Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-28
alfalfa field where -Beldings thorough:

horses. She loved them, never tired
of watching them. But her gaze was
too consciously averted from the
yearning eyes that tried to meet hers
to be altogether natural.
A great fenced field Of velvety green
alfalfa furnished a rich background
for the drove of about twenty white
horses. Blanco Diahlo was the only
one in the field that was not free to
roam and Craze where he listed. A
stake and halter held him to one
corner, where he was severely let
alone by the other horses. He did not
like this Isolation. BlGnco Diablo was
not happy unless he was running, CT
fighting a rival. OF the two he would
rather fight. If anything white could
resemble q devil, this horse surely
did. He had nothing beautiful about
| him. yet he drew the gaze and held
it. The look of him suggested dis
content, anger revolt, Vlciousness.
When he was not grazing or prancing,
he held his long, lean head level, point
ing his nose and showing his teeth.
Belongs favorite was almost all the
world to him, and he swore DiablO
could stand more heat and thirst and
cactus than any other horse lie owned,
and could run down and kill any
horse in the Southwest.
The cowboys admitted some OF
Belding's claims for Diablo but they
gave loyal and unshakable allegiance
to B!ancO Sol. As for Dick, he had
TO fight himself to keep out Of argu-
ments. for he sometimes imagined he
was unreasonable about the horse.
Though he could not understand HIM
self he knew he loved Sol rs n man
loved a friend, a brother. Free OF
heavy saddle and the clumsy leg
shields, Blanco Sol was somehow all
satisfying to the eyes Of the rangers.
The dazzling whiteness Of the desert
sun shone from his Pat; he had the
fire and spirit Of the desert In his
noble head, its strength and power In
his gigantic frame.
"Belding swears Sol never beat
Diablo," Dick was saying.
"Tc believes it." replied Nell. "Dad
Is queer about that horse"
owe often wondered how Bedding
ever came to give Blanco Sol to me, y
said Dick.
al think he wanted to get rid of
Sol"
maybe. He surely has strange pas
sion for horses. I think l understand
better than I used to. l owned q
couple of racers once. They were
Just animals TO me, I guess. But
Blanco Sol !"
"Do you love him" asked Nell; and
now q warm, blue flash OF eyes swept
his face.
"Do I? Well, rather"
"T'm glad. Sol has been finer,
better horse since you owned him. He
loves you, Dick. Sol always hated
Diablo, and never had much use for
Dad"
Dick looked up at her.
It'll bc-be pretty hard to leave Sol
when I go away"
Nell sat perfectly still.
"Go away" she asked, presently,
with just the faintest tremor in her
voice.
Eyes. Sometimes when I get blue
ss | am today think III 60. But,
in sober truth, Nell, it's net likely
that I'll spend all my life here"
There was no answer to this. Dlcl;
put his hand softly over he's; and
despite her half-hearted struggle to
free it, he held on.
"Nellw
Her color fed. He saw her lips
part. Then heavy step on the gravel
a cheerful, complaining voice inter.
rupted him, and made him release Nell
and draw back. Belding strodc into
view round the adobe she'd
"Hey, Dick, that darned Yaqui In.
dian can't he driven or hired or coaxed
to leave Forforn River. He's well
enough to travel. I offered him horse
gun, blanket, grub. But 10 CO."
~Ihats funny" replied Gale, with
a smile. "1.et him stay-pEt him to
work."
1T doesn't strike me funny. But
TI tell you what 1 think. That poor,
homeless, heartbroken Indian has
taken a liking 20 you, Dick. You
saved his life That sort Of thing
counts big with any Indian, even with
an Apache. With a Yaqui maybe it's
Of deep significance. Tve heard a
Yaqui say that with his tribe no debt
TO friend or foe ever went unpaid.
Perhaps that's what ails this fellow" "
"Dick, don't laugh" said Nell. I've
noticed the Yaqui. It's pathetic the
way his great gloomy eyes follow
you"
you've made friend" continued
Belding. "a Yaqui could be real
friend on this desert. If he gets his
strength back he'll be Of service to
you, don't mistake ne. He's welcome
here. But you're responsible for him,
and you'll have trouble keeping him
from massacring all the GreaserS in
ForlOrn Pivpr"