The Lamar register., 1923-01-17
4 40 saoTaao.

Tom Dick, it's some good 10
see you again. But you seem kinda
quiet Shore you get quleter all the
time. Did you see any sign OF Jim
out Sonoyts wayf'
Then Belding led the lame horse to-
ward the watering-trough. while the
two rangers went toward the house.
Dick was telling Ladd about the ar
fair at Papego well when they turned
the corner under the porch. Nell was
sitting In the door. She rose with
little scream and came nying toward
them.
Now I'll get IT," whispered Ladd.
'The women II make a baby Of me.
An shore can't help myself"
"Oh, Laddy, you've been hurt )"
cried Nell, as with white cheeks and
dilating eyes she ran to him and
caught his arm.
shore. Nell. it's only q scratch.
Ny bronch throwed me"
'Iaddy. no horse ever threw you
You've been shot Mamma,
here's Laddy. and he's been shot. =.
oh. these dreadful days we're having!
to be so safe and quiet Nothing
happened. But now Jim comes home
with q bloody hole In him-then Dick
then Laddy! oh, I'm afraid
some day they'l never come home"
The morning was bright. still, and
clear as crystal The heat waves had
~. ria hs.
Nell sat perched high upon the top
most bar OF the corral gate. Dick
leaned beside her. now with bis eyes
on her face, now gazing out into the
alfalfa neld where Belongs thorough
breds grsEed and pranced and romped
and whistled. Nell watched the
horses. She loved them. never tired
Of watching them. But her gaze was
too consciously ayerted from the
yesrning eyes that tried to meet hers
TO be altogether natural
A great fenced field Of velvety green
alfalfa furnished a rich background
for the drove of about twenty white
horses Blanco Diablo was the only
one In the field that was not free to
roam and Craze where he listed. A
stake and halter held him to one
corner, where he WIS severely let
alone by the other horses. He did not
ike this Isolation. Bianco Diablo was
not happy unless he was running. or
lighting rival. or the two he would
rather night. II anything white could
resemble a devil. this horse surely
did. He had nothing beautiful about
him. yet he drew the gaze and held
II. The look OF him suggested dis
content. anger. revolt, vicfousness
When he was not grazing or prancing
he held his long. lean head level, point
ing his nose and showing his teeth.
Belding's favorite was almost all the
world TO him. and he swore Diablo
could stand more heat and thirst and
cactus than any other horse he owned,
aud could run down and Kill any
horse In the Southwest.
The COWBOYS admitted some OF
Belongs claims for Diablo. bur they
gave loyal and unshakable allegiance
TO Blanco Sol As for Dick. he had
to fight himself to keep out Of srgu
ments. for he sometimes imagined he
was unreasonable about the horse
self he knew he loved Sol as a man
| loved q friend. a brother. Free OF
heavy saddle and the clumsy leg
! shields, Blanco Sol was somehow all
satisfying to the eyes OF the rangers
The dazzling whiteness of the desert
sun shone from his gDat; he had the
fire and spirit Of the desert in his
noble head. its strength and power in
his gigantic frame.
"Belding swears Sol never beat
DiabIo." Dick was saying
He believes It," replied Nell. Dad
Is queer about that horse"
'Ive often wondered how Bedding
ever came to give Blanco Sol TO me"
said Dick.
81 think he wanted to get rid OF
Sol"
Maybe He surely has strange pas
sion for horses. 1 think | understand
( better than | used to. I owned II
couple of racers once. They were
Just animals to me. guess. But
Blanco Sol :"
"Do you love himf" asked Nell and
now II warm. blue nash OF eyes swept
his face.
DO 1? Well, rather"