, 1923-01-03

tne nrSt Dig aSuarO
"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. . Do what you a to make
him comfortable. I've got a little job
On hand"
arose, thirsty, hungry, lame, over
worn, and presently wen in search
OF Bedding and the business of the
day.
"Your Yaqui was near dead, but
guess we'll pull him through" said
Bedding.
Gale told of his experience at Papa
go well.
THAT raider who tried to grind the
Yaqui under a horses hoofs-he was
a hyena !" concluded Gale, %shuddering.
"I've seen some blood spilled md some
hard sights, but that inhuman devil took
my nerve. Why. as 1 told you. Beld-
ing. l missed a shot at him-not
twenty paces!"
"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 a Mexican. Bar none, that is
the limit Dick, II I'm not mistaken,
this fellow was a chief. 1t was a
waste of strength. a needless risk for
you to save him, pack him back here.
But. d-n the whole Greaser outfit
generally, Pm glad you did |"
Gale remembered then to speak of
his concern for Ladd.
daddy 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 n bunch of
horses and a few steers. Did you get
n good look at the horses those raid
ers had at Papago well?"
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 n spotted sorrel.
"Some Of Carter's-sure as you're
bornl |" exclaimed Bedding.
well. what shall l do now?" asked
Dick.
Stay here and rest" bluntIy replied
Bedding. You need It.. Let the wom-
en- russ over ~you-doctor you a little.
When Jim gets back from Sonoyta I'll
know 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
Forlorn River; and. besides. Elsie had
written that her father had stormed
over what he considered Dicks falling
into wild and evil ways.
Thine flies" said Dick. George
Thorne will be free before long, and
he'll be coming out. / wonder II he'll
stay here or try to take Mercedes
away?"
swell. he'll stay right here In For
lorn River. II I have any say" replied
Belding. "T'd like to know how he'd
ever get that Spanish girl out of the
country now. with all tile trails over |
run BY rebels and raiders. It'd be
hard to disguise her. Say, Dick, may |
be we a get Thorne to stay here. |
You know. since you've discovered |
the possibility Of a big water supply. |
I've had dreams Of a future for For |
Torn River. /. II only this war
was over |"
The discovery that Bedding alluded
to was one that might very well lead
to the making OF a wonderful and |
district Of Altar WILEY. |
While In college Dick Gale had studied
but he had not. set the |
scientific world afre with his brill
lance. Nevertheless. his smatterinr
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 a long. mar.
rock-bottomed and rock.walIcd
gulch that could be damned nj tbe
lower end by the dynnmiting Of lem.
Ing cliffs above. An inexhnurt,hl.
supply Of water could be stored there
Furthermore. he had worked out an
Irrigation plan to bring the water
for mining uses. and to make n
paradise out Of that part Of Altar
valley which lay In the United States.
Beldins claimed there was gold In the
arroyos. gold In the gulches, not in
Quantities to make a prospector re-
joice. but enough to work for. Ana
the soil on the higher levels Of AItor
valley needed only water to make n
grow anything the yenr round. Gale.
too. a come to have dreams OF n
for Forlorn River.
On the afternoon Of the following
day Laid unexpectedly appeared lend
|nG \ lame md Iafhorad ho..- /