The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-05-18

ride the boundary line, and lac settled
down to think Of ranching and irriga-
tion and mining projects Every morn
ing he expected to receive some word
from Sonoyta or Yuma, telling him
that Yaqui had guided his. party safe
ly across the desert.
Among the many changes coming 70
pass In Forlorn River were the install
ing Of post Office service and the
building Of a mescal drinking-house.
Belding had worked hard for the post
office, but he did not like the idea Of
a saloon for Forlorn River. Still,
that was an inevitable evil. The Mex
leans would have mescal. A good
many Americans drifted into Forlorn
River-miners, cowboys, prospectors,
outlaws, and others OF nondescript
character; and these men, Of course,
made the saloon, which was also an
inn. their headquarters. Belding, with
| Carter and other old residents, saw
the need Of sheriff for Forlorn
River. 49,
One morning early in this spring
| month, while Belding was on his way
from the house to the corrals, he saw
| Nell running Blanco Jose down the
road at a gait that amazed him. She
| did not take the turn of the road to
come In by the gate. She put Jose at
a four-foot wire fence, and came
Gathering into the yard.
1t did not take more than half an
| eye for Belding to see that she was
| furious.
Nell, what's come Off nowr' asked
Bedding.
"Tm not going to tell you,' she re-
piled, and started away, leading Jose
toward the corral.
Bedding lelsurely followed. She
went into the corral, removed Jose's
bride, and led him to the watering
trough. Belding came up, and with
out saying anything began to unbuckle
Joses saddle girths. But he ventured
look at Nell. The red had gone from
her face, and he was surprised to see
her eyes brimming with tears. Most
assuredly this was not one of Nells
tantrums. While taking Off Jose's
saddle and hanging It In the shed
Belding pondered In his slow way.
When he came back to the corral Nell
had her face against the bars, and
she was crying. He slipped big arm
around her and waited.
dad, don't want you to think me
IA baby any MORE" she said "Pve
been insulted."
With specific fact to make clear
thought In Belongs mind he was
never slow.
II knew something unusual had
come off. / guess you'd better tell
me-"
"Dad, viii, if you promise"
"What%
mot to mention~it TO mother not
to pack gun down there, and never.
never tell Dick"
Beldlng was silent. Seldom did he
make promises readily
'If you don't promise I'll never tell,
that's ALL" she declared, firmly.
Beldlng deliberated little longer.
He knew the girl.
"Well, l promise not to tell moth.
err" he said, presently; "and seeing
you're here safe and well, guess
won't go packing a gun down there,
wherever that is. But won't promise
to keep anything from Dick that per
haps he ought to know"
Nell, regalning her composure, wiped
her eyes and smoothed back her hair
"The other day, Wednesday," she
began, II was coming home, and In
front of that mescal drinking place
there was IaJcrowd. 1t was a noisy
crowd. didn't want to walk out into
the street or seem afraid. But had
to do both. There were several young
men. and IL they weren't drunk they
certainly were rude. I never saw
them before, but | think they must
belong to the mining company that
was run out of Sonora by rebels. Any
way, these young fellows were Amer
leans. They stretched themselves
across the walk and smiled at me.
had to go out in the road. One Of
them, the rudest, followed me. He
was big fellow, red-faced, with prom
inent eyes and bold look. He came
up beside me and spoke to me. l ran
home. And as I ran heard his COM
panions jeering.
swell, today, just now, when was
riding up the valley road / came upon
the same fellows. They had instru-
ments and were surveying. Remem-
bering Dick, and how he always
wished for an instrument to help work
out his plan for irrigation, was GER
tainly surprised to see these strangers
surveying-and surveying upon Lad
dy's plot Of land. It was sandy
road there, and Jose happened to be
walking. So I reined In and asked
these engineers what they were do
ing. The leader, who was that same
bold fellow who had followed me,
seemed much pleased at being ad-
dressed. He said he was glad to tell
me he was going to run water all over
Altar valley. Dad, you can bet that
| nade me- wild That was Dicks plan