Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-07-20


the general conversation that ensuet
he sought for an opening in which tC
tell this important news. but he was
kept so busy answering questions
about his position on the border, the
kind Of place Forlorn River was, the
reason for so many tents, etc, that he
was unable to find opportunity
tits interesting, very interesting, "
said Mr.. Gale. "At another time /
want to learn all you'll tell me about
the West. It's new to me- I'm sur
! prised, amazed, sir, l may say. .
But, Mr.. Bedding, what / want to know
most is about my son. I'm broken in
health. I've worried myself Ill over
him. I don't mind telling you, sir, that
we quarreled. He went away. And
I've come to see I didn't know Rich
ard l was wrong to upbraid him.
For year we've known nothing of his
doings, and now for almost six months
we've not heard from him at all
Frankly, Mr.. Bedding, weakened first,
and I've come to hunt him up. My
fear is that 1 didn't start soon
enough"
Mr.. Gale paused. and the white hand
he raised expressively shook little.
Bedding was not so thick-witted
where men were concerned. He saw
how the matter lay between Dick Gale
and his father
"Well Mr.. Gale, sure most young
bucks from the East go to the bad
out here" he said bluntly. "They
blow their money, then go to punch
ing cows take to whisky"
Mr.. Gale lifted haggard eyes.
"Then it's cumming around regular
tramps, and to the bad generally"
Bedding spread wide his big arms, and
when one of them dropped round Nell,
who sat beside him, she squeezed his
hand tight, "Sure, it's the regular
thing" he concluded, cheerfully.
He rather felt a little glee at Mr..
Gales distress, and Mrs. Gales
crushed I-told-you-so woe In no wise
bothered him; but the look in the big,
dark eyes of Dicks sister was too
much for Bedding.
He choked off his Characteristic
oath when excited and blurted out,
"Say but Dick Gale never went to the
bad Listenr"
Bedding had scarcely started Dick
Gales story when he perceived that
never In his life had he such an alb
sorbed and breathless audience. Pres
emily they were awed, and at the CON
clusion of that story they sat white
faced. still, amazed beyond speech. |
Bedding kept back nothing but the |
present doubt of Dicks safety.
Mr.. Gale rose unsteadily from his |
chair. His frailty was now painfully |
manifest.
"Mr. Bedding, do you mean my SON
Richard Gale-has done all that you
told us?" he asked, incredulously.
81 sure do" replied Bedding, with
hearty good will
Martha, do you hearT' Mr. Gale
turned to question his wife. She could
not answer. Her face had not yet
its natural color.
"He faced that bandit and his gang
fought them?" demanded
Mr. Gale his voice stronger.
Bedding nodded with a grin
Hes a ranger now-riding fight
ing, sleeping on the sand, preparing
MS own food? Mr.. Bedding, you say
Richard works for you. May | ask.
1t what salary?"
"He gets forty dollars, board and
outfit" replied Bedding, proudly.
''Forty doilars?" echoed the father
''By the day or week?'
"The month, of course" said Beld
Ing, somewhat taken aback.
Forty dollars month for young
man who spent five hundred in the
same time when he was at college, and
who ran it into thousands when he
got out"
Mr.. Gale laughed for the first time
md it was the laugh of man who
wanted to believe what he heard yet
scarcely dared to do it.
'What does he do with so much
earned by peril toll,
weat and blood? Forty dollars a
month !"
"He saves It," replied Bedding.
Evidently this was too much for
Dick Gales father, and he gazed at
is wife in sheer speeches. astonish-
1ent Dicks sister clapped her hands
Ike little child.
Bedding saw that the moment was
"Sure he saves it. Dicks engaged
D marry Nell here. My stepdaughter,
Tell Burton" \
"Oh-h, DadI" faltered Nell; and she T
ose, white as her dress.
How strange 1t was to see Dicks =
lother and sister rise, also, and turn :
} Nell with dark, proud, searching
yes Bedding vaguely realized some :
under he had made. Nell's white {
ppealing face gave him a pang.
That had he done? Surely this fam
y of Dicks ought to know his rela-
on to Nell. There was a silence that
made Bedding nervous.