The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-10-31
CHAPTER w.
EorIorn River.

When Dick opened his eyes flood
OF golden sunshine streamed in at the
open window under which he lay. His
first thought was one Of blank wonder
as to where in the world he happened
to be. The room was large, square,
adobe-walled. 1t was Uttered with
saddles, harness, blankets. The sight
of huge dusty spurs, a gun belt with
sheath and gun, and pair Of leather
chaps bristling with broken cactus
thOrns recalled to Dick the cowboys.
the ride, Mercedes, and the whole
strange adventure that had brought
him there.
He felt a dead weight of complete
lassitude,; and he did not want to-
move. A sudden pain in his hand
caused him to hold it up. 1t was
black and blue, swollen TO almost
twice its normal size, and stiff as a
board. The knuckles were skinned
and crustel with dry blood. Dick So
lllOquizcd that it was the worst-look-
ing hand he had seen since, football
days, and that it would Inconvenience
him for some time. "a
The door ut the far end Of the room
was open. Through it he saw poles;
Of peeled wood uphOlding-"a porch
roof. Il bench. rose bushes in ,hIuom,
grass, and beyond these brightly green
foliage Of trees.
'.lle shore was sleepin' when I
looked in an hou2 ago" said a voice
that Dick recognized as Ladd's.
''Let him sleep" came the reply in
deep, goOd-nature: tones. Mrs =.
says the girls never moved Must
have been tough ride for them both.
Forty miles through cactus! Lsddy
I'm right down glad to see you boys,
and III do all I can for the Young
couple. But I'm doing some Worrying
here; don't mistake me-"
"Abnut your stOck?"
give got only a few head of cattle
ut the oasis now. I'm worrying some.
mostly about my horses. The r. s.
is doing some worrying. too. don't
mistake me-. The rebels have worked
west and north as far as Casita. or
course. my job is to keep tab on Chi
nese and Japs trying to get into the
L. S. from Magdalena bay. But I'm
supposed to patrol the border line.
I'm going to hire some rangers. Now,
TN not so afraid Of being shot up.
though ont 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. don't sleep nights any more
"Reckon me an Jim might as we'll
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"
daddy, it's open enough around
F"rlorn. River TO satisfy even an old
time cowpunchcr like you," laughed
Bedding. I'D take your staying on as
some favor, don't mistake me. Per
haps | can persuade the young man
Gale to take Il job with me-"
'Tlat's shore likely. He said he
had no money, no friends. An IL a
scrapper's all you're lookin' for he'll
do" replied Ladd, with a dry chuckle
Maybe ought to think twice be-
fore taking stranger into my fam
ify,' said Bedding. seriously. "Well. I
guess he's all right. Laddy, heins the
cavalryman's friend. No bum or
Hunger? He must be all right q
Bum? Lunger? Say. didn't I tell
YOU I shook hands with this boy an
was plumb glad to meet him." de-
manded Laddy. with considerable,
heat. Manifestly he had been af-,
fronted: "Tom Beldin', he's gentle
man, an he could lick you in-in half
Il second. How about that, Jim?"
Less time" replied Lash. Tom,
here's my stand. Young Gale can
have my boss, my gun, anythin' of
mine" - {. -: = = - - = =
s. e .L955.es.-ta tG,y ~ ~. 81.