The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-03-23
by
ZANE GREY


and swift flying by" replied Dick.
"That was Nell Burton, my girl
Stepdadghter, should say" said Bel
ding "She's sure some whirlwind, as
Laddy calls her. Come, let's go in
and meet the wife,"
In Mrs. Belding, Gale found wom-
an Of noble proportions and striking
appearance. Her hair was white. She
had strong, serious. well-lined face
that bore haunting evidences Of past
beauty. The gaze she gent upon him
was almost piercing In Its intensity.
Her greeting, which seemed to Dick
rather slow In coming was kind
though not cordial Gales first
thought, after he had thanked these
good people for their hospitality, was
to inquire about Mercedes. Mrs. Bel
ding said the girl had suffered no
great hardship, other than mental, and
would very soon be rested and well.
"Now, Gale" said Belding, when his
wife had excused herself to get sup
per, "the boys, Jim and Laddy, told
me about you and the mix-up at Ca
sta. I'll be glad to take care Of the
girl till It's safe for your soldier
friend to get her out Of the country.
That. won't be very soon, don't mis-
take me. +. don't want to seem
over-curious about you-Laddy has
interested me In you-and straight
out I'd like TO know what you propose
to do now"
II haven't any plans" replied Dick !;
and, taking the moment as propitious
he decided to speak frankly concern
ing himself. II just drifted down
here. My home is In Chicago. When
left school some years ago-rm
twenty-five now-I went to work for
my father. He's-he has business in
terests there. ! tried all kinds Of in
side jobs. I couldn't please my IA
ther To tell you frankly, Mr.. Bel
ding, ! suppose / didn't much care"
"What do you want to do?"
II want mans job. / want to do
things with my hands. l want action.
I want to be outdoors"
Bedding nodded his head as II he
understood that, and he began to
speak again, cut something short, then
went on, hesitatingly:
"Gale-you could 60 home again
| to the old man-it'd be all rightT
"Mr. Bedding. there's nothing shady
In my past. The governor would be
glad to have me home. That's the
only consolation I've got. But I'm
not going. I'm broke. I won't be a
tramp. And It's up to me to do
| something"
| How'd you like to be border
rangerY' asked Beldlng, laying hand
| on Dicks knee. Part Of my job
here Is United States inspector Of i'm
migration. I've got that boundary
line to patriotic keep out Chinks
and Japs You'll not be hired by the
U. s. You'll simply be my ranger
same as Laddy and Jim, who have
| promised to work for me. I'll pay
you well, give you q room here, fur
nlsh everything down to guns, and the
finest horse you ever saw In your life
Your job won't be safe and healthy
sometimes, but It'll be mans job
don't mistake mel You can gamble
on having things to do outdoors. Now
what do you sayf"
II accept, and I thank you-I can't
say how much." replied Gale, ear
| nestly.
"Goodi That's settled. Let's &C
out and tell Laddy and JIM"
Both boys expressed satisfaction
at the turn of affairs, and then with
Belding they set out to take Gale
around the ranch. The wide grounds
we're covered with luxuriant grass
and flowers and different kinds OF
trees.
Belding explained that the luxuri
ance of this desert place was owing
to a few springs and the dammed-uI
waters Of the Rio Forlorn.
"Pve got one never-failing sprinl
on my place." said Belding. Fine
sweet wateri You know what thai
means In the desert like this oasis
The longer I live here the better
like It. It's beautiful and healthy
Forlorn and lonely, yes, especially fol
women like my wife and Nell; bu
like II. And between yot
and me, boys. I've got something NJ
my sleeve. There's gold dust in thu
arroyos, and there's mineral up In thu
mountains. II we only had water
There are possibilities, and wan
you boys to stay with me and get II
on the ground floor. I wish this rebe
war was over. Well. here arr
the corrals and the fields Gale. tak'
look at that bunch Of horsesl !"
Belongs last remark was made Al
he led his companions out Of shad!
gardens into the open. Gale saw al
adobe shed and huge pen formed
! b, strangely twisted and contortet
branches or trunks of mesquite, and
beyond these, wide. fat fields, green
dark, rich greenland dotted witt
beautiful horses. There were white
and blacks, and bays and grays. II
his admiration Gale searched hi
memory to see II he could remembe
the like Of these magnificent animals
and had to admit that the only one
he could compare with them were tn
Arabian steeds.
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