The Washington herald., 1920-09-14
CONTINUED PROM PAGE SEVEN.

Somehow couldn't go against
him. He's mighty old. I'm sorry.
Yenna"
The girl leaned in her saddle
and laid one hand on Ranse's,
on the norm Of his saddle.
Il never thought I'd like you
better for giving me up" she
said ardently. but / do. l must
ride back new. Ranss. slipped
out OF the house and saddled
Dancer. myself. Good night,
neighbor"
-~Good night" said Ranse. Ride
carefully over them badger holes"
They wheeled and rode away
in opposite directions. Yenna
turned in her saddle and called
clearly:
Don't forget I'm your half
way girl. Ranse."
Damn all family feuds and in
herited scraps" muttered Ranse
vindictively to the breeze as he
rode back to the CibolO.
Ranse turned his horse into the
small pasture and went to his
own room. He opened the lowest.
drawer of an old bureau to get
out the packet of letters that
Yenna had written him one sum
mer which she had written him
when she had gone to Mississippi
for a visit. The drawer stuck,
and he yanked at IL savagely-
as a man will. 1t came out of the
bureau. and bruised his shins-
as a drawer will. An old, folded
yellow letter without an envelope
fell from somswhere-probaby
from where it had lodged in one
Of the upper drawers. Ranse took
it to the lamp and read It Gu
riously
Then he took his hat and walk
ed to one OF the MexiCan jacalF.
Tia Juana." he said. L would
like to talk with you a while"
An old. old Mexican woman.
white-hairsd and wonderfully
wrinkled, rose from a stool
sit down" said Rance, re-
moving his hat and taking tho
one chair in the jscaI. who am
!. Tia Juana?" he asked. speaking
Spanish.
Don Ransom. our good friend
and employer. Why do you ask"
answered the old woman wonder
ingIy.
Tia Juana. who am T. he re-
peated, VIZ his stern eyes leek-
A frightened look came into the
old woman's face. She fumbIcd
with her black shawl.
Who am I. Tia Juana?" said
Ranse once more.
1fvan
on the Rancho Cibolo." said Tia
Juana. I thought to be buried
under the coma mott beyond the
garden before these things should
be known. Close the door. Don
Ransom, and will speak. I see
in your face that you know"
An hour Rsnse spent behind Tia
Juana's closed door. As he was
on his way back to the house curly
called to him from the wagon
she'd
The tramp sat on his cot. swing
ing his feet and smoking.
Say, sport" he grumbled. This
is no way to treat a man after
kidnappin' him / went up to the
store and borrowed R razor from
a fresh guy and had a shave. But
that amt all a man needs. Sa--
can't you loosen up for about
three fingers more Of that booze?
- l never asked YOU to bring me to
your id farm"
Stard up out here in the light"
said RanSe, looking at him closely
Curly got up suddenly and took
a step or two.
His face. now shaven smooth.
seemed transformed. His hair had
been Combed. and II fell back
from the right side OF his fore
head with a peculiar wave. The
moonlight charitably softened the
ravages of drink; and his aquiIine.
vell-shaped nose and small square
cleft chin almost gave distinction
TO his looks.
Ranse sat on the foot of the cot
and looked at him curiously.
Where did you come from.
have you got any home or folks
anywhere"
Me? why I'm a doOk." said
cheese it. No; don't know any
thing about my ancestors. I've
been a tramp ever since can
remember. say. old pal. are you
going TO set 'em up again tonight
or not?"
You answer my questions and
maybe I will. How did you come
to be a tramp"
Me-" answered Curly. Why
I adopted that profession when
was an infant. Case of had to.
First thing ! can remember, I be-
longed TO a big. lazy hobo called
Beefsteak Charley. He sent me
around to houses TO beg. I wasn't
hardly big enough to reach the
latch Of a gate
Did he ever tell you how he
got your asked Ranse.
Once when he was sober he
said he bought me for an old six
shooter and six bits from q band
OF drunken Mexican sheep-sheHr-
ers. But what's the diff? That's
all I know.
All right" said Ranse. Il
reckon you're a maverick for GER
tain. I'm going to put the Rancho
Cibolo brand on you. I'll start
you to work in one Of the camps
tomorrow"
work" shifted Curly. distain-
fully. What do you take me
for? Do YOU think ia chase cows.
and hOp-skip-and-j jump around
after crazy sheep like that pink
and yellow guy at the store says
these Reubs do? Forget it."
"Oh, you'll like it when you get
used TO it, said Ranse. Yes, I'll
send you up one more drink by
Pedro. I think youll make a first
class Cowpuncher before I get
through with you"
Me- said Curly. Il pity the
cows you set me to chaperon.
They can 60 chase themselves.