Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-12-15
CHAPTER ~
ForIorn River.

~ hA@
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 a pair of leather
chaps brlstling 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. It was
black and blue, swollen to almost
twice It's normal size, and stiff as a
board. The knuckles were skinned
and crusted with dry blood. Dick So
Moquized that 1t was the worst-look-
ing hand he had seen since football
days, and that 1t would inconvenience
him for some time.
The door at the far end Of the DOE
was open. Through 1t he saw poles
Of peeled wood unfolding a porch
roof, a bench, rose BUSHES In bloom,
grass, and beyond these bright-green
foliage of trees.
"He shore was sleepin' when /
looked in an hour ago" said a voice
that Dick recognized as Ladd's.
LET him sleep" came the reply In
deep, g~ood-natured tones. Mrs. B.
says the girls moved. Must
nave beer a tough ride for them both.
Forty miles through cactus! Laddy
I'm right down glad to see you boys,
and I'll do all 1 can for the young
couple. But I'm doing some worrying
here; don't mistake me-"
"About your stock?"
'I've got only a few head of cattle
at the oasis now. I'm worrying some.
mostly about my horses. The q. S.
is doing some worrying, too, don't
mistake me. The rebels have worked
west and north as far as Casita. OF
course, my job Is to keep tab on Chi
nese and Japs trying to get into the
u. -. 1IOul A1dSudlCid DdJ. oQl L III
supposed to patrol the border line.
Tn going to hire some rangers. Now,
I'm not so afraid of being shot up,
though out in this lonely place there's
danger of it what I'm afraid of most
is losing that bunch Of horses. You
will do for horses. They're crazy on
horse flesh. They know fine horses.
So I don't sleep nights any more"
Reckon me an Jim might as well
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"
"Laddy, it's open enough around
Forlorn River to satisfy ever an old
time cowpuncher like you" laughed
Bedding. I'D take your staying on as
some favor, don't mistake me. Per
haps I can persuade the young man
Gale to take a job with me-"
"That's shore likely. He said he
had no money, no friends. An if a
scrapper's all you're lookin' for he'll
do" replied Ladd, with a dry chuckle.
Maybe l ought to think twice be-
fore taking a stranger into my fam
ily,' said Bedding. seriously. well, I
guess he's all right, Laddy, being the
cavalryman's friend. No bum or
Hunger? He must be all right?'
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 at
fronted. Tom Beldin', he's a gentle
man, an he could lick you in-in half
a second. How about that, Jim?'
LESS time" replied Lash. TON,
here's my stand. Young Gale can
have my boss, my gun, anythin' Of
mine"
Jaw, I didn't mean to insult you,
boys, don't mistake me-" said Bedding.
Course he's all right"
The object of this conversation lay
quiet upon his bed, thrilling and
amazed at being 50 championed by
the cowboys, delighted with Belongs
idea of employing him. and much
amused with the quaint seriousness
Of the three.
"How's the young man?' called a
woman's voice. 1t was kind and mel
low and earnest.