The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-11-01

had q name for loyalty 10 women.
Then this amazin' chap-you can't
imagine how scornful-said for me
an Jim to watch him.
Before I could catch my breath an
figger out what he meant by rush an
rough house he had knocked over a
table an crowded some Greaser half
of the map. Then, quicker'n I can
tell you the young man dove at Ro-
las. Like a mad steer on the ram
page he charged Rojas an his men.
The whole outfit went down-smash!
flggered then what rush meant.
The young fellow. came up out of the
pile with Rojas, an just like I'd sling
an empty sack along the floor he sent
the bandit. But swift as that went
he was on top Of Rojas before the
chairs an tables had stopped rollin'.
II woke up then, an made for the
center OF the room, Jim with me.
began to shoot out the lamps. Jim
throwed his guns on the crazy rebels.
an 1 was afraid there'd be blood
spilled before I could get the room
dark. Bein' shore busy, lost sight
of the young fellow for a second or
so, an when I got an eye free for him
I seen q Greaser about to knife him.
Think was considerable Of the
Greaser by only shootin' his arm off.
Then l cracked the last lamp. an in
the hullabaloo me an Jim vamo0sed.
1--WE made tracks for our bosses an
packs, an was hittin' the San Felipe
road when We run right plumb into
the young man. Well, he said his
name was Gale-Dick Gale. The girl
was with him safe an we'll: but her
sweetheart, the soldier, bein' away
without leave, had to 90 back sudden.
There shore was some trouble, for
Jim an me heard shootin'. Gale
said he had no money, no friends. was
4 stranger in a desert country; an
he was distracted to know how to
help the girl. So me an Jim started
Off with them for San Felipe, got
switched, an then we headed for the
Rio Forlorn." u
-.."Oh. / think he, was perfectly splen-
did," exclaimed the girl. But, Laddy.
yon haven't told me what he looks
like"
At this juncture Dick Gale felt it
absolutely impossible to play the
eavesdropper any longer. Quietly lie
rolled out of bed. Belongs kindly
interest, Laddy's blunt and sincere
cowboy eulogy, the girls sweet eager
ness and praise-these warmed Gales
heart. He had fallen among simple
people, into whose lives the advent
of an unknown man was welcome.
He was wild to be one Of Belongs
rangers. The idea Of riding horse
In the open desert, with dangerous
duty to perform, seemed to strike him
with an appealing force. Something
within him went out to the cowboys.
to this blunt and kind Bedding. He
was afraid to meet the girl. If every
man who came along fell in love with
this sweet-voiced Nell, then what
hope had he to escape-now. when his
whole inner awakening bet0kened n
change Of spirit. hope. finding Of
real worth, real good, real power i'll
himself?
Gale imagined he made noise
enough as he clumsily pulled on his
boots; yet the voices, split by merry
laugh, kept on murmuring outside the
door. 1t was awkward for him, hav-
ing only one hand available to lace
up his boots. He looked out of the
window. He heard bees. birds. chick
ems, saw the red Of roses and green
Of grass. Then he saw, close to the
wall, tub full Of water, and bench
upon which lay basin. soap. towel.
comb and brush. The window was
also a door, for under it there was
step.
3 Gale hesitated moment, then
went out. He stepped naturally, hop.
ing and expecting that the cowboys
would hear him. But nobody came
.Awkwardly. with left hand, he washed
his face. Upon a nail in the wall
hung = little mirror, by the aid of
WHICH Dick combed and brushed his
hair. He imagined he looked a most
haggard wretch. With that he faced
: forward, meaning to go round the cor
nor of the house to greet the cowboys
and these neY-found friends. }rh'sT
Dick had taken but one step!wherE
he, was halted by laughter and the
patter of light feet. He saw a little
foot sweep Into view. white dress.
then tile swiftly moving form OF Il
girl. She was looking backward. +
dad, I shall fall in love with your
new ranger. Il wfll-I have--'hS - r :
Then she pumped squareiy into
Dicks arms.