The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-08

only eXternal$. WON!d nave MlSScH ':'t'
yital inner truth. For Gale was happy
with II kind Of strange. wild glory IN
the privati0nS. the pains. the peflls'
and the silence. and solitude to be en-
dure,i on this desert land.
He had duty to man who relied
on his services. He MAS cOmrane. y
friend, II valuable ally t" riding. Tight
Ing rangers. Gales happiness, as TAR
~ II concerned the toll and STRIFE,
was perhaps II gam AMI st"icat one.
But love ubi,lpd with him. and it had
euyeu,lered and fostered other unue-
yploped traitS--rOnance and teelin2
for beauty. and Il keen observation OF
nature. He felt pain. hut he was
never miserable. He felt the solitude,
but he WAS never lonely.
As he rode across the desert. even
though Keen eyes searched Tor the
moving black dots, the rising puH> OF
Whit. dust that were warnings. he
saw Eell's face in every cloud. The
,lpan.cut meSa> took "n the shape or
her straight profile. With its strong
chin and lips its fine nose ami t"re-
head. There was always Il CLINT or
gold or tu,lc, Of red or graceful line
or yIeam of blue to remind him OF
her. Then ut night her face Sh0ne
warm and glowing. flushing and pal
in", in the campfire.
BY and by Gale remembered what
he was waiting for: and, getting up.
ne tool the halter and went out to
find Blancu Sol 1t was pltcll'dark
now, and Gale could not see ron
ahead. He felt his way, anu present
". as he rounded mesquite he saw
Soils white shape outlined against the
blackness. Gale haltered him in the
likelieSt patch Vf grass and returned
TO his canp. There he lifted. his sad
die into Il protected spot under low
wall of the mound and, laying, one
blanket on the sand. he covered HIM
self with the other and stretched him.
self for the night,
DAYLIGHT came quickly. The morn
ing was clear and nipping cold. He
threw on the wet blanket and got up
cramped and half frozen. A little
brisk action WAS. all that was neces-
snry to warm his blood and loosen his
muscles, and then, he was fresh,
tinglins. eager. The sune.rOse in a
golden blaze. and the descending val
ley took on wondrous changing hues.
Then he fetched up Blanco Sol. sad-
died him, and tied him to the thickest
clump OF mesquite.
sol. we'H have drink pretty
soon" he said. patting the splendid
neck.
Gale meant it. He would not eat till
he had watered his horse. NO three
raiders could keep Gale away from
that we'll. Taking his rifle in hand, he
faced up ttu. arroyo. From the lay or
the land and position of trees seen by
daylight. he found an easier and safer
course than the one he had taken in
the dark. And by careful work he
was enabled to get closer t" the well,
and somewhat above it.
The MrxicanS were lciSurely cook
in" their morning meal. \ slow wrath
stirred in Gale as he watched the trio.
They showed not the slightest indica-
tinn OF breaking camp. One fellow.
evidently the leader. packed Il gun at
his hip. the only weapon in sight.
Gale noted this with speculative eyes
Then he saw two Indians on burros
come riding up the other side Of the
kncll up"l which the adobe house
stood: anl apparently they were not
aware OF the presence nf the MeNi-
cans. for they came on up the path.
One Indian was :, PapagO. The other.
Striki,. in appearance for ether rea-
SONS than that he seemed TO be about
to fall from the burro. Gale took to be
fauu They came over the knoll
and down the path toward the we'll.
turned a corner Of the house. and
completely surprised the raiders.
Gale heard short, shriil cry.
strangely high and wild, and this came
from one Of the Indians. 1t was an
swerch by hoarse shouts. Then the
leader OF the trio. the Mexican who
packed a gun, pulledit and fired point
blank He missed once-.and again.
At the third shot the Papago shreketl
and tumbls,l of his burro to fall in a
heap. The ether Indian Swayed. as
II the takingt away Vf the support. lent
by. his cunlrade' had brought collapse.
and with the fourth shot he, tope' tpe'
slipped to the ground:
CONTINUED in Ne1, lssus) %