St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-11-18

'tGale-you could 60 home again
to the old man-it'd be al rtght1'
"Mr. Bedding, there's nothing shady
In my past. The governor would b.
glad to have me home. That's tho
only consolation I've got. But I'm
not going. I'm broke I won't be Q
tramp. And it's up % me- 70 d.
something"
*How'd you like to be Z border
ranger7' asked Bedding, laying Q hand
On Dicks knee. "Part Of my Job
here Is United States inspector Of I'm
migration. I've got that boundary
line to patriotic keep out Chinks
and Japs. You'l not b hired BY the
q. 8. >You'u simply be my ranger,
same as Laddy and Jim, who have
promised to work for me. I'll pay
you well, give you Z room here. fuE.
nish everything down 10 guns, and the
finest horse you ever saw In your LIE.
Your Job won't be safe and healthy.
sometimes, but tn be mans job
don't mistake mol You can gamble
On having things to do outdoors. Nov,
what do you sayr'
II accept, and thank you'll can't
say hsw much" replied Gale, ear
nestly.
.Goodl That's settled. Let's %
out and tell lady and Jim"
Both boys expressed satisfaction
Ut the turn Of affairs, and then With
Bedding they net out to take Gale
around the ranch. The wide grounds
were covered with luxuriant grass
and flowers and different kinds oe
trees.
Bedding explained that the luxuEi-
ance Of this desert place was owing
to q few springs and the dammed-up
waters Of the Rio Forlorn.
1--WE got one never-failing spring
On my place." said Bedding. Fine,
sweet water! You know what that
means in the desert. like this eads.
The longer I live here the better I
like 1t. 1t's beautiful and healthy.
Forlorn and lonely, yes. especially for
women like my wife and Nell; but
I like II. And between you
and me, boys, I've got something up
my sleeve. There's gold dust In the
arroyos, and there's mineral up in the
II we only had water!
There are possibilities. and I want
you boys to stay with me and GET In
on the ground floor. I wish this rebel
war was over. Well, here are
the corrals and the fields. Gale. take
a look at that bunch Of horses"
Belongs last remark was made %
he led his companions out Of shady
gardens into the open. Gale cav an
adobe shed and huge pen formed
by strangely twisted and contorted
branches or trunks Of mesquite. and,
beyond these, wide, nat fields, green
q dark, rich greenland dotted with
beautiful horses. There were whites
and blacks, and bays and grays. In
his admiration Gale searched his
memory to see IL he could remember
the like Of these magnificent animals,
and had to admit that the only on6s
he could compare with them were the
Arabian steeds.
ashore l reckon I savvy why you
don't sleep nights" drawled Laddy.
II see Greaser out there-no; it'0
an Indian"
THAT'S my Papago herdsman.
keep watch over the horses now day
and night. Lord, how I'd hate to
have Rojas or Salazar-any Of those
bandit rebels-find my horses!
Gale, can you ride1"
Dick modestly replied that he could,
according to the eastern idea OF
horsemanship.
The ringing Of q bell, which Bel
ding said was a call to supper, turned
the men back toward the house. 1t
was not until they reached It and
were about to go In that Bedding
CHANGED to discover Gales crippled
hand.
"What an awful handl" he ex-
claimed. "Where the devil did you
get that1'
II stove In my knuckles ON Ro1as,"
replied Dick.
''You did that In one punch1 Say.
I'm glad 1t wasn't me you hit Why
didn't you tell met That's q bad
hand. Those cuts are full Of dirt
and sand. Inflammation's setting in. |
It's got to be dressed. Nell" he
called.
Dick saw a glimpse Of golden hair
and white dress In the door. But
they were not visible longer than
second.
dad, what's the matter7" asked
a voice that was still as sweet as
formerly, but now rather small and
constrained.
"Brjng the antiseptics. cotton. ban.
things cut here. Hurry,
now"
Bedding fetched . pail Of water
and basin from the kitchen. His
wife followed him out, and, upon See
Ing Dicks hand, was all solicitude. |
Then Dick heard light, quick foot
steps, but he did not look up.
Nell, this is Mr.. Gale-Dick Gale,
who came with the boys last night,
said Bedding. "He's got an awful
hand. Got it punching that Greaser
RoJas. l want you to dress It.
Gale, this is my stepdaughter. Nell
Burton, of whom / spoke. Shes
some good when there's somebody