, 1923-01-24

any llt8lNdn, ctCn u PiiCots hhOW NA>
cedes is hidden In Forlorn RiverT"
1T couldn't be hidden long"
Gale was compelled to acknowledge
the truth of this statement.
TN marry her first. then I'll face
my problem. Fetch the padre, Dick.
And ask u kind friends to be wit
nesses at the ceremony"
Much to Gales surprise, neither
Beldiag nor Ladd objected to the idea
Of bringing a padre into the house
hold. and thereby making known to at
least one Mexican the whereabouts of
Mercedes Castaneda. Belongs eau
ton was, wearing out in wrath Mt the
persistent unsettled condition of the
border. and Ladd grew only the cooler
trouble multiplied.
Gale fetched the padre, a little,
weakened. timid man who was old and
without interest or penetration. APP
parently he married Mercedes and
Thorne as he told his beads or mum
bled a prayer. 1t was Mrs. Bedding
who kept the occasion from being a
merry one, and she insisted on not
exciting Thorne. Gale marked her
unusual pallor and the singular depth
and sweetness of her voice.
Thorne could not be kept in bed.
and all in n day, it seemed. he grew
so well and so hungry that his friends
were delighted. and Mercedes was
radiant. In a few days his weakness
disappeared and he was going the
round of the fields and looking over
the ground marked out In Gales plan
of water development. Thorne was
highly enthusiastic. and at once staked
out his claim for one hundred and
sixty acres of land adjoining that of
Bedding and the rangers. These five
tracts took in all the ground necessary
for their operations. but in case of
the success of the irrigation project
the idea was to Increase their squatter
holding by purchase of more land
down the valley. A hundred families
had lately moved to Forlorn River;
more were coming all the time; and
Bedding vowed he could see a vision
of the whole Altar valley green witt,
farms.
Meanwhile everybody In Belongs
household, except the quiet Ladd and
the watchful Yaqui, in the absence Of
disturbance of any kind along the Dor
der, grew freer and more u~nrestrained,
as If anxiety was slowly fading In the
peace of the present. Jim Lash made
a trip to the Sonoyta oasis, and Laid
p~atrolled fifty miles Of the line east
ward without incident or sight of raid
ers. Evidently all the border hawks
were in at the picking of Casita.
The February nights were cold, with
n dry, icy, penetrating GOODNESS that
made a warm fire most comfortable.
Belongs household congregated in
he sitting room. where burning mes
quite logs cracked In the open fire.
place.
There came a low knock ut the door.
1t may have been an ordinary knock,
for 1t did not disturb the women but
to Bedding and his rangers II had a
subtle meaning.
"Who's that 2" asked Bedding, as he
slowly pushed back his chair and
looked at Ladd.
"Yaqui," replied the ranger.
Come In" called Bedding.
The door opened, and the short.
square, powerfully built Indian en-
tered. He carried n rifle and strobe
with impressive dignity.
"Yaqui. what do you want?" asked
Bedding, and repeated his question in
Spanish.
"Senor Dick" replied the Indian.
Gale jumped up. sitting an excla-
nation. and he went outdoors with
Yaqui. The Indians presence was al
ways one Of gloom, and now his stern
action BODIED catastrophe. Once clear
Of trees he pointed to the level desert
across the river, where a row of camp
fires shone bright out of the dark
ness.
"RaidersI" circulated Gale.
Then he cautioned Yaqui to keep
sharp lookout. and. hurriedly return
ing to the house. he called the men
out and told them there were rebels or
raiders camping just across the line.
Ladd did not say a word. Bedding.
with an oath, slammed down his
cigar.
II knew II wns too good to last.
Dick, you and Jam stay here while
Laddy and I look around"
Dick returned to the sltting-room,
The women were nervous and no
to be deceived. So Dick merely said
Yaqui had sighted lights Off in the
desert. and they probably were
campfires. Bedding did not soon re-
turn, and when he did he was alone,
and. saying he wanted to consult with
the men. he sent Mrs. Bedding and the
girls to their rooms.
'Laddy's gone over to scout around
and try to find out who the outfit be-
longs to and how many r In IT," said
Bedding. II don't look for an attack
on Forlorn River. I'm afraid It's
Bedding hesitated and looked with