Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-08-03


Jim Lash threw away his crutch. and
Thorne was well. If still somewhat
weak, before Ladd could lift his arr
or turn his head. His whispers grew
stronger. And the day arrived wher
Gale, who was perhaps the least op
timistic, threw doubt to the wind;
and knew the ranger would get wen.
Boys, come round" said Ladd, in
his low voice. "An' you, Mercedes
An call the Yaqul."
Ladd lay In the shade Of the brush
shelter that had been erected. There
seemed little of htn but long, lean
lines, and If 1t had not been for his
keen, thoughtful, kindly eyes, his face
would have resembled a death mask
Of man starved.
"Shore ] want TO know what day
is it an what month";" asked Ladd.
Nobody could answer him. The
question seemed a surprise to Gale,
and evidently was so to the others.
"Look at that cactus" went on
Ladd.
81 reckon according to that giast
cactus it's somewheres along the end
of March," said Jim Lash soberly.
"Shore it's April. Leok where the
sun is. An can't you feel it's gettin'
hot?'
"supposin' it is AprnY querIed
Lash, slowly.
"Well, what I'm drlvin' at is it's
about time you all was hittin' the trail
back to Forlorn River, before the
waterholes dry out"
daddy, / reckon wen start soon
as you're able to be put on a boss"
ashore thatll be too late"
A silence ensUed, In which those
who heard Ladd gazed fixedly at him
and then at one another. Lash I'M
easily shifted the position of his lame
leg, and Gale saw him moisten his lips
with his tongue.
"Charlle Ladd I amt reckonin' You
mean we're to ride off an leave you
here?"
"What else is there to do? The
hot weather's close. Pretty soon most
of the waterholes win be dry. You
can't travel then. I'm on my
back here, an God only knows when
Ieould be packed out Not for weeks.
mebbe. I'll never he any good again,
even if I was to get out alive.
You zee, shore this sort of case comes
round sometimes in the desert. It's
common enough. I've heard of sew
eral cases where men had to 90 an
leave a Teller behind. It's reasonable.
II you're fightin' the desert you can't
afford to be sentimental. Now.
as ! said Pm all in. So what's the
sense of you waitin' here, when it
means the old desert story7 BY goln'
now mebbe you'll get home. Shore
now, boys, you'll see this the right
way? Jim, old pard?"
mo, lady, an can't figger how
you could ever ask me-
ashore then leave me here with va
qui an couple of the bosses. We
can eat sheep meat. An If the water
holds out"
mo" interrupted Lash, violently.
A-''uu yves SOuShI 0dlS AdC6.
"Son, you amt bull-headed like Jim.
You'll see the sense of 1t. There's !
Nell a-waitin' back at Forlorn River
Think what 1t means to herl You'll I
go, son, won't your"
Dick shook his head.
The ranger turned his gaze upon [
and now the keen, gllstening
eyes had blurred.
'Thorne, it's different with you.
Jim's fool, an young Gale has been
punctured by choya thorns He's got
the desert poison in his blood. But
you now-you've no call to stick-you
can find that trail out. Take your
wife an go. Shore you'll go,
Deliberately. and without a mo-
ments hesitation the cavalryman re.
piled mo"
Ladd then directed his appeal to
Mercedes. His face was now con-
vulsed, and his voice, though 1t had
sunk to a whisper, was clear, and
beautiful with some rich quality that
Gale had never before heard In 1t.
Mercedes, you're a woman. You're
he woman we fought for. An some
If us are shore goin' to die for you
Don't make 1t all for nothln' Let us