Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-08-17
CHAPTER XVIII
Reality AGAINST Dreams.

6ANh bdit was SluuuiiE uNNtu oNti
NelPs slight form, almost hidden I'm
his arms. Bedding Rugged them both.
He was like a boy. He saw Ben
Chase and his son slip away under
the trees, but the circumstances meant
nothing to him then.
l"Dick Dickn he roared rs ii
you? /. Say, who do you thinks
here-here, In FOrlorn River?"
1t was then three more persons came
upon the scene-Elsle Gale, running
swiftly, her father assisting Mrs. Gale,
who appeared about to faint.
"Beldingl Who on earths thatT
cried Dick, hoarsely.
"Quien sabe. my son." replied Beld-
ing and now his voice seemed little
shaky. Nell, come here. Give him
a chance"
Bedding slipped his arm round Nell,
and whispered In her ear. "This1l be
great"
Elsie Gales face was white and agi-
tated a face expressing extreme Joy.
ooh, brotherl Mamma saw YOU
1 papa saw you, and never knew you
But I knew you when you jumped
/ qUick-that way-Off your horse. And
now I don't know you. You wild mani
You giant You splendid barbarian
Mamma, papa, hurry! It is
Dick Look at him. Just look at
him. Oh-h, thank Cod"
Bedding turned away and drew Nell
with him. In another second she and
Mercedes were clasped in each others
arms Then followed a time of joyful
greetings all round Diablo found his
old spirit; Blanco Sol tossed his head
and whistled his satisfaction; White
Woman pranced to and fro; and pres
emily they all settled down to quiet
grazing. How good 1t was for Bedding
to see those white shapes against the
rich background of green His eyes
glistened. 1t was sight he had never
expected to see again. He fingered
there many moments when he wanted
to hurry back to his rangers.
AT last he tore himself away from
watching Blanco Diablo and returned
to the house. It was only to find that
he might have spared himself the hur-
ry. Jim and Ladd were lying on the
beds that had not held them for so
many months Their slumber seemed
as deep and quiet as death CuriOusly
Bedding gazed down upon them. They
had removed only boots and chaps
Their clothes were in tatters. Jim an
peared little more than skin and
bones, long shape, dark and hard
as iron. Ladd's appearance shocked
Bedding. The ranger looked an old
man, blasted, shriveled, starved.
About the middle of the forenoon
on the following day the rangers hob
bled out of the kitchen to the porch. |
"Pm sick man, I tell you" Ladd |
was complaining, "an' / gotta be fed. /
Soupl Beef tea u That amt so much /
as wind to me. 1 want about q barrel |
Of bread an butter, an a whole plat
ter of mashed potatoes with gravy an
green stuff-all kinds of green stuff
an whole big apple pie. Give me
everythin' an anythin' to eat but meat
Shore 1 never, never want to taste
meat again, an sight of a piece of
sheep meat would jest about finish
me. Jim, you used to be
human bein that stood up for Charlie
Ladd"
daddy, I'm lined up beside you with
both guns" replied Jim. plaintively.
Hungry? Say, the smell Of break
fast In that kitchen made nay mouth
water so 1 near choked to death. l
reckon we're gettin most onhuman
treatment"
"But I'm sick man." protested
Laid, IAN I'm agoln' to fall over in
a minute If somebody don't feed me-
Nell, you used to be fond of me-"
"Oh, Laddy, 1 am yet" replied Nell.
ashore, l don't believe 1t. ANY girl
with tender heart just couldn't let a
man starve under her eyes.
Look at Dick, there. I'll bet he's had
to eat, mebbe potatoes an
gravy, an pie an"
daddy, Dick has had no more than
gave yOu-lndeed, not nearly so
much"
"Shore he's had lot of kisses then,
Tor he hasn't hollered onct about this
treatment"
Perhaps he has," said Nell, with
blush; "and if you think that-they
would help you to be reasonable /
well, powerful fond as l am Of you,
ust now kissesll have to run second
o bread an butter"
"Oh, lady, what gallant speechF
aughed Nell. Pm sorry, but I've
lads orders"
"Laddy" interrupted Bedding, you've
ot to be broke in gradually to eating.
Tow you know that. You'd be the Sc
crest kind of boss If you had some
tarved beggars on your hands"
but I'm sick-Tm dyin'," howled
add
you were never sick in your life,
nd If all the bullet holes see In you
ouldn't kill you, why, you never viii
ie"