The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-02

Suddenly, sweetly, She Blushed. ..
to the old man-it'd be all right?"
Mr. Belding, there's nothing shady
in my past. The governor would he
glad to have me home. That's the
only consolation I've got. But I'E:
not going. I'm broke. won't be a
tramp. And it's up to me to do
something"
How'd you like to be border
ranger: asked Belding, laying hand
on Dicks knee. Part Of my job
here is United States inspector of i'm.
migration. I've got that boundary
line to patriotic keep out Chnks
and .Iaps You'll not he hired by the
U. s. You'll simply be my ranger,
same as Latldy and Jim, who have
promised to work for me. I'll pay
You we'll. give you a room here. FUR.
nish everything down to guns. and the
finest horse you ever saw in your life.
Your job won't be safe and healthy.
sometimes, but it'll be a mans job
don't mistake me! You can gamble
on having things to do outdoors Now,
what do you say?"
II accept, and I thank you-I can't
say hsw much" replied Gale, ear
nestiy.
Good! That's settled. Let's 60
out and tell Laddy and jim"
Both boys expressed satisfaction
Mt the turn OF affairs. and then with
Belding they set out to take Gale
around the ranch. The wide grounds
were covered with luxurians grass
and flowers and different kinds of
trees.
Belding explained that the luxuri-
ance of this desert place was owing
to a few springs and the dammed.up
waters Of the Rio Forlorn.
"l've got one never-failing spring
on my place." said Bedding. Fine.
sweet water! You know what that
means in the desert. like this oasis.
The longer live here the better /
like IT, It's beautiful and healthy.
Forlorn and lonely, yes. especially for
women like my wife and Nell; but
I like it. And between you
and me. boys, I've got something up
my sleeve. There's gold dust in the
arroyos, and there's mineral up in the
mountains. If we only had water.
There are possibilities, and l want
you boys to stay with me and ge. in
on the ground floor. I wisi, this rebel
war was over. Well, here are
the corrals and the fields. Gale, take
a look at that bunch Of horses"
Belongs last remark was made as
he led his companions out Of shady
gardens into the open. Gale saw an
adobe shed and huge pen formed
by strangely twisted and contorted
branches or trunks Of mesquite, and,
beyond these. wide. fiat fields. green
Il dark, rich greenland dotted with
beautiful horses. There were whites
and blacks. and bays and grays. In
his admira tion Gale searched his
memory to see II he could remember
the like OF these magnificent animals,
and had to admit that the only enes
,he could compare with them were the
arabian steeds. 80 a'F Il =,
F'Shore ITreckon IssavvysTwhy yeu
don't sleep nights" drawled LadIy.
II see IL Greaser out there-no; it's
an Indian - TFttf
'",rhat's my Papago 'herdsman. I
keep watch over the horses now day
and night. Lord. how I'd hate to
have ,Roias or SaIazar-any Of those
bandit rebels-find my horses!
Gale, can you ride:" -,
Dick nodestly replied that he could.
according to the eastern idea of
horsemanship.
The ringing Of a bell. which Bel
ding said was call to supper, turned
the men hack toward the house. 1t
was not until they reached it and
were about to go in that Beltling
CHANGED to discover Gales crippled
hand. -
-. CONTINUED In Next Issue)