Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-11-23


have stamped them as cowboys with
out the buckled sOmbrerOs, the col
ored scarfs the high-topped, high
heeled boots with great silver-roweled
spurs.
He satisfied his hunger In a restau-
rant adjoining, and as he stepped
back into the saloon a man wearing
military cape jostled him. Apollo
gies from both were instant. Gale was
moving on when the other stopped
short as If startled, and, leaning for
ward exclaimed:
"Dick Gale? If this isn't great!
Don't you know me?
"Tve heard your voice somewhere"
replied Gale. Maybe I'll recognize
you If you came out from under that
bonnet"
For answer the man, suddenly mani
Testing thought of himself, hurriedly
drew Gale into the restaurant, where
he thrust back his hat to disclose q
handsome, sunburned face.
George ThOrne! SO help me"
"S-s-ssh. You needn't yell" inter-
rupted the other, as he met Gales
outstretched hand. There was a close,
hard, straining grip. 81 must not be
recognized here. There are reasons.
I'll explain in a minute. Say, but it's
fine to see you! Five years. Dick, five
years since I saw you run down Uni
versity field and spread-eagle the
whole Wisconsin football team"
Don't recollect that replied Dick,
| laughing. George, I'll bet you I'm
gladder to see you than you are to
see me. 1t seems so long. You went
into the army, didn't your"
II did. I'm here now with the
Ninth cavalry. But-never mind me.
Whatre you doing way down here?"
"On the square, George, I don't
know any more why I'm here than
than you know"
well, that beats me" calculated
Thorne, sitting back in his chair,
amaze and concern in his expression.
"What the devils wrong? Your old
mans got too much money for you
|
couldn't have gone to the bad?"
A tide of emotion surged over Gale
How good it was to meet a friend
| someone to whom to talk He had
never appreciated his loneliness until
that moment
here l don't know. I didn't exactly
quarrel with the governor. But
d-n it, Dad hurt me-shamed me,
and I dug out for the West. 1t was
this way. After leaving college I tried
to please him by tackling one thing
after another that he set me to do.
On the square, l had no head for
business. l made q mess of every
thing. The governor got sore. When
l quit-when I told him straight out
self, why, it wouldn't have been so
tough if he hadn't laughed at me. He
said | couldn't earn a dOllar-that I'd
starve out west, and couldn't get back
home unless | sent to him for money.
He said he didn't believe I could
fight-could really make a fight for
anything under the sun Oh-he-he
shot it into me all right"
Dick dropped his head upon his
hands, somewhat ashamed Of the
smarting dimness in his eyes.
Eight ~ cried Thorne, hotly
"Whats ailing him? Didn't they call
you Biff Gale in college? Dick, you
were one of the best men Stage ever
developed"
"The governor didn't count foot.
ball." said Dick. "He didn't mean that
kind of a fight When I left home ]
don't think l had an idea what was
wrong Of me. But, George, l think
know now. Was rich mans SON
spoiled, dependent, absolutely igno.
rant Of the value Of money. l haven't
yet discovered any earning capacity in
me. l seem to be unable to do any.
thing with my hands. That's the
trouble. But I'm at the end of my
tether now. And I'm going to punch
cattle or be a miner or de some real
stunt-like joining the rebels"
aha! l thought you'd spring that
last one on me-" declared Thorne
wagging his head. "Well, you just
forget it. Say, old boy, there's some
thing doing in Mexico. The United
States in general doesn't realize 1t
But across that line there are crazy
revolutonists, ill-paif soldiers, guer
rilla leaders, raiders, robbers, outlaws
bandits galore, starving poems by the
thousand, girls and women in terror
Mexico Is like some of her volcanoes
ready to erupt fire and hell! DOM
, make the awful mistake Of joining the
rebel forces. If you didn't starve OF
get shot in ambush, or die of thirst
some Greaser would knife you In the
back for your belt buckle or boots
: There are good many American.
with the rebels eastward toward Agui
Prleta and Juarez. OrozcO Is operat
ing in Chihuahua, and | guess he ha!
some idea of warfare But this Is SO
nora, a mountainous desert, the hon,
of the slave and the Yaqui. There!
! | nj VI