The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-15
(Coutinued from last issusD
= CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XVIII e.
Reality Against Dreams,
Dick Gale was standing bowed over
Nelps slight form, almost hidden In
his arms. Belding Rugged them both.
He was like a boy. He saw Ben
Chase and his son slip away under
the trees, but the circumstances meant
nothing to him then.
"Dick! Dfck!" he roared. '1s it
you? Say, who do you thinks
here-here, in Forlorn River?'
1t was then three more persons came
upon the scene-Elsie Gale, running
swiftly, her father assisting Mrs. Gale,
who appeared about to faint. *. .
"Belding! Who on earth's that?"'
cri> *, hoarsely. -. ...ss.
"Quien sabe,r my son." replied Beld-
ing: and now his voice seemed little
shaky. "Nell, come here. Give him
4 chance" &C.. :Z,e& "a
Belding slipped his arm round Nell.
and whispered in her ear. "This'll be
great!"
Elsie Gales face was white and agl-
tated, face expressing extreme joy.
"Oh, brother! Mamma saw you
papa saw you, and never knew you!
But I knew you when you Jumped
quick-that way-or y.ur horse. And
now I don't know you. You wild man!
You giant! You splendid barbarian!
. Mamma, papa, hurry! It Is
Dick! Look at him. Just look at
him! Oh-h, thank God!"
Belding turned away and drew Nell
with him. In another second she and
Mercedes were clasped in each others
arms. Then followed time of joyful
greetings all round. Diablo found his
old spirit; Blanco Sol tossed his head
and whistled his satisfaction; White
Woman pranced to and fro; and pres
emily they all settled down to quiet
grazing. How good 1t was for Bedding
to see those white shapes against the
rich background OF greenI His, eyes
glistened. 1t was sight he had never
expected to see again. He fingered
there many moments when he wanted
. to hurry back to his rangers.
At last he tore himself away from
watching Blanco Diablo and returned
to the house. 1t was only to find that
he might have spared himself the hur-
ry. Jim. and Ladd were lying on the
beds that had not held them for so
many months. Their slumber seemed
as deep and quiet as death. Curiously
Bedding gazed down upon them. They
had removed only boots and chaps.
Their clothes were in tatters. Jim ap-
peared little more than skin and
bones, a long shape, dark and hard
as iron. Ladd's appearance shocked
Belding. The ranger looked an old
man, blasted, shriveled, starved. =ta
About the middle of the forenoon
on the following day the rangers hob.
bled out of the kitchen to the porch.
''I'm sick man, tell you," Ladd
was complaining, "an' 1 gotta be fed.
Soup! Beef tea! That amt 80 much
as wind to me. want about a barrel
of bread an butter, an whole plat
ter Of mashed potatoes with gravy an
green stuff-all kinds of green stuff
an whole big apple pie. Give me
everythin' an anythin' to eat but meat.
Shore l never, never want to taste
meat again, an sight of a piece of
sheep meat would jest about finish
me. Jim, you used to be n
human beln' that stood up for Charlie
Ladd." ~
"Laddy, I'm lined up beside you with
both guns" replied Jim, plalntively.
Hungry? Say. the smell Of break
fast in that kitchen made my mouth
water so near choked to death. I
reckon we're gettin' most onhuman
treatment"
"But I'm sick man." protested
Ladd. ''an' I'm agoin' to fall over in
minute if somebody don't feed me.
Neil, you used to be fond of me-"
"Oh, Laddy, I am yet,' replied Nell
"Shore, I don't believe it. Any girl
with tender heart just couldn't let a
man starve under her eyes. 4.
Look at Dick, there. I'll bet he's had
something to eat, nebbe potatoes an
gravy, an pie an" ~.
! daddy, Dick has had NO u,orc$ 'has
l gave you---indeed. nos | -ar'y
much" HrE
"Shore he's had d Let OF ki$ass - =.
for he hasn't ho!lcced onct :uudt +,
treatment" 49,.
"Perhaps he has" said Nell WITH :,
blush; land if you think tllat-,i.,
Z would help you to be reasonable
lnight-rll-" ... e..
swell, powerful fond as l am of you
just now kisses'll have to run secout
to bread an butter" ..& II.
"Oh, Laddy, what Il gallant speech
i laughed Nell. Pm sorry, bat 1'v'
dads orders" r. ..~..~. c@l& .
'Laddy." Interrupted Bedding, "you'v'
got to be broke in gradually to eating
Now you know that. You'd be the sc
verest kind Of a boss if you had som
. starved besgars on your hands" ~
I'm sick-Tm dyin'," howle'
ladl. sss - a, *.s-.