, 1923-03-14

GOLD
by Zane Grey
4ufhor of
Riders of the Purple
SAGE. Wildfire. Etc.
Copyright by Harper & Brothers.
CHAPTER xvII-continued.

discharge of dynamite. But why had
this blast been set off? The loose
sandy soil had yielded readily to
shovel there were no rocks; as far
as construction otsa ditch was con
cerned such a blast would have done
more harm than good.
Slowly, with reluctant feet, Bedding
walked toward a green hollow, where
In a cluster of willows lay the never
falling spring that his horses loved so
well. and. indeed, which he loved no
less.
He was just in time to see the last
of the water. 1t seemed to sink as in
qulcksand. The shape of the hole had
changed. The tremendous force of
the blast had INSTRUCTED or diverted
the underground stream OF water.
Belongs never-failing spring had
been ruined. What had made this lit
tie plot of ground green and sweet
and fragrant was now no more. Beld-
ing's first feeling was for the pity of
It. He thought how many times in the
middle of hot summer nights he had
come down to the spring to drink.
Never again!
The pail Of dust drifting over him.
the din Of the falling water up at the
dam, diverted Belongs mind to the
Chases. All at once he was In the
harsh grip Of a cole certainty. The
blast had beer set Off Intentionally to
ruin his spring. What a hellish trick
No westerner. no Indian or Mexican,
no desert man could have been guilty
of such a crime. To ruin a beautiful,
clear. cool, never-failing stream of
wateR In the desert!
IL was then that Belongs worry
and hdeclsIon and %brooding were as
If tiay had never existed. He went
diret My to his room, and with an air
that vas now final he buckled on his
gun oclt He looked the u over and
tried the action. He squared himself
and walked a little more erect. Some
long-lost individuality had returned to
Bedding.
Lets see," he was saying. ~ can
get Carter to send the horses I've got
left back to Waco to my brother. I'll
make Nell take what money there is
ard go hunt up her mother. The
Gales are ready to go-today, II I say
tie word. Nell can travel with them
fart way East. That's your game.
2om Bedding. don't mistake me-"
AS he went out he encountered Mr..
Gale coming up the walk. The long
s~ojourn Mt Forlorn River. despite the
fact that 1t had Deer laden with n sus-
pense which was gradually changing
to a sad certainty. had been Of great
Seneft TO Dicks father. The dry air.
the heat, and the quiet had made him,
" not entirely. a well man, certainly
stronger than he had been in many
years.
"Belding. what was that terrible
roar?" asked Mr.. Gale. ave were
badly frightened until Miss Nell came
to us. We feared II was an earth
quake"
swell, I'll tell you Mr.. Gale; we've
had some quakes here, but none of
them could hold a candle to this jar
we just had"
Then Bedding explained what had
caused the explosion, and why 1t had
been set of so close to his property.
Heavy steps sounded outside on the
hagstones. then the door ratified I'M
der a strong knock. Bedding opened
II. The Chnses, father and son, stood
beyond he threshold.
"Good morning. Bedding" said the
elder Chase. ave were routed out
early by hat big blast and came up
to see what was wrong. All a blunder.
The Greaser foreman was drunk yes
terday. and his ignorant men made a
mistake. Sorry II the blast bothered
you. I was q little worried-you've
always been so touchy-we never
could get together. ! hurried over,
fearing maybe you might think the
blast-you see. Bedding"
81 see this, Mr.. Ben Chase" inter
rupted Bedding, in curt and ringing
voice. 'The blast was a mistake, the
biggest you ever made In your life"
"What do you mean?" demanded
Chase.
you'll have to excuse me for n
while. unless you're dead set on hay-
ing It out right now. Mr.. Gale and his
family ARE leaving. and my daughter
is going with them. I'd rather you'd
walt a little"
Nell going away" exclaimed Rad
ford Chase. lie reminded Bedding OF
an overgrown boy In disappointment.
Eyes. But-Mlss Burton TO you.
young man"
"Mr. Bedding, I certainly would pre-
fer n conference with you right now
interposed the elder Chase. cutting
short Belongs strange speech. There
are other matters important matters
10 discuss. They've got TO be settled.
May we step In, slr?"
"No. you may not" replied Bedding.
bluntiy. "rm sur particular who /
Invite into my house. But I'll go with
you"
Bedding stepped out and closed the
door. Come AWAY from the houre SO
the women Won't hear the-the talk"
Tha eldar Chase uas nurpla with