The Lamar register., 1923-03-07

VI blH l'lEuf
"Shore-this's hi" he whispered
That was characteristic speech for
the ranger, Gale thought-; and indeed
1t made all who had heard II smile
while their eyes were wet
From that time forward Ladd
gained. but he gained so immeasurably
slowly that only the eyes of hope
could have seen any Improvement.
Jim Lash threw away his crutch, and
Thorne was we'll II still somewhat
weak. before Ladd could lift his arm
or turn his head. His whispers grew
stronger. And the day arrived when
Gale. who was perhaps the least op-
timistic threw doubt to the winds
and knew the ranger would get well.
Boys, come round" said Ladd, in
his low voice. AN you, Mercedes
An call the Yaqui"
Ladd lay In the shade of the brush
shelter that had been erected. There
seemed little of him but long. lean
lines, and II 1t had not been for his
keen. thoughtful, kindly eyes. his face
would have resembled death mask
Of man starved.
"Shore ] want to know what day
is II an what month";" asked Ladd.
Nobody could answer him. The
question seemed surprise to Gale.
and evidently was so to the others
Look at that cactus" went on
Ladd.
II reckon according to that giant
cactus It's somcwheres along the end
of March, said Jim Lash, soberly
shore it's April Look where the
sun Is. An can't you feel it's gettin
hot?"
"supposln' 1t is Aprlr queried
Lash slowly.
"Well. what I'm drivin' at Is it's
about time you all was hittin' the trail
back to Forlorn River. before the
waterholes dry out"
''Laddy, I reckon Wen start soon
as you're able to he put on boss"
"Shore that'll be too late"
A silence ensued, in which those
who heard Ladd gazed fixedly at him
and then at one another. Lash un-
easily shifted the position Of his lame
leg and Gale saw him mOisten his lips
with his tongue
Charlie Ladd. amt reckonin' you
mean we're to ride on an leave you
herei"
"What else is there to do? The
hot weather's close Pretty soon most
Of the waterholes will he dry. You
cant travel then. I'm on nv
back here an God only knows when
l could he packed out. Not for weeks.
mebhe. I'll never he any good again.
even II was Ia get out alive.
You see. shore this sort Of case comes
round sometimes in the desert It's
common enough. I've heard OF sew
eral cases where men had to go an
leave a feller behind It's reasonable.
II you're nghtin' the desert you can't
afford TO be sentimental Now,
as l said. I'm all In. SO what's the
sense of you waitin' here. when It
means the old desert story7 BY goin'
now mebbe you'll get home. Shore
now. boys. you'll see this the right
way1 jim. old pardT'
NO. Laddy. an can't ngger how
you could ever ask me-"
Shore then leave me here with va
qui an couple Of the hosses. We
can eat sheep meat. An II the water
holds out"
mo" interrupted Lash, violently.
Ladd's eyes sought Gales face.
"Son, you amt bull-headed like Jim.
You'll see the sense Of IT, There's
Nell a-waltin' back at Forlorn River
Think what 1t means to herl You'll
go. son, won't your
Dick shook his head.
The ranger turned his gaze upon
Thorne, and now the keen, glistening
eyes had blurred.
'"Thorne, It's different with you.
Jim's fool, an young Gale has been
punctured by choya thorns He's got
the desert poison in his blood. But
you now-you've no call to stIck-you
can find that trail out Take your
wife an go. Shore you'll go,
ThOrne?'
Deliberately and without mo
ment's hesitation the cavalryman re