Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-25

with the mistaken idea that he would b.
kittenY He almost tore the ranch tc
pieces. It's all up. 1 love my daddy
kanse, and I'm afraid-I'm afraid Of him
too He ordered me to promise that I'd
never marry a TruesdelL promised
That's all. What luck did you have?"
he same" said Ranse, slowly. -
promised him that his son would never
marry a Curtis. Somehow / couldn'
90 against him. He's mighty old. In
sorry, YeDna."
The girl leaned in her saddle and
lala one hand On Raase's, on the horI
Il never thought I'd like you better
for giving me up" she said ardently
but do. I must ride back now
Hanse. I slipped out Of the house and
saddled Dancer myself. Goodnight
Goodnight" said .Ranse. ride care
fully over them badger holes"
They wheeled and rode away IN op-
poslte directions. Yenna turned in hel
saddle and called clearly:
Don't forget I'm your halfway girl
Ranse."
Damn all family feuds and inherited
scraps" muttered Ranse Vindicitively x
the breeze as he rode back to the CibolO
pasture and went TO his own room. He
opened the lowest drawer Of an old
bureau to get out the packet Of letters
that Yerna had written hin> one sum
Iner when she had gone to MiSsissipp
for a xtsit. The drawer stuck. and he
yanked at II savagely-ns a man will
1t came out Of the bureau, and bruised
both his Shins-as q drawer viii. Al
old, folded yellow letter without al
envelope fell from somewhe badly
from where 1t had lodged In one Of the
upper drawers. Ranse took II TO tbs
lamp and read 1t curiouay.
4. l. f. errmN I'D
one of the Mexican jacals.
Tia Juana," hs said, Il would Hkf
to talk with you z while"
An old, old Mexican woman, white
haired and wonderfully yrinkled' rose
from a stool
"sit down" said Ranse. removing his
hat and taking the one chair Ia tbs
iacal. who am /, Tia Jaunas" hs
asked, speaking Spanish
Don Ransom, our good friend AND
employer. Why do you eskF' answered
the old woman wOnderingly.
..Tfa JuanA, who am n" he repeated
with his stern eyes looking into hers
A frightened look came in the Ole
woman's face. She tumbled with hel
VINO am I. Tia Juana2" said Ranse
once more.
Thirty two years I have lived OF
the Rancho Ctbolo." said Tia Juana- i
thought TO be buried under the coma
mott beyond the garden before these
things should be known Close tina
door Don Ransom, and | VIII speak.
see In your face that you know.
An hour Ranso spent behind Tia
Juanas closed door. AS ne was on MS
way back to the house Curly caled 10
him from the wagon shed 81.
The tramp sat on his COT swinging H1@
feet and smoking. =,
..ssy sport" he grumbled. "Ths Is
no yTay to treat a man after kdnappin'
him. went up TO the store ana DOT
rowed razor from fresh guy ana hau
a shave. But that Amt all a nan needs.
Sav-ean't you loosen up for about three
fngers more OF that boozef
Il never asked you to bring me TO
your id farm"
stand up out here in the light" said
Ranse, looking at him closely.
Curly got up su1lenly and took step
or two.
His fnce. now shaver smooth, seemed
transformed. His hsir had been comoed.
and IL fell back from the night side OF
his forehead with peculiar wave Inc
moonlight charitably softened re ray
ages OF drink; and his aquiline, we'll
shared nose and small. square cleft ch1n
almost gave distinction to his looks.
Ranse sat on the foot OF the cot ana
looked at him curlously.
wv here did you come from-have you
got any home or folks anywhere
"Mef Why, I'm a dock" said Curly.
I'm Sir Reginald foh, cheese H. NO.
I don't know anything about my an
cestOrs. I've been a tramp ever since
I can remember Say old PAL are you
going to set 'em up again tohght OF
You answer my questions and may
be l Will How did you come to be
tramp" -
cd that profession when ! was an infant.
Case Of had to. First thing | can re-
member. / belonged to a big, lazy hobo
called Beefsteak Charley. He sent me
around to houses to beg. l wasn't hard
" big enough to reach the latch Oh
"Did he ever tell you how he got you?"
9 Cor Wien he was sober he said he
bought me for an old sixshooter and six
bits from a band Of drunken Mexican CO. n
sheep shearers. But what's the ulH
IAN right" said Ranse. II reckon
you're a maverick for certain. I'm go
ing to put the Rancho Cibolo brand ON
you IN start you to work In one oil
the camps tomorrow.
"vorll y. shifted Curly. disdainfully.
'Fyhat do you take me for2 Do you
think I'd chase cows, and hop-skip and
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
70 II :" said Ranse Yes, III send you up
one more drink by Pedro. l think you'll
make a first-class cowpuncher before
get through with you"
'Me?" said Curly Il pity the cows
chase themselves. Don't forget my
nightcap, please, boss.
Ranse paid a visit TO the store before
going to the house. Sam Revell was tax
ing off his tan shoes regretfllly and pre-
pairing for bed.
camp riding in early in the morning ?"
Long Collins" said Sam briefly, for
'.Ten him." said Ranse, Ito take that
tramp out to camp with him and Keep
him till l get there"
Curly was sitting on his blankets In
the Sam Gabriel camp cursing talent
edIv, when Ranse Truesdeu rode up aud
dismounted on the next afternoon. The
cowpunchers/ were ignoring the stray.
He was grimy with dust and black dirt.
His clothes were making their last stand
in favour Of the convention.
Ranse went up to Buck Dabb, the
camp boss, and spoke briefly.
Hes a plumb buzzard, said Buck.
"He won't work and he's the low
downest passed. of inhumanity ever
done with him, Ranse, so l just let him
set That seems to suit him. He's
been condemned to death by the boys
a dozen times, but I told 'em maybe
you was savin' him for torture"
Ranse took of his coat.
1--WE got a hard job before me, Buck,
l reckon. but it has to be done, I'VE
got to make a ran out OF that thing,
That's what I've come to camp for
He went up 70 Curly
Brother" ne said, don't you think
if you had bath it would allow you to
take seat in the company of your fell
low man with less injustice to the atmo-