, 1923-02-28

he stripped the ~bandageS from Ladd
and applied the mixture to his wounds
That done. he let him lie with the
wounds exposed to the air, at night
covering him. Next day he again
exposed the wounds to the warm. dry
air. Slowly they closed, and Ladd
ceased to bleed externally.
Days passed and grew into what
Gale imagined must have peer weeks.
Yaqui recovered fully. Jim Lash be-
gan to owe about on a crutch; he
shared the Indians watch over Ladd.
Thorne lay a haggard, emaciated
ghost of his former rugged self, but
with life in the eyes that turned al
ways toward Mercedes. Laid fingered
and fingered. The life seemingly
would not leave his bullet-pierced
body. The tireless, implacable, in
scrutable savage was ever at the
rangers side. His great somber eyes
burned. At length he went to Gale.
and with that strange light fitting
Ladd would live.
The second day after Ladd had
been given such thin nourishment as
he could swallow he recovered the use
of his tongue.
"Shore-this's HI" he whispered.
That was n characteristic speech for
the ranger, Gale thought; and indeed
1t made all who had heard 1t smile
while their eyes were wet.
From that time forward Laid
| uofnnd hnf ha nofrAd GO eY,r.II,
slowly that only the eyes of hope
could have seen any improvement.
Jim Lash threw away his crutch, and
Thorne was well, If 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 OPP
timlstic, 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 Yaqu'."
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 a death mask
Of a man starved.
ashore I want to know what day
Is 1t an what month";" asked Laid.
Nobody could answer him. The
question seemed n surprise 20 Gale,
and evidently was so to the others.
Look at that cactus" went on
Laid.
II reckon according to that giant
cactus It's s~omewheres 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'
hotY"
"Supposin' it is ApriI?" queried
Lash, slowly.
"Well what I'm drivin' at is It's
about time you all wal hittin' the trail
back to Forlorn River. before the
waterholes dry out"
daddy. I reckon wen start soon
as you're able to be put on a boss"
"Shore that1l be too late"
A silence ensued, In which those
who heard Laid gazed fixedly at him
and then mt one another. Lash un-
easily shifted the position Of his lame
leg. and Gale saw him moisten his lips
with his tongue.
"Charlie Ladd, I amt reckonin' YOU
mean we're to ride off an leave you
here?"
what else is there to do? The
hot weather's close. Pretty soon most
OF the w%aterholes win be dry. You
can't travel then. . I'm on my
back here. an God only knows when
/ could be packed out. Not for weeks,
mebbe. I'll never be any good again.
even IL I was to 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 Teller behind. It's reasonable.
n you're ightin' the desert you can't
AFFORD to be sentimental. Now,
as ! said. I'm all In. so what's the
sense Of you waitin' here, when II
means the old desert story? BY goin'
now mebbe you'll get home. Shore
now. boys. you'll see this the right
way? Jim. old pard1"
mo, Laddy, an I can't hgger how
you could ever ask me-"
"Shore then leave me here with YIN.
qui an n couple Of the bosses. We
can eat sheep meat. An II the water
holds out"
mol" interrupted Lash. violently.
Ladd's eyes sought Gales face.
"Son, you amt bull-hended like Jim,
You'll see the sense OF II. There's