The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-12-14
by
ZANE GREY

1
| "Why, yes; I met something white
and swift flying by" replied Dick.
"That was Nell Burton. NV girl
Stepdaughter, 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 WON
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 well.
Now. Gale" said Bedding, when his
wife had excused herself to get sun
per- ''the boys, jim and Laddy, told
me about you and the miX-up at ca
sta. III be glad to take care Of the
girl till It's safe for your soldier
friend to get her out of the country.
That won't be very soon, don't mis-
over-curious about you-Laddy has
interested me In you-and straight
out I'd like to know what you propose
to do now"
Il haven't any plans" replied Dick;
and. taking the moment as propitious.
he decided to speak frankly concern
Ing himself. II just driftcd down
here. My home Is in Chicago. When
left school some years ago-Im
twenty-five now--I went to work for
my father. Hes-he has business in
tcrests there. I tried all kinds OF In.
side Jobs. l couldn't please my fu-
ther. To tell you frankly, Mr.. Bel
ding, I suppose didn't much care"
What do you want to do?"
L want mans job. I want to do
things with my hands. l want action.
l want to be outdoors"
Bedding nodded his head as If he
understood that, and he began to
speak again, cut something short. then
went on, hesitatingly:
"Gale-you could go home again
to the old man-it'd be al! r!yhtt
"Mr Eelh!ng, there's nothing SHADY
In ny past. The gr.e.nn. m'.y.t, ~
glad to has. m. !.me Ii.a>s ~
only r'hhoin,nn i,c N ia, j.:a
not going. im b.p.e. nm, t,c 3
tramp. And us ~ ~ me - ..
| something"
| "Howd you IKE 10 be u border
rangerT asked Eclhihg. laying 81 lnnd
on Dicks knee "far, Of my ]ol,
here Is United Statcs inspector of i'm.
migration. I've got that boundary
line to patrol-to keep out Chlnks
and Jnps. You'll not be hired By the
U. s. You'll simply be my ranger
same as Laddy and jim, who have
promised to work for me. I'll pay
YOU well. give you room here, fur
nish everything down to guns, and tho
finest horse you ever saw in your life
Your job won't be safe and healthy
sometimes, but it'll he a mans Job
don't mistake me. You can gamble
OH having things to do outdoors Now
what do YOU say?'
II accept, and thank you'll CAM
say how much" replied Gale, ear
nesly.
Good! That's settled Let's &,
out and tell Laddy and jim"
Both boys expressed satisfaction
at the turn OF affairs and then Will
Bclding they set out to take Gal,
around the ranch. The wide grounds
were covered with luXuriant grass
nd "a III ILL.,
trees.
Belding explained that the luxuri
ance of this desert place was owing
; to few springs and the dammed-,il
waters Of the Rio Fororn.
1--WE got one never-failing sprin,
on my place" said Bedding. "Finc
sweet water! You know what tha
means In the desert. like this oasis
The longer l live here the better
like it. It's beautiful and healthy
Forlorn and lonely, yes. especially fo
women like my wife and Nell; bu
| like 1t. And between 20,
and me, boys. I've got something u,
my sleeve. There's gold dust in til,
arroyos. and there's mineral up In tn,
mountains. If we only had water
There are possibilities, and wan
YOU boys to stay with me and get ir
on the ground floor. l wish this rebe
war was over. Well, here are
the corrals and the fields. Gale, tax.
q look mt that bunch Of horses!"
Belongs last remark was made n.
he led his companions out OF shad,
gardens into the open. Gale saw ar
adobe shed and huge pen formed
by strangely twisted and contortct
branches or trunks Of mesquite and
beyond these, WIDE fiat fields green
a dark, rich greenland dotted witt