Shoshone journal., 1923-04-06
DESERT
GOLD
bv Zane Grey
4ufhor Of
Riders of tho Purple
Sade, Wildfires Etc.
Copyright by Harper q srothera
CHAPTER xvii-Continued.

.andv soIl had yielded readily TO
shove,. there were no rocks; as far
"a construction of ditch was con-
-orned such blast would have done
more harm than good.
slowly, with reluctant feet, Belding
walked toward a green hollow, where
,n cluster of willows lay the never
Ealing spring that his horses loved so
veil and, indeed. which he loved no
less.
He was Just in time to see the last
of the water. 1t seemed to sink as In
culeksand. The shape Of the hole had
changed. The tremendous force Of
the blast had obstructed or diverted
the underground stream Of water.
Belongs never-failing spring had
been ruined. What had made this lit
tie plot of ground green and sweet
and fragrant was now no more. Beld-
ins's first feeling was for the pity OF
II. 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 a cold certainty. The
blast had been set off Intentionally TO
ruin his spring. What hellish trick
No westerner. no Indian or Mexican,
no desert man could have been guilty
OF such a crime. To ruin beautiful,
clear cool, never-failing stream OF
water in the desert
Ii was then that Belongs worry
end 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 and
tried the action. He squared himself
and walked little more erect. Some
long-lost individuality had returned TO
Belding.
Lets see," he was saying. 81 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 Belding, 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 1t had been laden with sus-
pense which was gradually changing
TO 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.
Bedding, what was that terrible
roar" asked Mr.. Gale. 'We were
badly frightened until Miss Nell came
to us. We feared 1t was an earth
quake"
well. III tell you. Mr.. Gale; we've
had some quakes here, but none Of
them could hold candle to this jar
we just had"
Then Belding explained what had
caused the explosion, and why 1t had
been set off so close to his property.
Heavy steps sounded outside on the
nagstones, then the door ratified un-
der strong knock. Belding opened
II. The Chases, father and son, stood
beyond the threshold.
Good morning. Belding," said the
elder Chase. 1--WE were routed out
early by that big blast and came up
10 see what was wrong. All blunder.
Inc Greaser foreman was drunk yes
terday, and his ignorant men made a
mistake. Sorry II the blast bothered
you. I was q little worried-you've |
always been so touchy-we never |
could get together. l hurried over,
rearing maybe you might think the
oiast-you see, Beldlng-"
i see this. Mr.. Ben Chase" inter-
rupted Beldlng. In curt and ringing
voice. "rhe blast was a mistake. the
Digest you ever made In your life"
what do you meanT" demanded
Chase.
fouh have 10 excuse me for
'"hile, unless you're dead set on hay'
'ns y onf right now. Mr. Gale and his |
'a'nlly are leaving, and my daughter
= going with them, I'd rather you'd
sait llftle."
Nell going away" exclaimed Rad
'o'a Chase. He reminded Relding Of
'n ofersroWn boy "a disappointment
fes. Bur Miss Burton 10 you,
'opnR man
pif helding ! certainly would pre-
'ft eoniegenoe Rith you right now
'nifi posed ihe elder CHASE, euiilpg
'p''i holdings sllange spesoh "ihefe
''' p'Aef mafiers Important matiers
. a's'usP They've gol ~ bs seilled
~ Nf siep ~ sl1'
~ }ou Wn} rQiN Fpplied lInlalnF
''Wl'i} lW sure particular Nhp 2
N,llf iNip ~ house hpi l'll ~ Rlip
f''V'na Hfppna pul Nni clNaNa ilN
|N.I "IIIY.' ..Iu. |.... III II.II.. AID