The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-12-14

Hello, Dlckl Good News and Badl"
Dicks hand. Had no trouble finding
your friend Thorne Looked like he'd
been drunk for a week. Say, he
nearly threw fit. l never saw a fel-
low so wild with Joy. He made sure
you and Mercedes were lost In the
desert. He wrote two letters, which
l brought. Casita is one HI of a
place these days. l tried to get your
baggage. and think made a mistake.
We're going to see travel toward
Forlorn River. The federal garrison
got re-enforcements from somewhere,
and is holding out"
do you think we'll have trouble
hereT' asked Dick. excitedly.
Sure. Some kind of trouble
sooner or later" replied Bedding.
gloomily. Anyway. my boy, as soon
as you can hold brldle and a gun
you'll be on the job. don't mistake
me-"
with Laddy and Jim?" asked
Dick trying to be cool.
Sure. With them and me. and by
yourself"
Dick drew deep breath. and even
after Bedding had departed he forgot
for moment about the letter In his
hand. Then he unfolded the paper
and read:
Dear Dick-You've more than saved
my life. To the end of my days you'n
be the one man to whom / owe every
thing. Words fail to express my feelings
This must be brief note. Belding is
waiting. and used up most of the time
writing to Mercedes.
I'm leaving Mercedes in your charge.
subject. of course, to advice from BeldinR
Take care OF her. Dick, for my life is
wrapped up In her. BY all means keep
her from being seen by Mexicans. We
are sitting tight here-nothing doing
III things quiet down before my COM
mission expires. I'll get leave of absence.
run out to Forlorn River. marry my
beautiful Spanish princess. and take her
to civilized country, where. opine,
every son of gun who sees her will lose
his head. and drive me mad. Dick, harken
to these glad words: Rojas IL In the hos
pital. was interested to inquire. He
had q smashed finger. . dislocated collar
bone, three broken ribs. and . fearful
gash on his face He'll be in the hospital
for month. Dick. when I meet that pig
headed dad Of yours I'm going to give
him the surprise Of his life.
Send me line whenever any one
comes In from F. r., and inclose Mer.
c~des' letter In yours. Take care OF her.
nask. and may the future hold in store
for you some Of the sweetness l know
nowi Faithfully yours.
While Dick was eating his supper,
with appetite rapidly returning to nor
NAL, Ladd and Jim came In. Their
friendly advances were singularly
welcome to Gale, but he was still
backward. He allowed himself to
show that he was glad to see them.
and he listened. 1t took no keen Judge
of human nature to see that horses
constituted Ladd's ruling passion
ashore It's cinch Beldin' Is agoin'
to lose some of them animals of his
he said. you can search me II don't
think there'll be more doin' on the bor-
der here than along the Rio Grnnde."
"Look-a-here, Laddy; you CANT be
IIeve all you hear" replied Jim. seri-
ously. II reckon We mightnt have
any trouble"
Back up. Jim. Shore you're stand
In on your bridle. There's more dom
than the raidin' of few hosses. An
Forlorn River is goin' to get hers |"
Another dawn found Gale SO much
recovered that he arose and looked
after himself not, however, without
considerable difficulty and rather dis
heartening twinges Of pain.
Some time during the morning he
heard the girls in the patio and called
to ask II he might Join them. He re-
ceived one response. q mellow. "Si,
senior" It was not as much as he
wanted, but considering that 1t was
enough. he went out. In the shade Of
q beautiful tree. he found the girls.
Mercedes sitting in q hammock, Nell
upon a blanket.
''what a beautiful treel" he ex-
claimed. II never saw one like that.
What is itr
''Palo verde" replied Nell.
'Senor. palo verde means green
tree" added Mercedes.
Little by little Dick learned details
of NelPs varied life. She had lived
in many places. As a child she re-
membered Lawrence. Kansas, where
she studied for several years. Then
she moved to Saltwater. Oklahoma.
from there to Austin, Texas, and on to
Waco, where her mother met and mar
ried Belding. They lived In New
Mexico awhile. in Tucson, Arizona, in
Douglas. and finally had come to lone
ly Forlorn River.
Mother could never live In one
place any length Of time" said Nell
"And since we've been In the South
Hest she has never ceased trying to