, 1923-03-21

GOLD
by Zane Grey
Hufhor of
Riders of the Purple
.Sa4e. Wildfire. Etc.
Copyright by Harper & Brothers.
CHAPTER xVII-continued.

sandy soil had yielded readily to
shovel; there were no rocks; as far
as construction of a ditch was con-
more harm than good.
Slowly. with reluctant feet, Bedding
walked toward a green hollow, where
IN a cluster of willows lay the never
failing 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
q%uicksand. The shape of the hole had
changed. The rel endous force of
the blast had obstJucted or diverted
the underground stream of water.
Belongs n~ever-failing spring had
been ruined. What had made this lit
tie plot of ground green and sweet
and fragrant was now no more. Beld-
fng's first feeling was for the pity of
1t. 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,
shC Ill VI Nv iuillhS water up ut tnc
dam, diverted Belongs mind to the
Chases. All at once he was in the
harsh grip of q cold certainty. The
blast had been 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 desertl
II was then that Belongs worry
and hdecision and brooding were ms
If hay had never existed. He went
diretA to his room, int with an air
that vas now final he buckled on his
Il vst He looked the gun 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 wns saying. 81 can
get Carter to send the horses I've got
left hack 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 l say
tire word. Nell can travel with them
part way East. That's your game,
H'om Belding. 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 it had been laden with a sus-
pense which was gradually changing
to a sad certainty, had been of great
benefit to Dicks father. The dry air,
chm haaf and thn ,,,i,t hal .x..lo LII.
" not entirely a well man, certainly
stronger than he had been In many
years.
"Belding, what was that terrible
roarY' asked Mr.. Gale. "We were
badly frightened until Miss Nell came
to us. We feared 1t was an earth
quake"
well. 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
cnused the explosion. and why 1t had
been set Off so close to his property.
Heavy steps sounded outside on the
fagstones, then the door ratified I'M
der a strong knock. Bedding opened
II. The Chnses. father and son, stood
beyond the threshold.
Good morning. Bedding" said the
elder Chase. ave were routed out
early by that big blast and came up
to see what was wrong. All a blunder.
Tit Greaser foreman was drunk yes
terday, and his ignorant men made a
mistake. Sorry II the blast bothered
you. ] VAS a little worricd-you've
always been so touchy-we never
could get together. / hurried over.
fearing maybe you might think the
blast-you see. Belding-'
II see this. Mr.. Ben Chase" inter-
rupted Bedding. In curt and ringing
voice. "The blast was n mlstake, the
biggest you ever mnde In your llfe."
what do you meant" demanded
Chase.
You'll have to excuse me for n
while, unless you're dead set on hav-
Ing II out right now. Mr.. Gale and his
fnmlly are leaving. and my daughter
Is going with them. I'd rather you'd
walt n little"
Nell going away" exclaimed Rad.
ford Chase. He reminded Belding Of
mn overgrown boy In disappointment.
"Yes. But-Mlss Burton to you.
young nan
"Mr. Bedding. I certainly would pre-
fer n conference with you right now"
nterposcd 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, slr7'
mo. you may not" replied Bedding.
bluntly. "l'm sure particular who |
Invite into my house. But I'll 20 with
you"
Beldlng stepped out and closed the
door. Come away from the houre so
the women won't hear the-the talk"
The elder Chase wns purple with
rnge. yet seemed to be controlling n.