Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-04-14
CHAPTER I
Old Frlends.


disguised father had predicted
idling here and dreaming there, with
no objective point or purpose
II was reflection such as this, only
more serious and perhaps somewhat
desperate, that had brought Gale down
to the border For some time the
newspapers had been printing news
OF the Mexican revolution, guerrilla
warfare, United States cavalry pa
trolling the international line. Ameri-
can cowboys fighting with the rebels
and wild stories of bold raiders and
bandits. Regarding these rumors Gale
was skeptical. Bat as opportunity,
and adventure, too, had apparently
given him a wide berth in Montana,
Wyoming, Colorado, he had struck
southwest for the Arizona border,
where he hoped to see some stirring
life.
1t was after dark one evening I'm
early October when Richard arrived
In CasIta There was jostllng, jab-
bering, sombreroed crowd of Mexicans
around the railroad station He felt
as II he were In a foreign country.
After while he saw several men of
his nationality. one Of whom he en-
gagged TO carry his luggage to a hotel
OF the many people encountered by
Sale most were Mexicans. His guide
explained that the smaller half of
Casita lay In Arizona, the other half
In Mexico and of several thousand
inhabitants the majority belonged on
the southern side of the street, which
was the boundary line He also
said that rebels had entered the town
that day, causing good deal of ex-
citement.
Gale was almost at the end of his
financial resources. which fact Occa-
stoned him to turn away from pre-
tentious hotel and ask his guide for
a cheaper lodging house. When this
was found, a sigh: OF the lOungers In
the office, and also a desire for COM
fort, persuaded Gale to change his
travelling clothes for rough outing
garb and boots.
"WeIl, Tn almost broke" he solllo-
quized, thoughtfully. "The governor
said l wouldn't make any money. He's
right-so far. And he said I'd be
coming home beaten. There he's
wrong. I've got bunch thar some
thing II happen to me ia this Greaser
town"
He went out into the wide. white
washed, high-ceiled corridor. and
Int
which, but for pool tables, bar and
benches, would have been like a
courtyard. Bare-legged, sandal-footed
Mexicans In white rubbed shoulders
with MexIcans mantled in black and
red. There were black-bearded. |
coarse-visaged Americans. some gam
bling round the little tables, others
drinking There were khaki-clad cav
slrymen strutting In ana out
At one end OF the room. somewhat |
apart from the general melee. was a |
group % six men round a little table. !
four Of WI ON were seated, the other |
two standing. These last two drew |
second glance from Gale. The |
sharp-featured bronzed faces and |
piercing eyes. the tall, slender. loosely |
jointed bodies, the quiet. easy. recs-
less air that seemed to be part OF
the men-these things would plainly |
have stamped them as cowboys with
cut the buckled sombreros, the col
ored scarfs the high-topped, high
heeled boots with great silver-rOweled
spurs.
He satisfied his hunger in a restau-
rant adjoining, and as he stepped
back into the saloon man wearing
q military cape jOstled him. Apollo
giles from both were instant. Gale was
moving on when the ether stopped
short as II startled. and, leaning for
ward. exclaimed:
"Dick Gale7 II this Isn't great
Don't you know meT
'Tve heard your voice somewhere
replied Gale. Maybe I'll recognize
you If you came out from under that
bonnet
For answer the man, suddenly mani
Testing thought of himself, hurriedly
uiCW hdlC lnlV iESia0A 1
he thrust back his hat to disclose a
sunburned face.
George Thornel SO help me"
"S-s-ssh. You needn't YELL" inter
rupted the other, as he met Gales
hand. There was a close,
hard. straining grip. II must not be
here. There are reasons.
I'll explain In a minute. Say, but It's
1ne to see you Five years, Dick, five
years since l saw you run down Uni
yersity field and spread-eagle the
whole Wisconsin football team"
Don't recollect that replied Dick,
aughing. George, I'll bet you I'm
ylsdder to see you than you are to
see me. II seems so long You went
INTO the army, didn't your"
Il did. I'm here now with the
Ninth cavalry. But-neyer mind me.