Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-02-02
CHAPTER XIII
chnnncs at EorIorn River.

Ch2nnCS at EOTlCF0 hiNCTs
The first of March saw the federal
occupation of the garrison at Casita.
AFTER a short, decisive engagement
the rebels were dispersed into small
bands and driven eastward along the
boundary line toward Nogales.
1t was the destiny of Forlorn River.
hnw ever, never to return to the slow,
sleepy tenor of its former existence.
Belding's predictions came true. That
struggling line of hOme-seekers was
hut a f%orerunner of the real invasion
of Altar valley. Refugees from Mex
leo and from Casita spread the word
that water and wood and grass and
land were to be had at ForlOrn River;
and as If by magic the white tents and
red adobe houses sprang up to glisten
in the sun.
Bedding was happier than he had
been for a long time. He believed
that evil days for Forlorn River,
along with the apathy and lack of
enterprise, were in the past. He hired
a couple of trustworthy Mexicans to
ride the boundary line. and he settled
down to think of ranching and irriga-
ton and mining projects. Every morn
ing he expected to receive some word
from Sonoyta or Yuma, telling him
that Yaqui had guided his party safe
ly across the desert.
Among the many changes coming to
pass in Forlorn River were the install
ing of post office service and the
building of a mescal clearinghouse.
Bedding had worked hard for the post
office. but he did not like the idea OF
q saloon for Forlorn Rivet. Sill.
that was an inevitable evil. The Mex
leans would have mescal. y Tood
urany Americans drifted into Perform
River-miners, cowboys. p~rospec.9Ts,
outlaws. and others of nondescrlpt
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 Fof@orn
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 70
come in by the gate. She put Jose at
a four-foot wire fence, and CAM
Gathering into the yard.
1t did not take more than half an
eye for Bedding to see that she was
furious.
"NeIl. what's come off now?" asked
Bedding.
"I'm 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 ventnred
q 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 n of Nelfs
tantrums. While taking off Jose's
saddle and hanging 1t in the shed
Bedding pondered in 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
"a baby any more" she said. Tive
been insulted."
With a specific fact to make clear
thought in Belongs mind he was
never slow.
II knew something unusual had
come off. 1 guess you'd better tell
me-"
Dad, I will, if you promise"
"What?'
mot to mention 1t to mother, not
to pack a gun down there, and never.
neve tell Dick"
Belding was silent. Seldom did he
make promises readily.
IF 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; land seeing
you're here safe and well, / guess /
won't go packing a gun down there,
wherever that is. But l won't promise
to keep anything from Dick that per-
haps he, ought to know"
Nell, r~egaining her composure, wiped
her eyes and smoothed back her hair,
1.-THE other day, Wednesday," she
began, 81 was coming home, and In