Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-01-04

III IuS JEdll-dCIOSS TIC ALVCA ACnt
the first big saguaro."
"Sure, Dick, sure" Bedding replied,
In softer tones. Then he stalked
out; his heels rang on the flagstones ;
he opened a door and called: "MOther
girls, here's Dick back. He's done
up. Dowhat you can to make
him comfortable. I've got little Job
on hand"
Gale slept twenty hours. Then he
arose, thirsty. hungry, lame, over
worn, and presently went in search
of Bedding and the business Of the
day.
"Your Yaqui was near dead, but
guess wen pull him through" said
Bedding.
Gale told of his experience at Papa
go well.
"That raider who tried to grind the
Yaqui under horses hoofs-he was
hyena |" concluded Gale, shuddering.
"I've seen some blood spilled and some
hard sights, but that inhuman devil took
my nerve. Why, as 1 told you, Beld-
ing, / missed shot at him-not
twenty pacesi"
"Dick, in cases like that the sooner
you clean up the bunch the better"
said Bedding, grimly. "As for hard
sights-wait till you've seen a Yaqui
do up Mexican. Bar none, that is
the limit Dick, If I'm not mistaken,
this fellow was chief. 1t was a
waste Of strength, needless risk for
you to save him, pack him back here.
But, d-n the whole Greaser outfit
generally, I'm glad you dbl"
Gale remembered then to speak Of
his concern for Ladd.
lady didn't go out to meet you,"
replied Bedding. II knew you were
due in any day, and, as there's been
trouble between here and Casita, l
sent him that way. Since you've been
out our friend Carter lost bunch of
horses and few steers Did you get
a good look at the horses those raid
ers had at Papago wellT
Dick had learned, since he had be-
come a ranger, to see everything with
keen, sure, Photographic eye; and, be-
ing put to the test so often required Of
him, he described the horses as a
dark-colored drove, mostly bays and
blacks, with one spotted sorrel.
"Some Of Carter's-sure as you're
born" exclaimed Bedding.
"Well, what shall l do nowT asked
Dick.
"Stay here and rest" bluntly replied
Bedding. "You need 1t. Let the wom-
en- fuss over you-doctor you little.
When Jim gets back from SOnoyta I'll
know more about what we ought to
do"
Gale had received several letters
from his sister Elsie, the last of
which he had not answered. There
had not been much opportunity for
writing on his infrequent returns to
ForIorn River; and, besides, Elsie had
written that her father had stormed
over what he considered Dicks falling
into wild and evil ways.
"Time flies" said Dick. George
Tnorne will be free before long, and
he'll be coming out. wonder If he'll
stay here or try to take Mercedes
away?"
"Well, he'll stay right here In For:
lorn River, if have any say" replied
Bedding. "rd like to know how he'd
ever get that Spanish girl out Of the
country now, with all the trails over
run by rebels and raiders It'd be
hard to disguise her. Say, Dick, may
be we can get Thorne to stay here.
You know, since you've discovered
the possibility Of big water supply,
I've had dreams of future for For
lorn River. If only this war
was overp
The discovery that Bedding alluded
to was one that might very well lead
to the making of a wonderful and
agricultural district Of Altar valley.
While in college Dick Gale had studied
engineering, but he had not set the
scientific world afire with his bril-
lance. Nevertheless, his smattering
Of engineering skill bore fruit in the
last place on earth where anything
might have been expected Of tin
the desert. Gale had always won
dered about the source Of Forlorn
River. He had discovered long, mar
row, rock-bottomed and rock-walled
gulch that could be damned at the
lower end by the dynamiting Of lean
ing cliffs above. An inexhaustible
supply Of water could be stored there.
Furthermore, he had worked out an
Irrigation plan to bring the water
down for mining uses, and to make a
paradise out of that part Of Altar
valley which lay in the United States.
Bedding claimed there was gold in the
arroyos, gold in the guiches, not in
quantities to make a prospector re-
joIce, but enough to work for. And
the soil on the higher levels Of Altar
valley needed only water to make It
grow anything the year round. Gale,
too. had come to have dreams Of a
future for Forlorn River.
on the afternoon Of the following
day Ladd unexpectedly appeared lead
ing q lame and lathered horse into the
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