The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-03-16
DE SERT COL d


Ing hand he had seen since football
days, and that It would Inconvenience
him for some time.
The door at the far end Of the room
was open. Through II he saw poles
of peeled wood upholdlng a porch
roof, bench. rose bushes In bloom,
grass, and beyond these brlght-green
foliage Of trees.
"He shore was sleepin' when
looked in an hour ago" said a voice
that Dick recognized as Ladd's.
Let him Sleep" came the reply In
deep, good-natured tones. "NIrs. b.
says the girls never moved. Must
have been a tough ride for them both.
Forty miles through cactus Laddy
I'm right down glad to see you boys,
and I'll do all can for the young
couple. But I'm doing some worrying
here; don't mistake me-"
"About your stock?'
"Tve got only few head of cattle
at the oasis now. Pm worrying some,
mostly about my horses The u. 8.
is doing some worrying too, don't
mistake me. The rebels have worked
west and north as far as Caslta. OF
course, my job is to keep tab on Chi
nese and Japs trying to get into the
U. s. from Magdalena bay. But Tn
supposed to patrol the border line
I,m going to hire some rangers Now,
Pm not so afraid Of being shot up
though out In this lonely place there's
danger OF II; what I'm afraid of most
Is losing that bunch OF horses. You
know what those guerrilla Mexicans
VIII do for horses. They're crazy on
horse flesh. They know fine horses
SO ! don't sleep nights any MORE"
Reckon me an Jim might as well
tie up with you for a spell, Beldin',
We've been rldin' up an down AriZona
tryin' to keep out Of sight of wire
fences"
daddy, It's open enough around
Forlorn River TO satisfy even an old
time cowpuncher like you" laughed
Bedding. 'I'd take your staying on as
some favor, don't mistake me. Per-
haps l can persuade the young man
Gale to take a job with me"
"That's shore likely He said he
had nd money, no friends An II a
scrapper's all you're loollin' for he'll
do" replied Ladd, with dry chuckle
Maybe | ought to think twice be
fore taking a stranger into my fam
y all \
guess he's all right, Laddy, being the
cavalryman's friend. No bum or
lunger? He must be all rlght"
Bum? I.unger? Say, didn't tell
you ! shook hands with this boy an
was PLUMB glad to meet him?" de.
manded Laddy, with considerable
heat. Manfestly he had been af.
fronted "Tom Beldin', he's gentle
man. an he could lick you in--in half
a second. How about that, Jim?"
LESS time" replied Lash "Tom
here's my stand Young Gale can
have my hoss, my gun, anythln' OF
mine"
"Aw, Didn't mean to INSULT you,
boys don't mistake me-" s1ld Belding
Course he's all right"
The object Of this conversation lay
quiet upon his bed thrilling and
amazed at being so championed by
the cowboys, delighted with Beldlng's
Idea of employing him, and much
amused with the quaint seriousness
of the three.
"How's the young manT called Z
woman's voice. 1t was kind and mel.
low and earnest.
Gale heard footsteps on flagstones
Hes asleep yet. wife," replied Bel
ding. "Guess he was pretty much
Knocked out. e.. I'll close the
door there so we won't wake him"
There. were slow, soft steps then
the door softly closed. But the fact
scarcely made perceptible differ.
ence In the sound of the voices out.
side.
daddy and Jim are going 10 stay"
went on Reldlng. "It1l be like the
old Panhandle days little. I'm pow
erful glad TO have the boys, Nellie
Well see some trouble before the rev.
olutlon is ended think I'll make
tbic vo,tnp man Gala on ofpar