Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-26
CHAPTER xiv
A Lost Son.

little consequence. Even had he de-
sired it he would rot have had any
voice in the selection of postmaster,
sheriff, and few other officials. The
Chases divided their labors between
Forlorn River and their Mexican gold
mine, which had been restored to
them. The desert trips between these
two places were taken in automobiles.
A months time made the motor cars
almost as familiar sight in Forlorn
River as they had been in Casita be-
fore the revolution.
Belongs wrath at the usurping
Chases Increased as he slowly realized
his poWerlessness to cope with such
men. They were promoters, men of
big interests and wide influence in
the Southwest. The more they did for
ForIorn River the less reason there
seemed to be for his own grievance.
He had to admit that it was personal !;
that he and Gale and the rangers
would never have been able TO develop
the resources Of the valley as these
men were doing it.
April arrived with no news of the
rangers. From Casita came vague re-
ports Of raiders In the Sonoyta coun-
try-reports impossible to verify until
his Mexican rangers returned. When
these men rode in, one of them, Con-
zales an intelligent and reliable half
breed, said he had met prospectors at
the oasis. They had just come in on
the Canine del Diablo, reported a ter
ribIe trip of heat and drought, and
not a trace of the Yaqui's party.
"That settles It," declared Bedding.
.'Yaqui never went to Sonoyta He's
circled round to the Devils road, and
the rangers, Mercedes, Thorne, the
horses they-I'm afraid they have
been lost in the desert. It's an old
story on Canine del Diablo"
He had to tell Nell that, and it was
an ordeal which left him weak.
Mrs. Bedding listened to him, and
was silent for a long time while she
held the stricken Nell to her breast.
Then she opposed his convictions with
that quiet strength so characteristic
of her arguments.
But mother, they're gone seven
weeks. Seven weeksI At the most i
gave them six weeks Seven weeks In
the desert! !"
GLOW do the Yaquis liver she asked.
Belding could not reply to that, but
hope revived in him. He had faith
in his wife, though he could not in
the least understand what he mag
ined was something mystic in her.
years ago when I was searching
for my father I learned many things
about this country" said Mrs. Beld-
ing. 'fYou can never tell how long a
man may live in the desert. The
fiercest, most terrible and inaccessible
places often have their hidden oasis.
In his later years my father became
a prospector That was strange to
me. for he never cared for gold or
money. l learned that he was often
gone in the desert for weeks, once for
months. Then the time came when
he never came back. That was years
before / reached the southwest border
and heard Of him. Even then I did
not for long give up hope of his COM
ing back. know now-something
tells me-indeed, it seems his spirit
tells me-he was lost. But I don't
have that feeling for Yaqui and his
party. Yaqui has given Rojas the
slip or has ambushed him in some
trap. Probably that took time and a
long journey into Sonora The Indian
is too wise to start back now over
dry trails. He'll curb the rangers !;
he'll wait. seem to know this, dear
Nell, so. be brave, patient. Dick Gale
will come back to you"
That talk with the strong mother
worked a change in Nell and in Beld-
ing. Nell, who had done little but
brood and watch the west and take
violent rides, seemed to settle into a
waiting patience that was sad, yet
serene. Bedding, who had been break
ing under the strain Of worry, recov-
cred himself so that to outward ap-
pearance he was his old self He
alone knew, however, that his humor
was forced, and that the slow burning
wrath he felt for the Chases vas fam
ing into hate.
Belding argued with himself that if
Ben Chase and his son, Radford, had
turned out to be big men in other
WAYS than in the power to carry on
great enterprises he might have be-
come reconciled to them. But the
father was greedy, grasping, hard,
cold: the son added to those traits an
overbearing disposition to rule, and he
showed a fondness for drink and
cards. These men were developing
the valley, to be sure, and horde of
moor Mexicans and many Americans
were benefting from that develop
ment; nevertheless, these Chases were
operating in a way which proved they
| cared only for themselves.
Bedding went to Casita with a num-
her of his white thoroughbreds and
shipped them to ranchers and horse
breeders in Texas. Then, being near
the railroad and having time, he went
up to Tucson. There he learned some