The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-05-25
CHAPTER XIV

Time passed. The Population Of
Forlorn River grew apace. Bedding,
who had once been the head Of the
community, found himself person Of
little consequence. Even had he de-
Ssired-it she would not have had any
voice In the selection of postmaster,
sheriff, and few other officials. The
Chases divided their ylaboTs between
Forlorn River and their Mexican gold
mine, which had been restored to
them. The desert trips between these
two places were taken In automobiles.
A months time made, the motor cars
almost as familiar a sight In Forlorn
River as they had been in Casita be-
fore the revolution t+if t. I*
Belongs wrath at the usurping
Chases Increased as he slowly realized
his powerlessness to cope with such
men. They were promoters. men of
big interests and wide. influence In
the Southwest. The more they did for
Forlorn. River the less reason there
seemed to be for his own grievance.
He had to admit that 1t was PERSONAL; :;
that he and Gale and the rangers
would never have been able TO develop
the resources Of the valley as these
men were doing It.
April arrived, with no news Of the
rangers. From Casita came vague re
ports OF raiders In the Spnoyta coun-
try-reports impossible to verify until
. his Mexican rangers returned. When
these men rode In, one Of them, Con
zales an intelligent and reliable half
breed, said he had met prospectors at
the oasis. They had Just come In on
the Canine del Diablo. reported a ter
rible trip of heat and drought, and
not trace Of the Yaquis party.
Z sThat settles IT," declared Belding.
sYaqui never went to ,Sonoyta. He's
icircled round to the DEVILS road, and
the rangers, Mercedes, rTherne the
horses-they-I'm afraid they, have
been lost in the desert. ITS IN old
story on Canine del Diablo"
He had to tell Nell that, and II was
an ordeal which left him, weak.
4 Mrs. Belding listened to him, and
was silent for long time while she
held the stricken Nell to her breast.
Then she opposed his convictions with
that quiet strength SO Characteristic
of her arguments M Y.
/ 'Bpt mother. they're gone seven
weeks. Seven weeksi At the most I.
gave them six weeks. Seven weeks In
the. desertl", -; - e,..y- nj
STOW do the Yaquis liver she asked.
Belding could not reply to that, but
hope revived in him. He had faith
in his wife, though he could not in
the least understand what ne imag-
ined was something mystic In her.
"Years ago when I was searching
for my father 1 learned many things
about. this country said. .MrS. Beld-
ing. "You can never tell how long
man may live In 'the desert. The
fiercest, most terrible and Inaccessible
places often have their hidden oasis.
In his later years my father became
a prospector. That was 'strnnge to
me, for he never cared for gold or
money. I learned that he was often
gone In the desert for weeks. once for
months Then the time came when
he never came back. q That was years
before ! reached the southwest border
and heard Of him. Even then did
not for long give up hope u. his com
ing back. 4 know now eoInethine
tells me--indeed. Il seems his spirit
tells me--he was lost But 4 don't
have that feeling for Ysouli md his
party. Yaqui has given Rojas the
slip or has ambushed him IN some
trap. Probably that took time and a
long Journey into Sonora. The Indian
ID too wise ia start back now over
dry trails, He'll Curb the rangers;
he'll wait. ! seem,to know this. dear
Nell, so he brave, patient. Dick Gale
WIN come back to you
n That talk with the sstrong mother
worked a@chsnre IN Neif snd-f Beld-
ing. Nell, who had done little but
brood and watch the west and take
violent rides seemed to settle into q
~sitine re.Ar~e thas ~as sd ~