The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-04-27


my problem. Fetch the padre, Dick.
Ard ask our kind friends to be wit
nesses at the ceremony"
Much to Gales surprise, neither
Belding nor Ladd objected to the idea
Of bringing padre into the house
hold, and thereby making known to at
least one Mexican the whereabouts Of
Mercedes Castaneda. Belongs eau
tion was wearing out In wrath at the
persistent unsettled condition Of the
border, and Ladd grew only the cooler
and more silent as possibilities Of
trouble multiplied.
Gale fetched the padre, a little,
weazened. timid man who was old and
without interest or penetration. Ap-
parently he married Mercedes and
Thorne as he told his beads or num-
bled prayer. 1t was Mrs. Bedding
who kept the occasion from being a
merry one, and she insisted on not
exciting Thorne. Gale marked her
unusual pallor and the singular depth
and sweetness Of her voice.
Thorne could not be kept In bed
and all in day, II seemed, he grew
so well and so hungry that his friends
were delighted. and Mercedes was
radiant. In few days his weakness
disappeared and he was going the
round of the fields and looking over
the ground marked out In Gales plan
of wafer development. Thorne was
highly enthusiastic, and at once staked
out his claim for one hundred and
Bedding and the rangers. These five
tracts took in all the ground necessary
for their operations, but In case Of
the success of the Irrigation project
the idea was to increase their squatter
holding by purchase Of more land
down the valley. A hundred families
had lately moved to Forlorn River {;
more were coming all the time; and
Belding vowed he could see vision
Of the whole Altar valley green with
farms.
Meanwhile everybody In Belongs
household, except the quiet Ladd and
the watchful Yaqui, in the absence Of
disturbance Of any kind along the bor-
| der, grew freer and more unrestralned,
as II anxiety was slowly fading In the
peace of the present. Jim Lash made
| a trip to the Sonoyta oasis, and Ladd
patrolled fifty miles of the line east
| ward without incident or sight Of raid
ers. Evidently all the border hawks
were in at the picking Of Casita.
The February nights were cold, with
a dry, Icy, penetrating coldness that
made a warm fire most comfortable.
Belongs household congregated In
the sitting room, where burning mes
quite logs cracked In the open fire
place.
| There came low knock at the door.
It may have been an ordinary knock,
| for II did not disturb the women; but
to Belding and his rangers II had a
| subtle meaning.
who's thatY asked Bedding, as he
slowly pushed back his chair and
looked at Ladd.
"Yaqui." replied the ranger.
"Come In" called Bedding.
The door opened, and the short
square, powerfully built Indian en-.
tered. He carried rifle and strobe
with impressive dignity.
"Yaqui, what do you want7" asked
Belding, and repeated his question ir
Spanish.
"Senor Dick" replied the Indian.
Gale jumped up, sitting an excla
| hA ,ryttt
Yaqui. The Indians presence was nj
ways one Of gloom, and now his sterr
action BODIED catastrophe. Once cleal
Of trees he pointed to the level deser
across the river, where row of camp
fires shone bright cut of the dark
ness.
"Raiders!" calculated Gale.
Then he cautioned Yaqui to keeI
sharp lookout, and, hurriedly return
ing to the house, he called the mer
out and told them there were rebels OF
raiders camping just across the line
Ladd did not say word. Belding
with an oath, slammed down hi
cigar.
"I knew II was too good to last.
Dick. you and Jam stay here while
Laddy and look around"
Dick returned to the sitting-room
The women were nervous and mo-
to be deceived. SO Dick merely sale
YaQui had sighted lights of in tn,
desert, and they probably wer,
campfres. Bedding did not soon re
turn, and when he did he was alone
and, saying he wanted to consult will
the men, he sent Mrs. Bedding and tn,
girls to their rooms.
"Laddy's gone over to scout arount
and try to find out who the outfit be
longs to and how many are in It," sale
Belding. IL don't look for an attacl
on Forlorn River. I'm afraid It's
Belding hesitated and looked witt
grim concern at the cavalryman.
"whatT querred Tborne.
'Tm afraid It's Rojas."
Thorne turned pale but did not los
his nerve.
'T thought of that at once. Blu
Rojas VIII never get his hands on m,
wife. II can't kill him., I'll kill her
II. Bedding, this is tough on you
this risk we put upon your family
I regret--"