Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-01-19
GOLD


| had been transmitted to the daugh-
ter. Dick believed Mrs. Belongs
| friendship and motherly love were
worth much striving to win. entirely
! aside from any more selfish motive.
He decided both would be hard to
get.
| Toward evening Gale heard the
tramp Of horses and Belongs hearty
voice. Presently the rancher strobe
in upon Gale, shaking the gray dust
| from his broad shoulders and waving
| letter.
Hello, Dickl Good news and
badl" he said, putting the letter In
| Dicks hand "Isad no trouble finding
| your friend Thorne. Looked Ike he'd
been drunk for a week say, he
| nearly threw fit. 1 never saw fell
low so wild with Joy. He made sure
| you and Mercedes were lost In the
| desert. He wrote two letters, which
| I brought. Caslta is one hi Of q
place these days. 1 tried to get your
| We're going to see travel toward
Forlorn River. The federal garrison
| got re-enforcements from somewhere,
and Is holding out"
i'..'Do you think wen have trouble
| here?D asked Dick. exeitedly.
Sure. Some kind of trouble
| sooner or later" replied Bedding
gloomily. Anyway. my boy. as soon
as you can hold a bride and gun
you'll be on tie Job, don't mistake
| me-"
"With Laddy and Jlm?" asked
Dick. trying to be cool.
"Sure. With them and me, and By
yourself"
DIX drew deep breath. and even
atty Bedding had departed he forgot
for a moment about the letter in his
hand. Then he unfolded the paper
| and read:
Dear Dick-You've mora than saved
my life. To the end of my days you'll
be the one man to whom I owe every
thing. Words fail to express my feelings
This must be brief note Belding is
waiting. and l used up most of the time
writing to Mercedes.
subject, OF course. to advice frvm Belding.
Take care of her. Dick, for my life is
wrapped up in her,, BY. all means KEEP
her from being seen oy Mexicans. We
are sitting tight here-nothing doing.
IF things quiet down before my COM
mission expires. I'll get leave of absen e.
run out to Forlorn River. marry my
beautiful Spanish princess. and take her
to civilized country, where. I opine.
every son of a gun who sees her will lose
his head. and drive me mad. Dick. harken
to these glad words: Rcjas is In the hos
pital. 1 was interested to inquire. He
had a smashed finger. a dislocated collar
bone. three broken ribs. and a fearful,
cash on his face. He'll be In the hospital
for month. Dick. when meet that Pig
headed dad OF yours I'm going to give
him the surprise of his life.
"Send me a line whenever any one
comes in from F. R. and inclose Mer-
cedes' letter in yours. Take care OF her.
Dick. and may the future hold in store
for you some OF the sweetness I know
now! Faithfully yours.
'-THoRNE."
While Dick was eating his supper.
with appetite rapidly returning to nor
NAL. Laid and Jim came In. Their
friendly advances were singuiarly
welcome to Gale. but he was still
backward. He allowed himself 10
show that he was glad 10 see them.
and he listened. 1t took no keen Judge
of human nature TO see that horses
constituted Ladd's ruling passion.
"Shore it's cinch Beldn' Is agoin
to lose some of them animals Of his. e
he said. you can search me IL don't
think therell be more doIn' on the Dor
der here than along the Rio Grande.r
"Look-a-here. Laddy: you CANT be-
lieve all You hear" replied Jim, seri-
ously. Il reckon we mightr't have |
any trouble"
Back up. Jim. Shore you're stand |
in on your bride. There's more dom
than the raidin' of few bosses An
Forlorn River is goin' TO get hersi"
Another dawn found Gale so much |
recovered that he arose and looked
after himself; not. however. without
considerable difficulty and rather dis
heartening twinges Of pain
Some time during the morning he
heard the girls in the patio and called
4
ceived one response. a mellow. Isl
senor." II was not as much as he
wanted, but considering that it was
enough. he went out In the shade Of
A beautiful tree. he found the girls
Mercedes sitting In a hammock, Nell
upon a blanket.
"What beautiful treei" he ex-
,laimed- Il never saw one Ike that
What is IN"
"Palo verde" replied Nell.
"Senor palo verde means green
rec" added Mercedes.
Little by little Dick learned details
n Nells varied life. She had lived
y many places. As child she re-
nembered Lawrence. Kansas. where
he studied for serernl years Then
he moved 90 saltwater OklshOma
rom there 10 Austin. Texas. and 90 b.
waco. where her mother mel and ma