St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-11-18
THE FARMER NOVEMBER 1922

said he had no money, no friends, was
q stranger in a desert country; an
he was distracted to know how to
help the girl. So me an Jim started
OF with them for San Felipe, got
switched, an then we headed for the
Rio Forlorn."
"Oh, think he was perfectly splen-
did" exclaimed the girl. "But. Laddy,
you haven't told me what he looks
like"
At this juncture Dick Gale felt It
absolutely impossible to play tho
eavesdropper any longer. Quietly he
rolled out Of bed. Belongs kindly
interest. Laddy's blunt and sincere
cowboy eulogy, the girls sweet eager
ness and praise warmed Gales
heart. He had fallen among simple
people, into whose lives the advent
Of an unknown man was welcome.
He was wild to be one of Belongs
rangers. The idea Of riding horse
In the open desert, with dangerous
duty to perform, seemed to strike him
with an appealing force. Something
within him went out to the cowboys,
to this blunt and kind Bedding. He
was afraid to meet the girl. II every
man who came along fell In love with
this sweet-voiced Nell, then what
hope had he to escape-now, when his
whole inner awakening betokened a
change Of spirit, hope finding Of
real worth, real good. real power In
himself
Gale imagined he made noise
enough as he clumsily pulled on his
boots; yet the voices, split by merry
laugh, kept on murmuring outside the
door. It was awkward for him, hav-
ing only one hand available to lace
up his boots. He looked out Of the
window. He heard bees, birds, chick
ems, saw the red Of roses and green
Of grass. Then he saw, close to the
wall, a tub full Of water, and a bench
upon which lay basin, soap, towel,
comb and brush. The window was
also door, for under it there was a
step.
Gale hesitated a moment. then
went out. He stepped naturally, hop
ing and expecting that the cowboys
would hear him. But nobody came.
Awkwardly, with left hand, he washed
his face. Upon a nail In the wall
hung a little mirror, by the aid Of
which Dick combed and brushed his
hair. He imagined he looked most
haggard wretch. With that he faced
forward, meaning to 60 round the cor
ner Of the house to greet the cowboys
and these new-found friends.
Dick had taken but one step when
he was halted by laughter and the
patter of light feet. He saw a little
foot sweep into view, white dress,
then the swiftly moving form Of .
girl. She was looking backward.
dad, shall fall in love with your
new ranger. I WILL have"
Then she pumped sQuarely into
Dicks arms.
Dick saw a fair face and dark
blue, audaciously flashing eyes. Swift
as lightning their expression changed
to surprise, fear, wonder. For an In
slant they were level with Dicks
grave questioning. Suddenly, sweet
ly, she blughed.
"Oh-hl" she fa1tered.
Then the blush turned to scarlet
fire. She whirled past him, and like
q white CLEAN was gone.
Dick became conscious of the quick
ened beating Of his heart. He expe-
rienced a singular exhilaration. That
moment had been the one for which
he had been ripe, the event upon
which strange circumstances had
been rushing him.
With a couple of strides he turned
the corner. Laddy and Lash were
there talking to man of burly form.
"Hello. there's the young fellow"
spoke up the burly man. "Mr. Gale,
I'm glad to meet you. My names
Belding."
His greeting was as warm as his
handclasp was long and hard. Gale
saw a heavy man Of medium height.
His head was large and covered with
grizzled locks. He wore a short
cropped mustache and chin beard. His
skin was brown, and his dark eyes
beamed with a genial light.
''Young man, did you run into any
thing as you came out7" asked Bel
ding, with twinkltng eyes.
"Why, yes; met something white
and swift flying BY" replied Dick
"That was Nell Burton, my girl
stepdaughter, I should say" said Bel
ding. She's sure some whirlwind, as
Laddy calls her. Come, let's go in
and meet the WIFE,
In Mrs. Bedding, Gale found q wom-
an of noble proportions and striking
appearance. Her hair was white. She
had strong, serious, well-lined face
that bore haunting evidences Of past
beauty. The gaze she gent upon him
was almost piercing in its intensity.
Her greeting, which seemed to Dick
rather slow in coming, was kind
though not cordial Gales first
thought, after he had thanked these
good people for their hospitality, was
to inquire about Mercedes. Mrs. Bel
ding said the girl had suffered NO
great hardship, other than mental, and
would very soon be rested and we'll.
"Now, Gale" said Bedding, when his
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