The Nevada County picayune., 1923-04-05
more harm than good.

more harm than good.
 Slowly, with reluctant feet, Bedding walked toward green hollow, where in a cluster of willows lay the never failing spring that his horses loved so we'll, and, indeed, which he loved no less.
 He was just in time to see the last quicksand. The shape of the hole had changed. The tremendous force of the blast had obstructed or diverted the underground stream of water.
 Belding's never-failing spring had been ruined. What had made this lit tie plot of ground green and sweet and fragrant was now no more. Beld- ings first feeling was for the pity Of it. He thought how many times in the middle of hot summer nights he had come down to the spring to drink. Never againl
 The pail of dust drifting over him, the din of the falling water up at the dam. diverted Belding's mind to the Glasses. All at once he was in the harsh grip of a cold certainty. The blast had been set off Intentionally to ruin his spring. What hellish trick No westerner, no Indian or Mexican, no desert man could have been guilty of such crime. To ruin a beautiful, clear, cool, never-failing stream of water in the desert.
 It was then that Beldings worry and indeeision and breeding were as if they had never existed. He went directly to his room, and with an air that was now final he buckled on his gun belt. He looked the gun over and tried the action. He squared himself and walked little more erect. Some lOng-lost individuality had returned to Bedding.
 Let's see" he was saying. '1 can get Carter to send the horses I've got make Nell take what money there is and go hunt up her mother. The Gales are ready to go-today. if l say the word. Nell can travel with them part way East That's your game, Tom Bedding, don't mistake me-
 As he went out he encountered MT. Gale coming up the walk. The long sojourn at Forlorn River, despite the fact that it had been laden with a sus- pense which was gradually changing to a sad certainty. had been of great benefit to Dicks father. The dry air, the heat, and the quiet had made him, if not entirely we'll man, certainly stronger than he had been in many years.
 Bedding, what was that terrible roar?" asked Mir. Gale. "We were badly frightened until Miss Nell came to us. We feared it was an earth quake"
 Well, I'll tell you, Mir. Gale; we've had some quakes here, but none of them could hold a candle to this jar we just had"
 Then Bedding explained what had caused the explosion, and why it had been set off so close to his property.
 Heavy steps sounded outside on the
  der a strong knock. Bedding opened 1t. The Glasses, father and son. stood beyond the threshold.
 Good morning. Belding." said the elder Chase. We were routed out early by that big blast and came up to see what was wrong. All blunder The Greaser foreman was drunk yes terday. and his ignorant men made mistake. Sorry if the blast bothered you. was a little worried-you've always been so touchy-we never could get together. I hurried over fearing maybe you might think the blast-you see, Belding-"
 .I see this, Mfr Ben Chase" inter- rupted Bedding, in curt and ringing voice "The blast was mistake, the biggest you ever made in your life"
 'What do you meanT demanded Chase.
 You'll have to excuse me for a while, unless you're dead set on hay ing it out right now. Mir. Gale and his family are leaving, and my daughter Is going with them. I'd rather you'd wait little"
 Nell going away" exclaimed Rad ford Chase. He reminded Bedding of an overgrown boy in disappointment.
 "Yes. But-Miss Burton to you, young man"
 "Mr. Bedding, certainly would pre- fer conference with you right now" interposed the elder Chase, cutting short Belding's strange speech. There are other matters-important matters to discuss. They've got to be settled. May we step in, sirY'
 'No you may not" replied Bedding,