Sioux County pioneer., 1922-12-14
GOLD

jointed bodies, the quiet, easy, reck-
less air that seemed to be a part Of
the men-these things would plainly
have stamped them as cowboys with.
out the buckled sombreros, the COL
ored scarfs the high-topped, high
heeled boots with great silver.roweled
spurs.
He satisfied his hunger in a restau-
rant adjoining, and as he stepped
back into the saloon a man wearing
a military cape jostled him. Apollo
gies from both were instant. Gale was
moving on when the other stopped
short as IL startled, and, leaning for
ward, exclaimed:
"Dick Gale? II this isn't greatl
Don't you know me7"
1--WE heard your voice somewhere"
replied Gale. maybe I'll recognize
you If you came out from under that
bonnet"
For answer the man, suddenly mani.
Testing thought Of himself, hurriedly
drew Gale into the restaurant, where
he thrust back his hat to disclose a
ndHuSOme, SunDurneQ 10ce.
George Thorne! So help me-"
"'S-s-ssh. You needn't YELL" inter
rupted the other, as he met Gales
outstretched hand. There was a close.
hard. straining grip. II must not be
recognized here. There are reasons.
I'll explain In a minute. Say. but it's
fine to see you! Five years, Dick, five
years since saw you run down Uni
versity field and spread-eagle the
whole Wisconsin football team"
Don't recollect that,* replied Dick,
laughing. George, I'll bet you I'm
gladder to see you than you are to
see me. 1t seems so long, You went
into the army, didn't you?"
II did. I'm here now with the
Ninth cavalry. But-never mind me.
What're you doing way down here?''
"On the square, George, don't
know any more why I'm here than
than you know"
swell, that beats me-" calculated
Thorne, sitting back in his chair,
amaze and concern in his expression.
"What the DEVILS wrong? Your old
mans got too much money for you
ever to be up against It. Dick. you
couldn't have gone to the bad?
A tide Of emotion surged over Gale.
How good 1t was to meet friend
someone to whom to talkl He had
never appreciated his loneliness until
that moment.
"George, how I ever drifted down
here l don't know. didn't, exactly
quarrel with the governor. But
d-n it, Tad hurt me-shamed me,
and dug out for the West. It was
this way. After leaving college tried
to please him by tackling one thing
after another that he set me to do.
On the square, I had no head for
business. I made mess Of every
thing. The governor got sore. When
! quit-when told him straight out
that was going west t. fare for my
self, why, it wouldn't have been SO
tough II he hadn't laughed at me. He
said I couldn't earn dollar-that I'd
starve out west, and couldn't get back
home unless sent to him for money.
He said he didn't believe I could
fight-could really make a fight for
anything under the sun Oh-he-he
shot It into me all right" .5.
Dick dropped his head upon his
hands, somewhat ashamed Of the
smarting dimness in his eyes.
"Fight!" cried Thorne, hotly.
What's ailing him? Didn't they call
you Biff Gale in college? Dick, you
were one Of the best men Stage ever
developed"
'The governor didn't count foot
ball." said Dick. "He didn't mean that
kind Of a fight. When I left home 1
don't think l had an idea what was
wrong Of me. But, George, think
] know now. was rich mans son
spoiled, dependent, absolutely igno-
rant Of the value Of money. I haven't
yet discovered any earning capacity in
me. ! seem to be unable to do any
thing with my hands. That's the
trouble. But I'm at the end Of my
tether now. And I'm going to punch
cattle or be miner, or do some real
stunt-like Joining the rebels.'
"Ahal I thought you'd spring that
last one on me" declared Thorne,
wagging his head. "Well, you just
forget It. Say. old boy, there's some
thing doing in Mexico. The United
States In general doesn't realize 1t.
But across that line there are crazy
revolutionists, .ill-paid soldiers, guer-
rilla leaders, raiders, robbers, outlaws,
bandits galore. starving poems by the
thousand, girls and women in terror.
Mexico Is like some Of her volcanoes
ready to erupt fire and hell! Don't
make the awful mistake Of Joining the
rebel forces. II you didn't starve or
get shot IN ambush, or die Of thirst,
some Greaser would knife you in the
back for your belt buckle or boots.
There are good many Americans
with the rebels eastward toward Aqua
Preta and Juarez. Orozco Is operat-
Ing q chihuahua, and; guess he has
some idea Of warfare. But this Is So
nora, mountainous desert, the home
i.AS.. 4