Americus times-recorder., 1923-05-18

had preached an idea. The votes had
not been for him, but for what he
had promised. The big ranches
must go!
He came down Bridge street as
Blaze waited for the Paradise stage,
walking with a seemingly careless
shuttle, the inevitable clgaret in his
mouth. He smiled as Blaze nodded.
They had not spoken half a dozen
words to each other, and yet in their
smile flashed complete understand
ing. 1t is the way of the true desert
breed Thanks to him, Blaze had
been released without the semblance
of trial
Blaze knew he had come to the
time wnen he must say goodby to
Nevada; a day or two at the most,
and ne would be going back to Wyo-
ming His Wind River ranch claimed
him for a dozen different tasks.
Then, too, he would be needed at Bo-
dimes trial. Wyoming was home,
and yet Nevada had never seemed
so fair as on this glorious morning
Winnemucca Mountain, a towering,
clean-limbed giant in the clearness
of early days, seemed to march into
/ the very outskirts of the town. Blaze
could see the patch of green which
marked the China Gardens. South
of him the Harmony Range, all blues
and puppies now, tantalized him. 1t
made him think of the Tetons and
/ the Gros Ventres back home. But
there was wine in the air here such
as even Wyoming did not know.
Blaze sighed disconsolately. Well
enough he knew the air was sweeter
because Of one who breathed it. He
was going up to Paradise to say
goodby to her. He dreaded the trip
in some ways, because it was so pal
pably a goodby trip. Pretty speeches
were not intended for his tongue. So
lost in reverie was he that he paid
no attention to the man who took
the chair next to him say:
''You amt exactly what you'd call
social favorite today, are yuh?"
Melody! Why, you old son-of-a
gunr' Blaze's face broke into a
smile. Where you been?" he asked.
,, Il been representa-, I'll tell yuhp'
Both were happier over seeing each
other than either would have admit
ted. 81 been all over Nevada since l
saw you" He laughed to himself.
Guess was bout the only one that
didn't hear the fre-bell the other
night. You were right up 'mong the
flames, weren't yuh?"
at was tolerably warm, all right.
! Go on tell me bout yourself. !"
81 been workin' down to the
Rancho, helpin' Kent, We got the
bitches all fixed up. Beginning to
look like itself again, except for the
house. TIN take a lot of money for
that work, but | guess Esteban
won't have no trouble borrowin' all
he wants. Banks seems to think
pretty well of Basque's word. Amt
no reason why Esteban shouldn't get
one crop of alfalfa before snow flies.
you're not telling me what
want to know" said Blaze. How is
she?"
Melody had never caught quite
that note in his friends voice. He
/ looked at him sharply. "She don't
talk much," he murmured. "She
lust looks as if she was waitin', and
waitin'. God! wimmen are beyond
me. Kents seen Acklin. They had
big pow-wow when it got noised
around that Bodine had killed our
yearlin's and burt the woolJhouse
and all the rest Of it. The big Boss
is willin' to rebuild the dam and let
the Basques own their rart of it.
He's seen the handwritin on the
wall Storm no the snow water in
the spring will give everybody all
! thcv want"
The staoe rolled up to the side
walk and Blaze got to his feet.
where you goin'?" asked Melody.
Continued Tomorrow.)
| ,ro bonoo,i,,or cooTan1, IN