Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-05-05

81 woke up then. an made for fhe
center OF the room, Jim with me.
began to shoot out the lamps. Jim
throwed his guns on the crazy rebels.
an ! was afraid there'd be blood
spilled before could get the room
dark. Beln' shore busy, lost sight
of the young fellow for a second or
so, an when / got an eye free for him
/ seen a Greaser about to knife hilh.
Think l was considerable of the
Greaser by only shootin' his arm Off
Then | cracked the last lamp. an In
the hullabalOo me an jim vam0osed.
1--WE made tracks for our bosses an
packs, an was hittin the San Felipe
road when we run right plumb into
the young man. Well, ne said his
name was Gale-Dick Gale. The girl
was with him safe an well; but her
sweetheart, the soldier, bein' away
without leave, had TO go back sudden.
There shore was some trouble, for
Jim an me heard shootin' Gale
said he had no moneA no friends, was
a stranger In a desert country; an
he was distracted TO know how to
help the girl. So me an Jim started
of with them for San Felipe, got
switched, an then we headed for the
Rio Forlorn."
''Oh, think he was perfectly splen-
did I" exclaimed the girl. But, Laddy,
you haven't told me what he looks
like"
At this juncture Dick Gale felt 1t
absolutely impossible to play the
eavesdropper any longer Quietly he
rolled out of bed. Belongs kindly
interest, Laddys blunt and sincere
cowboy eulogy, the girls sweet eager
ness and praise-these warmed Gales
heart. He had fallen among simple
people, into whose lives the advent
of an unknown man was welcome
He was wild to be one of Belongs
rangers. The idea Of riding horse
in the open desert, with a dangerous
duty to perform, seemed to strike him
with an appealing force. Something
within him went out to the cowboys,
to this blunt and kind Bedding. He
was afraid to meet the girl. If every
man who came along fell in love with
this sweet-voiced Nell. then what
hope had he to escape-now, when his
whole inner awakening betokened a
change of spirit hope finding of
real worth, real good, real power in
himself?
Gale imagined he made noise
enough as he clumslly pulled on his
boots; yet the voices, split by merry
laugh, kept on murmuring outside the
door. 1t was awkward for him, hav-
ing only one hand available to lace |
up his boots. He looked out of the |
window. He heard bees, birds. chick |
ems saw the red of roses and green |
of grass. Then he saw, close to the
wall, a tub full Of water, and a bench
upon which lay basin, soap, towel |
comb and brush. The window was
also a door, for under 1t there was
step.
Gale hesitated moment, then
went out He stepped naturally, hop
Ing and expecting that the cowboys !
would hear him. But nobody came.
with left hand, he washed
his face. Upon nail in the wall
hung a little mirror, by the aid Of
which Dick combed and brushed his
hair. He imagined he looked a most
laggard wretch. With that he faced
forward, meaning TO go round the cor
ler of the house to greet the cowboys
and these new-found friends.
Dick had taken but one step when
he was halted by laughter and the
batter of light feet. He saw a little
loot sweep into view, white dress,
hen the swiftly moving form Of a
,irl She was looking backward.
dad. / shall fall in love with your
lew ranger. / will have"
Then she pumped Squarely into
Dicks arms.
Dick saw a fair face and dark
,lue, audaciously flashing eyes. Swift
is lightning their expression changed
o surprise, fear, wonder. For an In