Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-19

y,
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 a 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 now?" asked
Bedding.
"rm 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 NelPs
tantrums. While taking off Jose's
saddle and hanging it in the shed
Bedding pondered II his slow way.
When he came back to the corral Nell
had her face against the bars, and
she was crying. He slipped a big arm
around her and waited.
dad, I don't want you to think me
IA baby any MORE" she said. eve
been insulted."
With a specific fact to make clear
thought in Belongs mind he was
never slow.
Il knew something unusual had
come off. I guess you'd better tell
me-"
Dad I will, f you promise"
"What?"
mot 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
eff you don't promise I'll never tell,
that's ALL" she declared, firmly.
Bedding deliberated a little longer.
He knew the girl.
"Well, | promise not to tell moth
err" he said, presently; "and seeing
you're here safe End well, 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, 81 was coming home, and in
front of that mescal drinking place
there was a crowd. 1t was 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 if they weren't drunk they
certainly
them before, but 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 a big fellow, red-faced, with prom
inent eyes and a bold look. He came
up beside me and spoke to me. / ran
home. And as I ran / heard his COM
panions jeering.
"Wen today, just now, when l 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
out his plan for irrigation, was GER
tainly surprised to see these strangers
surveying-and surveying upon Lad
dy's plot of land 1t was sandy
road there, and Jose happened to be
walking. SO I reined in and asked
these engineers what they were do
ing. The leader, who was that same
bold fellow who had followed me-.
seemed much pleased at being adj
dressed. He said he was glad to tell
me he was going to run water all over
Altar valley. Dad, you can bet that
made me Wild That was. Dicks plan,
his discovery, and here were surveyors
on Laddy's claim.
"Then 1 told him that he was work
ing on private land and he'd better
get off. He said something about not
seeing any squatters on the land, and
then he shut up tight on that score.
But he began to be f1irty again. He
got hold of Jose's bride, and before
could catch my breath he said |
was a peach, that he wanted to make
q date with me, that his name was
Chase, that he owned gold mine in
Mexico. He said lot more I didn't
gather, but when he called me
Dearie' I-well / lost my temper.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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