Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1919-11-14
CHAPTER ~.

Dawes Opportunity came sooner
than he had expected. After II de-
parturc ~ the HRriys things nj the
ola rnnch were. ns both father and
eOn Ind predicted. very direren'.
They found themselves on. n sort or
good helnvlor-a behavior which. I'M
happily. excited In ench other grave
suspicious ns 10 purpose. The tension
steadily Increased. aud both looked
fOrwnrd 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 core II
more lnslstent M the days went ny,
and NJ last cnme the morning when
Dnv, awoke to find him gone. He
needed no second guess; the craving
had become Irresistible aud his father
had ridden Ia town for The means to
satisfy II. The passing Days did not
bring his return. hut this accustomed
no anxiety to Dave. IN the course OF
n cnrnuse his father frequently re-
maincd away for weeks nj n stretch.
He moped around the ranch build
lngs. snt moodlly by the little stream,
casting pebbles In the winter, or rode
over the old trails or which she Ind
80 often been his companion.
Then the old mans horse came
home. Dave snw II coming IN the
trail, not %runniLg wildly but with
nervous gnllop aud many sldelonp
turnlngs OF the head. As the boy
watched he found u strange cmptl
ness possess him his body seemed d
phantom on which his hend hung over
heavy. lie spoke to the horse, whicl
pulled up, snortlng, before him note,
the wet neck aud TANKS. and ut lns
the broken stlrrup. Then. slowly ant
Mechanically. and still with tia
strange sensation OF emptiness, III
saddi,d his W horse aud set out OF
the srnrch.
Alter the lust rites had been paid 1
the old rancher. Dave set about a
once Ia wind up his affairs, and
was not until then that he dlscOvere-
how deeply his father had been II
vOlved. The selling Of the cattle an
the various effects realized Oni
enough to discharge the liabilities, an
when this had beer done Dave foun
himself with a considerable area q
u~nmnrketable land. "A considerable
bundle Of paid bills and his horsI
saddle and revolver. file rode hi
horse to town, carrying n few ri
tlcies Of wear with him. II was onl
after Il stlff hght that he could brln
himself to part with his one compai
ian. The lust miles into town WEI
ridden very slowly. with the hoy IT
quently leaning forward and stroklu
the horses neck and ears.
He sold horse and saddle for sixI
dollnrs and took a room at n chez
hotel until he should nnd work a.
stlll cheaper lodgings.
IN the evening he walked throul
the streets Of the little COW town.
Hnuhlcd him with It's Indifference.
He hecame aware that he was We
lonely. lie realised TINT he had b
one friend IN the world but one. al
OF her he knew not so much as h
address. Tie began 10 wond
whether he really h.d u friend at al
whether the girl would not disca
him when he was Of no further N
jusi NJ he had discarded his fnithi
old horse. Tears Of loneliness aud
morse gathered In his eyes. aud a nj
not OF the twilight blurred the strs
lamps now gllmmerlng from tn
poles. lie felt that he had treated /
horse very shubbily Indeed. lie wal
ed old Slop-eye hack again. lie II
denly wanted him with a terrific loi
ing wanted him more than anythi
elise In the world. For the nom
he forgot the girl and nll his hon
sickness conferred about the be-
which had been So long his colnpanI
and servant and friend.
"Tll buy him back In the mornl
will. sure as III" he snid, In a 81
den gust OF emotion. I'VE got 20 ri
together. | didn't pla9~ .alr With b
but ~ hV MIN back. Perhaps | 4,