The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-12-21

my re. 70 the eha q ny days youn
be the one man to whom l owe every
thing. Words fail TO express my feelings.
This must be q brief note Bedding Is
waiting, and l used up most Of the time
writing to Mercedes
I'm leaving Mercedes in your charge,
subject Of course, to advice from Bedding.
Take care Of her, Dick, for my life ID
wrapped up In her. By all means keep
her from being seen by Mexicans. We
are sitting tight here-nothing doing.
III things quiet down before my COM
mission expires. III get leave OF absence.
run out to Forlorn River. marry my
beautiful Spanish princess. and take her
to 2 civilized country. where. I opine.
every son of gun who sees her will lose
his head, and drive me mad. Dick, harken
to these glad words: Rojas is in the hos
pital. l was interested to inquire. He
had a smashed finger. dislocated collar
bone, three broken ribs and fearful
cash on his face. He'll be in the hospital
for month Dick, when meet that pig
headed dad Of yours I'm going to give
him the surprise OF his life.
Send me a line whenever any one
comes In from F. r.. and tnclose Mer-
cedes' letter In yours. Take care Of her.
Dick, and may the future hold In store
for you some of the sweetness l know
now! Faithfully yours
While Dick was eating his supper,
with appetite rapidly returning to nor
NAL, Ladd and Jim came in. Their
friendly advances were singularly
welcome to Gale, but he was still
backward. He allowed himself to
show that he was glad to see them,
and he listened. 1t took no keen judge
of human nature to see that horses
constituted Ladd's ruling passion.
ashore it's cinch Beldin' is agoin
to lose some of them animals Of HIS"
he said. "YOu can search me if | don't
think therpll be more dom on the Dor.
der here than along the Rio Grande.'
I.ook -a.here, Laddy; you CANT be-
lieve all you hear" replied jim, seri'
ously. II reckon we mightn't have
any trouble"
Back up, Jim. Shore you're stand
In on your bride. There's more dom
than the raidln' of few bosses. An
Forlorn River is goin' to get hers!'
Another dawn found Gale so much
recovered that be arose and looked
after himself; not, however, without
considerable difficulty and rather dis
heartening twinges Of pain.
Some time during the morning he
heard the girls in the patio and called
to ask If he might join them. He re-
ceived one response, a mellow, vi,
senor." 1t was not as much as he
wanted, but considering that 1t was
| enough, he went out. In the shade OF
4 beautiful tree, he found the girls,
| Mercedes sitting in a hammock, Nell
upon a blanket.
"What 4 beautiful tree!" he ex'
claimed. II never saw one like that.
What Is it?'
"Palo verde" replied Nell.
"Senor palo verde means green
tree" added Mercedes.
Little by little Dick learned details
Of Nelrs varied life. She had lived
In many places. As a child she re-
membered Lawrence, Kansas, where
she studied for several years Then
she moved to Saltwater. Oklahoma,
from there to Austin, Texas, and on to
Waco, where her mother met and mar
ried Bedding. They lived in New
Mexico awhile. In Tucson, Arizona, IN
Douglas, and finally had come to lone
" Forlorn River.
Mother could never live In one
place any length Of Time" said Nell
"And since we've been In the South
west she has never ceased trying to
find some trace Of her father. He
was last heard Of in NOgales fourteen
years ago. She thinks grandfather
was lost in the Sonora desert.
And every place we 60 is worse. On
I love the desert. But I'd like to &C
back to Lawrence-or to see Chicago
or New York-some Of the places Mr.
Gale speaks Of I remember
the college at Lawrence, though I was
only twelve. I saw races-and once
real football Mr.. Gale, Of
course, you've seen games?"
"Yes, a few" replied Dick; and HI
laughed a little. 1t was on his lip!
then to tell her about some Of tht
famous games In which he had par
ticipated. But he refrained from ex
plotting himself. There was little
however, of the color and sound ant
cheer. Of the violent action and rust
and battle Incidental to a big college
football game that he did not succeed
in making Mercedes and Nell feel Jus
as II they had been there. They hun,
breathless and wide-eyed upon hi
words.
Some one else was present at tn
latter part Of Dicks narrative. Tn
moment he became aware OF Mrs
Belongs presence he remembers
fancylng he had heard her call, AM
now he was certain she had done sc
Mercedes and Nell, however, had bee
and still were Oblivious to everything
except Dicks recital. He saw Mr..
Bedding cast strange, intent glanc
upon Nell, then turn and 60 sllentl
through the patio.
Dick was haunted by the strange e.
preston he had caught on Mrs. Belt
ing's face, especially the look In he
eyes. It had been one Of represse
pain liberated in a fash Of certaint!
The mother had seen how far he ha
zone on the road Of love. Perhaps sh
had seen moreover more than b
dared hope.
CHAPTER VI