The state herald., 1919-12-19
CHAPTER III.


than he had expected. After the de-
parture Of the Hardys things at the
old ranch We're, as both fnther and
son had predicted. very different
They found themselves on sort of
good behavior-a 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-
mnlned entirely sober. but the call OF
the appetite in him grew more and
more insistent ms the days went by,
and at last came the morning when
Dave awOke TO md 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
carouse his father frequently re-
mained away for weeks at II 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 II coming up the
trail. not running wildly but with
nervous gnllop and many sidelong
turnings of the head AS The boy
watched he found strange empti-
ness possess him: his body seemed II
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 ut last
the broken stirrup. Then. slowly and
methodically. and stlIl with that
strange sensation Of emptiness. he
saddled his own horse and ret out on
the search.
After the last rites hnd been paid to
the old rancher. Dave set about ut
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
uninnrkeinble land. II considerable
bundle Of paid bills and his horse.
saddle and revolver. lie rode his
horse 10 town. carrying 4 few ar
fIclrs of wear with him. II wns only
after n stifr fight that he could bring
himself to puri with his one coinpan-
lon. The lust miles Into town were
ridden very slowly. with the boy fire.
quenily leaning forward and stroking
the horses neck AMI ears.
He sold horse and saddle for sixty
dollars mud took u room ut n cheap
hotel until h. should find work and
stiii cheaper io.lgings.
In the evening he walked through,
the streets Of the little COW town. II
snubbcd him with It's Indifference.
liz became aware That he was very
lonely. lie realized tiint he had but
one friend IN the world but one. nnd
address. lie began Ia wonder
whether he really hnd friend NJ all |:
whether the girl would moi discard
him when he was ~ M further use.
lust ns he had discarded his faithful
old horse. Tears ~ loneliness and rc.
morse gathered In his eyes. md n mist
not o. the twilight blurred the street
lamps now giimm.ring from their
poles. lie felt TINT he hnd treated the
horse very shnbbily indeed. lie want
ed old Siop-cyr buck ngnin. II. sud.
denly wnnici him with n terrific long.
Ing: wanted him more ihnn anything
else In the world. For the moment
he forgot the girl and MI his home.
sickness ccniered nboui the beast
which hnd been ~ long his companion
md servant and friend.
"i'ii bu, him hnrk IN III. mornip'.
| will. sure NJ HI" he snId. In n sud.
den gust ~ emotion. I'VE got to stick
together. ! didn't plny fair with him.
bu, IN buy him hnek. Perhaps ! can
ret u job for him. too. puliin' n Hight
wpgon ar -onrihln'"
The resolution Ia ''plny fair with
siop.cyc gradually restored his cheer.
fulncss nnd h. walked slowly hack To
the hotel.
Th. mems sitting room now present.
ed II much more animated plctur. ihnn
when he Ind Registered earlier IN the
evening. II was hlicd with rnDcbers.
cowboys nnJ cniilr'n.n of MI de-
wrers-brc.dcra buyers. traders, avn.
rrS rnd wng. earD.r-. with n sprin.
King Of iownspeoplr md others not
ilrscti, engaged In some phase Of The