
watched he found strange empti-
ness possess him; his body seemed a
phantom on which his head hung over
heavy. He spoke to the horse. which
pulled up. snOrtlng, before him; noted
the wet neck and TANKS, and ut last
the broken stirrup. Then. slowly and
methOdically. and still with that
strange sensation of emptiness, he
saddled his own horse and set out on
the search.
After the last rites had been paid to
the old rancher. Dave set about at
once TO wind up his affairs, and II
was not until then that he discovered
how deeply his father had been in
vOlved. The selling Of the cattle and
the various effects realized only
enough to discharge the liabilities, and
when this had been done Dave found
himself with considerable area of
unmarketable land. considerable
bundle of paid bills and his horse,
saddle and revolver. He rode his
horse to town. carrying few ar
ticles of wear with him. Ii was only
after stiff fight that he could bring
himself to part with his one compan-
ion. The last miles into town were
ridden very slowly, with the hoy fire.
Quently leaning forward and stroking
the horses neck and ears.
He sold horse and saddle for sixty
dollars and took room at cheap
hotel until he should find work and
still cheaper lodgings.
In the evening he walked through
the streets of the little COW town. II
snubbed him with its Indifference.
He became aware that he was very
lonely. He realized TINT he had but
one friend In the world; but one. ant
of her he knew not so much as hel
address. He began To wonder
whether he really had friend Mt all
him when he was of no further use
Just as he had discarded his faithful
old horse. Tears of loneliness and re
morse gathered In his eyes. and a mis-
not OF the twilight blurred the stree
lamps now glimmerng from thei
horse very shabbily indeed. lie wan,
ed old SlOp-eye back again. He sud
denly wanted him with terrific lonl
ing; wanted him more than anythin
else In the world. For the momen
he forgot the girl and MI his HON,
sickness conferred about the beaS
which had been so long his companio
and servant and friend.
"Tll buy him back in the mornin'
! will. sure as HI" he said, in a sue
den gust of emotion, 1--WE got to site
together. didn't play fair with hin
but I'll buy him back. Perhaps ca
get a job for him. too, pulh.' n ligl
wagon or sOmethin'."
The resolution to play fair wit
Slop-eye gradually restored his chez
fulness and he walked slowly back
the hotel.
The mems sitting room now presen
ed much more animated picture thu
when he had registered earlier In Il
evening. 1t was filed with rancheI
cowboys and cattlemen OF all d
grees--breeders, buyers, traders, ow
ers and wage earners. with spri
Killing Of townspeOple and others n
dIrActlx aDpaped In some nhaSa Of n