Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-23
CHAPTER III.

Dawes opportunity came soone
than he had expected. After the de
parture of the Hardys things at the
old ranch were, as both father anC
son had predicted. very different
They found themselves on sort Ot
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 accustomed
no anxiety to Dave. In the course of
a carOuSe his father frequently re-
manned away for weeks at a stretch.
He moped around the ranch build
ings, sat mOOdily 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 it coming up the
trail, not running wildly but with
Io1o
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, snorting, before him; noted
the wet neck and TANKS, and at 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 it
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 a considerable area of |
land, considerable |
bundle of paid bills and his horse
saddle and revolver. He rode his
horse to town, carrying a few ar
ticles of wear with him. 1t was only
after a 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 boy fire.
quenty 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
he streets of the little COW town. 1t |
nubbed him with its indifference. =.
lie became aware that he was very
onely. He realized that he had but
me friend,in the world but one, and
# her he knew not so much as her
ddress. He began to wonder
whether he really had friend at all
whether the girl would not discard
i'm when he was of no further use
ust as he had discarded his faithful
Id horse. Tears of loneliness and re-
lorse gathered in his eyes, and mist
~ ~ CT, | :
amps now glimmering from their |
oeS. He felt that he had treated the {
orSe very shabbily indeed. He want 5
d old Slop-eye back again. He sud |
emily wanted him with terrific long t
lg; wanted him more than anything e
e forgot the girl and all his home /
ckness centered about the beast v
hich had been so long his companion 4
nd servant and friend. p
"I'll buy him back in the mOrnin';
will, sure as HI" he said, in sud a
nn gust Of emotion. I'VE got to stick h
'gether. l didn't play fair with him, h
ut I'll buy him back. Perhaps | can
It job for him, too, pullin' light 1"
agon or somethin'."
The resolution to "play fair" with q
op-eye gradually restored his cheer h
lness and he walked slowly back to o
e hotel W
The mems sitting room now present
a much more animated picture than d.
hen he had registered earlier In the In
ening. 1t was filled with ranchers,
wboys and cattlemen of all de-
ees-breeders, buyers, traders, own d,
$ and wage earners. with sprin- e
Ing OF townspcople and others not
rectly engaged in some phase of the