Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-12-07

ing hand he had seen since football
him for some time.
The door at the far end Of the room
was open. Through 1t he saw poles
of peeled wood unfolding a porch
roof, 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 voice
that Dick recognized as Ladd's.
LET him Sleep" came the reply in
deep, goOd-natured tones "Mrs. B.
says the girls never moved. Must
have been tough ride for them both.
Forty miles through cactus! Laddy
I'm right down glad to see you boys,
and I'll do all I can for the young
couple. But I'm doing some worrying
here; don't mistake me-"
about your stockY'
ave got only a few head of cattle
at the oasis now. I'm worrying some,
mostly about my horses. The U. 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. S. from Magdalena bay. But Pm
supposed to patrol the border line.
I'm 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 Pm 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 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 even an old
time cowpuncher like you," laughed
Bedding. I'D take your staying on as
some favor, don't mistake me. Per
haps l can persuade the young man
Gale to take 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,
guess he's all right, Laddy, being the
cavalryman's friend. No bum or
lunger? He must be all right?"
Bum? Lunger? Say, didn't I tell
you l shook hands with this boy an
was plumb glad to meet him?" de
handed Laddy, with considerable
heat. Manifestly he had been af
fronted. TON Beldin', he's a gentle
man, an he could lick you in--in halt
a second. How about that, Jim?"
LESS time" replied Lash. tom
here's my stand Young Gale car
have my boss, my gun, anythin' OF
mine"
saw, I didn't mean to insult you
boys, don't mistake me-" said Belding
Course he's all right"
The object of this conversation lay
quiet upon his bed, thrilling and
amazed at being so 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 MANI" called g
woman's voice. 1t was kind and mel
low and earnest.
Gale heard footsteps on flagstones
He's asleep yet, wife," replied Bel
ding. "Guess he was pretty mucl
knocked out. I'll close thu
door there so We won't wake him."
There were slow, soft steps, ther
the door softly closed. But the fac
scarcely made a perceptible differ
ence in the sound of the voices out
side
daddy and Jim are going to stay,
went on Bedding. It'll be like tn,
old Panhandle days little. I'm pow
erful glad to have the boys, Nellie
Well see some trouble before the rev
olution is ended. I think I'll max,
thiS yOIDp man Gala on offor