The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-12-21


ter. Dick believed Mrs. Belongs
friendship and motherly love were
worth much striving to win, entirely
aside from any more selfish motive.
He decided both would be hard to
| get.
Toward evening Gale heard the
tramp Of horses and Bclding's hearty
| voice. Presently the rancher strobe
IN upon Gale. shaking the gray dust
from his broad shoulders and waving
n letter.
"HeIlo, Dickl Good news and
bad" he said, putting the letter in
| DICKS hand. "Had no trouble finding
your friend Thorne. Looked like he'd
been drunk for week! Say, he
nearly threw a fit. never saw q fel.
low so wild with JOY. lie made sure
you and Mercedes were lost in the
desert. He wrote two letters, which
brought. Casita is one HI Of Il
piace these days. tried to get your
baggage, and think made mistake.
were going to see travel toward
Forlom River. The federal garrison
got re-cnforcements from somewhere,
and is holding out"
do YOU think well have trouble
here! asked Dick. cxcitedy.
"Surc. Some kind of trouble
sooner or later" replied Bedding,
gloomily. Anyway, my boy, as soon
as you can hold bride and gun
you'll be on the job don't mistake
me-"
with Laddy and Jim?" asked
Dick, trying to be cool.
"Surc. With them and me, and BY
Yourself"
DICK drew deep breath, and even
after Bedding had departed he forgo,
Tor moment about the letter In his
hand. Then he unfoded the papcr
and read:
Dear Dck-You've more than saved
| my life. TO the end of my days you'I
| be the one man to whom owe every
1hlng. Words fail to express my feelings
Ihis must be a brief note. Belding is
! waiting. and l used up most of the time
writing to Mercedes
I'm leaving Mercedes in your charge
subject. OF course. to advice from BcldinR
take care Of her. Dick, for my life is
| wrapped up In her. BY all means keen
! her from being seen by Mcxicnns We
are sitting tight herc-nothing doing.
lf things quiet down before nv com
| mission expires, III get leave Of absence,
run out to Forlorn River. marry my
beautiful Spanish princess and tnke her
| to civilized country where, l opine
| every son OF n gun who sees her will lose
MS mead, and drive me mad Dick, harken
| TO these glad words: Rojas is In the hos
pitni. was interested to inquire. He
| mad smashed finger. dislocatcd collar
| bone. three broken ribs, and n foarru,
Eash on his face. He'll be in the hospital !
tor month. Dick. when meet that pig
headed dad of yours I'm going to give
| him the surprise of his li.e
Send me line whenever any one
comes in from i. r.. and incose AIer-
| codes letter In yours. Take care of hcr
| Dick, and may the future hold in store
for you some of the sweetness / know
| now! Faithfully yours.
"THoRNE."
While Dick was eating his suppcr
| with appetite rapidly returning to nor
mai, Ladd and jim came in. Their
friendly advances were singularly
welcome to Gale, but he was still
| backward. He allowed himself 70
show that he was glad to see them,
and he listened 1t took no keen Judge
or human nature to see that horses
constituted Ladd's ruling passion
shore It's cinch Bcldn' is agoin
| to lose some Of them animals OF his"
he said. "Iou can search me If | don't
thinK therell be more d0in' on the bor-
der here than along the Rio Grande.r
"Look-a-hcrc, Laddy; you CANT be-
lieve all you hear" replied Jim, seri-
ously. II reckon we mightn't have
| any trouble"
| Inn
| in on your bride. There's more dOin'
than the raidn' 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 ana rather dis
heartening twingcs Of pain.
Some time during the morning he
heard the girls in the patio and called
to ask If he might join .hcm. He re-
ceivcd one response, mellow, "Si
scnor." 1t was not rs much as he
wanted, but considering that It wns
| enough, he went out. In the shade of
beautiful tree, he found the girls
Mercedes sitting in hammock, Nell
upon blanket.
What a beautiful trce!" he OK.
| claimed. ~ never saw one like that
What Is it?'
"Palo verde" replied Nell.
"Senor. palo verde means green
tree" added Mercedes.
Little by little Dick learned details
Of NelFs varied life. She had llves
In many places. AS q 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.