The Washington herald., 1920-09-14

ere is a hicklesnifter. 1t lives
under the ground and eats cher
ries. Don't stand so close to II.
1t wipes out villages with one
stroke of its prehensile tail"
Sam. the cOsmopolite, who
called bartenders in San Antoine
by their FIRST name, stood in the
door. He was a better zoolOgist.
We'll. amt that a Willie for
your whiskers?" he commented.
"Where'd you dig up the hobo.
Ranse? Coin to make an audi
torium for inbreViates out of the
ranCh?"
Say" said Curly. from whose
panoplied breast all shafts of
wit fell blunted. Amy of you
kiddin' guys got a drink on you?
Have your fun. Say. I've been
hittin' the stun till l don't know
straight up"
He turned to Ranse. Say you
shanghaied me on your id old
prairie schooner-did tell you to
drive me to farm? want a
drink. I'm going all to little
pieces. What's doin?'
Ranse saw that the tramps :
nerves were racking him. He des-
patched one of the Mexican soys
to the ranChhouse for a glass OF
whisky. Curly gulped it down:
and into his eyes came a brief
grateful glow-as human as the
expression in the eye of faith
full setter dog.
"Thanky. boss" he said. quietly.
You're thirty miles from d rail-
road, and forty miles from a
saloon" said Ranse.
Curly fell back weakly against
the>steps.
Since you are here" continued
the ranchman. come along with
me. We can't turn you out on the
prairie. A rabbit might tear you
to pieces"
He conducted Curly to a large
shed where the ranch vehicles
were kept. There he spread out
canvas cot and brought blank
cts.
Il don't suppose you can sleep"
said Ranse. since you've been
pounding your ear for twenty-four
hours. But you can camp here
till morning. I'll have Pedro fetch
you up some grub"
Sleep" said Curly. Il can
YOU got a coffin nail on you?"
Fifty miles had Ransom Trues-
dell driven that day. And yet this
is what he did.
Old "Kiowa" Truesdell sat in
his great wicker chair reading by
the light of an immense oil lamp.
Ranse laid a bundle of newspapers
fresh from town at his elbow.
Back. Ranse?'' said the old
man, looking up.
Son" old "Kiowa" continued
I've been thinking all day about
certain matter that we have
talked about. l want you to tell
me again. I've lived for you. I've
fought wolves and Indians and
worse white men to protect you.
You never had any mother that
you can remember. I've taught
you to shoot straight, ride hard.
and live clean. Later on I've
worked to pile up dollars thatn
be yours. You'll be a rich man.
Ranse, when my chunk goes out.
I've made you. I've licked you
into shape like a leopard cat licks
its cubs You don't belong to
yourself-you've got TO be a
Truesdell first. Now, is there to
be any more nonsense about this
Curtis girl?"
"Ill tell you once more" said
Ranse, slowly. AS l am a Trues-
dell and as you are my father.
I'll never marry a Curtis"
Good boy" said old "Kiowa "
You'd better go get some supper" ="
Ranse went to the kitchen at
the rear of the house. Pedro. the
Mexican cook, sprang up to bring
the food he was keeping warm in
the stove.
Just cup of coffee, Pedro" he
said, and drank it standing. And
then:
There's a tramp on a cot in the
wagon-shed. Take him something
to eat Better make it enough for
two"
Ranse walked out toward the
jacals. 4 boy came running.
Manuel, can you catch Vaminos.
in the little pasture, for me?''
why not, senior? saw him
near the puerta but two hours
past. He bears a drag-rope."
Get him and saddle him as
quick as you can"
"Prontito, senior"
Soon, mounted on Vaminos.
Ranse leaned in the saddle. pressed
with his knees, and galIoped east
ward past the store. where sat
Sam trying his guitar in the moon
light.
Naminos shall have a word -
Naminos the good dun horse. The
MeXicans, who have a hundred
Snames for the colors of a horse,
called him gruyo. He was a
mouse-colored, slate-colored, flea