Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-02-16

of the Water.
He was just in time to see the last
of the water. 1t seemed to sink as in
quicksand. The shape of the hole had
changed. The tremendous force of
the blast had INSTRUCTED or diverted
the underground stream of water.
Belongs nev~er-failing spring had
been ruined. What had made this lit
tie plot of ground green and sweet
and fragrant was now no more. Beld-
ing's first feeling vas for the pity Of
it. He thought how many times in the
middle Of hot summer nights he had
come down to the spring to drink.
Never again!
The pail Of dust drifting over him,
the din of the falling water up at the
dam, diverted Belongs mind to the
Chases. All at once he was in the
harsh grip of q cold certainty. The
blast had been set off Intentionally to
ruin his spring. What a hellish trick!
No westerner, no Indian or Mexican,
no desert man could have been guilty
Of such a crime. To ruin a beautiful,
NlCdl, ESOOl1 "
water in the desertl
1t was then hat Belongs worry
and indecision and brooding were as
If they had never existed. He went
directly to his room, and with an air
that was now final he buckled on his
gun belt. He looked the gun over n
tried the action. He squared himself
and walked a little more erect. Some
long-lost individuality had returned to
Bedding.
Lets see," he was saying. II can
get Carter to send the horses I've got
left back to Waco to my brother. I'll
make Nell take what money there is
and go hunt up her mother. The
Gales are ready to go-today, if l say
the word. Nell can travel with them
part way East. That's your game,
Tom Bedding, don't mistake me-"
AS he went out he encountered Mr..
Gale coming up the walk. The long
~sojourn at Forlorn River, despite the
fact that it had been laden with a sus
pense which was gradually changing
to a sad certainty, had been of great
benefit to Dicks father. The dry air,
the heat, and the quiet had made him,
If not entirely a well man, certainly
stronger than he had been In many
years.
"Belding, what was that terrible
roar?" asked Mr.. Gale. "We were
badly frightened until Miss Nell came-
to us. We feared it was an earth
quake"
"Well I'll tell you, MI. Gale; we've
had some quakes here, but zone of
them could hold a candle to this jar
we just had"
Then Bedding explained what had
caused the explosion, and why it had
been set off so close to his property.
Heavy steps sounded outside on the
fiagstones, then the door ratified I'M
der a strong knock. Bedding opened
1t. The Chases, father and son stood
beyond the threshold.
"Good morning, Belding," said the
elder Chase. "We were routed out
early by that big blast and came up
to see what was wrong. All a blunder-
The Greaser foreman was drunk yes
terday, and his ignorant men made a
mistake. Sorry If the blast bothered
you. I was a little worried-you've
always been so touchy-we never
could get together. 1 hurried over,
fearing maybe you might think the
blast-you see, Bekiing-"
81 see this, Mr.. Ben Chase" inter-
rupted Bedding, in curt and ringing
voice. 1.-THE blast was a mistake, the
biggest you eve made in your life"
"What do you mean?" demanded
Chase.
you'll have to excuse me for a
while, unless you're dead set on hav-
ing it outright now. Mr.. Gale and his
family are leaving, and my daughter
is going with them. I'd rather you'd
wait a little"
Nell going away" exclaimed Rad
ford Chase. He reminded Bedding of
an overgrown boy in disappointment.
Eyes. But-Miss Burton to you,
young man"
"Mr. Bedding, 1 certainly would pre-
fer a conference with you right now"
%interposed the elder Chase, cutting
short Belongs strange speech. "There
are other matters-important matters
to discuss. They've got to be settled
May we step in, STRIP
mo, you may not" replied Bedding,
bluntly. I'm sure particular who /
invite into my house. But I'll go with
you"
Bedding stepped put and closed the
door. Come away from the house so
the women won't hear the-the talk"
The elder Chase was purple with
rage. vet seemed to be controlling it.
/Cont;r,ad oc Dooo couanN