Sioux County pioneer., 1922-12-28
G O /

ing hand he had seen since football
days, and that It would Inconvenience
him for some time
The door at the for end Of the room
was open. Through 1t he saw poles
Of peeled wood upholding porch
roof, bench, rose bushes In bloom,
grass, and beyond these bright-green
foliage Of trees. g
HE shore was sleepin' when I
looked In an hour ago." said a voice
that Dick recognized as. Ladfs.
"Let him sleep" came the reply in
deep, good-natured tones 'Mrs. B.
says the girls never moved. Must
have been tough ride for them both.
Forty miles through cactus! Laddy
I'm right down glad to see you boys,
and I'll do all can for the young
couple. But I'm doing some worrying.
here; don't mistake me-
about your stock7"
"Ive got only few head Of cattle
at the oasis now. I'm worrying some,
mostly about my horses. The q. s..
is doing. some worrying, too, don't
mistake me. The rebels have worked
west and north as far as Casita. OF
course. my job is to keep tab on Chi.
nese and Japs trying to get into the.
q. 8. from Magdalena bay. But I'm
supposed to patrol the border line.
I'm going to hire some rangers. Now.
I'm not so afraid Of being shot up.
though out in this lonely place there's
danger Of It; what I'm afraid Of most
is losing that bunch Of horses. You
know what those guerrilla Mexicans
will do for horses. They're crazy on
horse flesh. They know fine horses
So I don't sleep nights any more.'' 3;
5 Reckon me an Jim might as well
tie up with you for a spell, Beldin'.
We've been ridin' up an down Arizona
tryin' to keep out Of sight Of wire
fences"
"Laddy, it's open enough around
Forlorn River to satisfy even an old
time cowpuncher like you," laughed
Bedding. "I'd take your staying on as
some favor, don't mistake me. Per
haps I can persuade the young man
Gale to take Job with me-"
"That's shore likely. He said he
had no money, no friends. An IL a
scrappers all you're lookin' for he'll
do" replied Ladd, with q dry chuckle.
Maybe I ought to think twice be-
fore taking stranger into my fam
ily," said Bedding, seriously. 'Well, I
guess he's all right, Laddy, being the
cavalryman's friend. No bum or
lunger? He must be all right?''
"Bum7 Lunger7 Say, didn't tell
you shook hands with this boy an
was plumb glad to meet him1' de-.
manded Laddy, with considerable
heat. Manifestlys he had been af-
fronted. Tom Beldin', he's a gentle
man, an he could lick you in-in half
second. How about that, JimY'
LESS time" replied Lash. 'sTom,
here's my stand. Young Gale. can.
have my hoss, my gun, anythin' Of
mine"
"Aw, I didn't mean to insult yeu,
boys, don't mistake me-" said Bedding.
Course he's all right" 81
The object Of this conversation lay
quiet upon his bed, thrilling and
amazed at being SO championed by
the cowboys, delighted with Belongs
idea Of employing him, and much
amused with the quaint seriousness
Of the three. y
"How's the young manl" called q
woman's voice. It was kind and mel
low and earnest.
Gale heard footsteps on fiagstones.
He's asleep yet. wife" !" replied Bel
ding. @Guess he was pretty much.
knocked out. J. I'll close the.
door there so we won't wake him.
There were slow, soft steps, then
the door softly closed. But the fact
scarcely made perceptible differ.
ence in the sound Of the voices out
side. Z. .ss sSs.s
@ "Laddy and Jim are going to stay"
went on Bedding. "Itll be like the
old Panhandle days q little. Tn pow
serful glad to have the boys, Nellie.
Well see some trouble before the rev.
olution is ended. I think I'll make,
this young man Gale an Offer N
iii AOad. I shaIl fail In inv. ,.,,tl II