Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-03-09

ing he expected to receive some word
from Sonoyta or Yuma, telling him
that Yaqul had guided his party safe
ly across the desert.
Among the many changes coming q
pass In Forlorn River were the Install
ing Of post Office service and the
| building of mescal clearinghouse.
Bedding had worked hard for the post
| office, but he did not like the Idea Of
saloon for Forlorn River. Still,
| that was an inevitable evil. The Meu
| leans would have mescal- A good
many Americans drifted into Forlorn
River-miners, cowboys, prospectors,
| outlaws, and others Of noDdescript
| character and these men, OF course,
made the saloon, which was also an
| inn, their headquarters. Bedding, with
| Carter and other old residents, saw
the need of a sheriff for Forlorn
River.
One morning early in this spring
month, while Bedding was on his way
| from the house to the corrals, he saw
Nell running Blanco Jose down the
road at gait that amazed him. She
did not take the turn of the road to
come In by the gate. She put Jose at
a four-foot wire fence, and came
Gathering into the yard.
1t did not take more than half an
eye for Bedding to see that she was
furious
Nell, what's come off now7' asked
Bedding.
I'm not going to tell you," she re-
piled, and started away, leading Jose
toward the corral
Bedding leisurely followed. She
went into the corral, removed Jose's
bride, and led him to the watering
trough. Bedding came up, and with
out saying anything began to unbuckle
Jose's saddle girths. But he ventured
a look at Nell. The red had gone from
her face, and he was surprised to see
her eyes trimming with tears. Most
assuredly this was not one of Nell's
tantrums. While taking Off Jose's
saddle and hanging 1t In the shed
Bedding pondered In his slow way.
When he came back to the corral Nell
had her face against the bars, and
she was crying. He slipped big arm
around her and waited.
dad, I don't want you to think me
IA baby any more" she said. I've
been insulted."
With a specific fact to make clear
thought In Belongs mind he was
never slow.
II knew something unusual had
come off. I guess you'd better tell
me-"
dad, viii, If you promise"
WHAT"
Not to mention It to mother, not
to pack a gun down there, and never,
never tell Dick"
Bedding was silent. Seldom did he
make promises readily
IF you don't promise I'll never tell,
that's ALL" she declared, firmly.
Bedding deliberated a little longer.
He knew the girl.
"Well. 1 promise not to tell moth
err" he said, presently; land seeing
you're here safe and well, 1 guess /
won't go packing a gun down there.
wherever that Is. But won't promise
to keep anything from Dick that per-
haps he ought to know"
Nell, regaining her composure, wiped
her eyes and smoothed back her hair.
THE other day, Wednesday," she
began, II was coming home, and In
front Of that mescal drinking place
there was a crowd. 1t was a noisy
crowd. l didn't want to walk out into
the street or seem afraid But / had
to do both. There were several young
men, and II they weren't drunk they
certainly were rude. l never saw
them before. but 1 think they must
belong to the mining company that
was run out Of Sonora by rebels Any
way, these young fellows were Amer.
leans. They stretched themselves
across the walk and smiled at me.
had to 60 out In the road. One of
them, the rudest, followed me. He
was big fellow. red-faced. with prom
inent eyes and bold look. He came
up beside me and spoke to me. l ran
home. And as I ran l heard his COM
panions jeering.
"Well, today. just now. when was
riding up the valley road came upon
the same fellows. They had instru-
ments and were surveying. Remem-
bering Dick. and how he always
wished for an instrument to help work
put his plan for irrigation, was GER
tainly surprised to see these strangers
surveying upon Lad
1y's plot Of land. II was a sandy |
road there. and Jose happened to be
So I refined in and asked |
.hese engineers what they were do
ng. The leader. who was that same
,old fellow who had followed me,
ieemed much pleased at being adj
dressed. He said he was glad to tell
ne he was going TO run water all over
Altar valley. Dad. you can bet that