Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-03-16


thing" he concluded, cheerfuily.
He rather felt little giee At Mr..
| Gales distress, and Mrs Gales
crushed I-toId-you-so woe In no wise
bothered him; but the look In the big,
dark eyes Of Dick's sister was too
much for Bedding.
He choked on his characteristic
oath when excited and blurtsd out,
Say, but Dick Gale never went to the
bad Lstenr"
Bedding had scarcely started Dick
| Gales story when he perceived that
never In his life had be such an abb
sorbed and breathless audience. Pres
emily they we're awed, and at the con-
clusion Of that story they sat white
faced, still, amazed beyond speech.
Bedding kept back nothing but the
present doubt Of Dicks safety.
Mr.. Gale rose unsteadlly from his
chair. His fraiIty was now painfully
manifest
'Mr. Bedding. do you mean my son
Richard Gale-has done all that you
told us7' he asked, incredulously.
Il sure do replied Bedding, with
hearty good Will
Martha, do you hearr- Mr.. Gale
turned to question his wife She could
not answer. Her face had not yet
regained its natural color.
HE faced that bandit and his gang
alone-he fought themT demanded
Mr.. Gale, his voice stronger.
Bedding nodded with a grin
Hes a ranger now-riding, fight
ing. sleeping on the sand, preparing
his own food, Mr.. Bedding, you say
Richard works for you May I ask,
at what salary~
HE gets forty dollars, board and
outfit" replied Bedding, proudly.
Forty doIiarsY" echoed the father.
by the day or week.
The month, Of course said Beld-
fng. somewhat taken aback-
Forty dollars a month for q young
man who spent five hundred In the
same tine when be was at college, and
who ran It into thousands when he
got outf'
Mr.. Gale laughed for the first time,
and it was the laugh Of a man who
wanted TO believe what he heard yet
scarcely dared 10 do Il
what does he DO with so much
money-money earned by peril, tot.
sweat and blood? Forty dollars q
month";"
He saves Il" replied Bedding.
E-fIc-<f-
Dick Gales father. and he gazed al
his wife in sheer speechless astonish-
ment- Dicks sister clapped her hands
ike little child
Bedding saw that the moment was
propitious
Sure he saves IT. Dicks engaged
TO marry Nell here. Ny stepdaughter,
Nell Burton"
"Oh-h, Dad 7" faltered Nell; and she
rose, white as her dress.
How strange Il was 70 see Dicks 4
mother and sister rise, also, and turn I
TO Nell with dark, proud. searching
eyes Bedding vaguely realized some 1
blunder he had made. Nelrs white !
appealing face gave him pans I
What had he done? Surely this fam 4
lily OF Dicks ought TO know hi7 reia- 4
ton TO Nell There was a silence that /
positively made Bedding nervous.
Then Elsie Gale stepped close to
Nell.
Miss Burton. are you really Rich
ards betrothedy'
Nell's tremulous lips framed an az
frmative, but never uttered II She
held out her hand, showing the ring
Dick had given her. Miss Gales
recognition was instant, and her re-
Spouse was warm. sweet, gracious
II think I am going 10 be very, very
glad" she said, and kissed Nell
Miss Burton. we are learning won
derful things about Richard" added
Mr.. Gale. In an earnest though
shaken voice. If you have had 10 do
with making man Of hin-and now
begin 10 see, TO believe so-nay God
bless you'll Ny dear girl, have
not really looked at you Richards
ianceei Mother, we have not
'ound him yet. but think we've found
IFS secret We believed him a lost
son But here IS his sweetheart
II was only then that the pride and
lauteur Of Mrs. Gales face broke into
IN expression Of mingled pain and
oy. She opened her arms Nell, Tt
ering strange little stided CITY. few
MO them