The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-04-03
DESERT GOLD


had been transmitted to the daugh-
ter. Dick believed Mrs. Belongs
friendship and motherly love were
worth much striving to win, entirely
aside from any more selfish motive.
He decided both would be hard to
ret.
Toward evening Gale heard the
tramp Of horses and Belongs hearty
voice. Presently the rancher strode
In upon Gale, shaking the gray dust
from his broad shoulders and waving
a letter.
"Heilo, Dicki Good news and
bad" he said, putting the letter in
Dicks hand. Had no trouble finding
your friend Thorne. Looked like he'd
been drunk for week! Say, he
nearly threw a fit. never saw fel-
low so wild with Joy. He made sure
you and Mercedes were lost In the
desert. He wrote two letters, which
l brought. Casita Is one HI of q
place these days. I tried to get your
baggage, and think I made mistage
We're going to see travel toward
Forlorn River. The federal garrison
got re-enforcements from somewhere,
and Is holding out"
"Do you think we'll have trouble
herew asked Dick. excitedly.
"Sure. Some kind of trouble
sooner or later" replied Belding
gloomily. anyway, my boy. as soon
as you can hold a bride and a gun
you'll be ON the Job, don't mistake
| me-"
with Laddy and JimT asked
Dick, trying to be cool.
"Sure. With them and me, and by
yourself"
Dick drew a deep breath, and even
after Belding had departed he forgot
for moment about the letter In his
hand. Then he unfolded the paper
and read:
Dear Dfck-You've more than saved
my life. To the end of my days you'll
| be the one man to whom / owe every
thing. Words fail to express my feelings
This must be a brief note. Belding Is
waiting, and / used up most of the time
writing to Mercedes.
I'm leaving Mercedes In your charge
| subject, of course to advice from Belding
| Take care of her, Dick, for my life is
| wrapped up In her. BY all means keep
| her from being seen by Mexicans We
| are sitting tight here-nothing doing.
''If things quiet down before my COM
| mission expires. I'll get leave of absence,
run out to Forlorp River. marry my
| beautiful Spanish princess. and take her
| to civilized country, where, opine.
every son of a gun who sees her will lose
| his head, and drive me mad. Dick, harken
| to these glad words: Rojas is In the hos
pital. / was Interested to inquire. He
had a smashed finger. q dislocated collar
bone. three broken ribs. and a fearful
| cash on his face. He'll be In the hospital
| for a month. Dick, when meet that pig
headed dad of yours I'm going to give
] him the surprise OF his life.
"Send me line whenever any one
comes in from F. r, and inclose Mer-
| cedes' letter in yours. Take care of her,
| Dick, and may the future hold 10 store
for you some of the sweetness know
nowl Faithfully yours,
| While Dick was eating his supper,
with appetite rapidly returning to nor
NAL, Ladd and Jim came In. Their
friendly advances were singularly
welcome to Gale, but he was still
| backward. He allowed himself to
show that he was glad te see them,
] and he listened. 1t took no keen Judge
( Of human nature to see that horses
constituted Ladd's ruling passion.
| "Shore i.'s cinch Beldin' Is agoin'
| to lose some Of them animals of HIS"
he said. you can search me II I don't
think there'll be more doin' on the bor-
der here than along the Rio Grande" ("
"Look-a-here, daddy; you caln't be-
lieve all you hear" replied Jim, seri.
ously. II reckon we mightn't have
any trouble"
Back up, Jim. Shore you're stand.
In on your bride. There's more doin'
than the raidin' of few hosses. An
Forlorn River Is goin' to get hersl"
| Another dawn found Gale so much
recovered that he arose and looked
after himself; not, however, without
considerable difficulty and rather dis
heartening twinges of pain.
Some time during the morning he
heard the girls in the patio and called
to ask II he might Join them. He re-
ceived one response, q mellow, ISL,
senor." It was not as much as he
wanted, but considering that It was
enough, he went out. In the shade Of
beautiful tree, he found the girls,
Mercedes sitting In hammock. Nell
upon a blanket.
"What a beautiful treeW he ex-
claimed. II never saw one like that.
What Is itr'
"Palo verde" replied Nell.
"Senor, palo verde means green
tree" added Mercedes.
Little by little Dick learned details
Of Nells varied life. She had lived
In many places. As child she re-
membered Lawrence, Kansas, where
she studied for several years. Then
she moved to Saltwater, Oklahoma
from there to Austin, Texas, and on to
Waco, where her mother met and mar
ried Belding. They lived In New
Mexico awhile, in Tucson, Arizona, In
Douglas. and finally had come to lone
ly ForIorn River.