Evening star., 1925-06-26

IN USH VALLEY runs back from
the edge of the rolling, partly
IN wooded foothill country to the
feet of the great hills them
selves. Looking eastward
from any eminence the sky comes
down to meet the earth In an un-
broken horizon line, trimming a coun-
try of ranches and of little towns at
20 and 80 mile intervals. But look
ing westward there is no far-flung
horizon line Instead there Is
Jagged line of towering mountain
peaks. From the western end OF the
valley a pass leads into country
which lies today as 1T was when
Blackfoot and Stoney and Kootenai
trod it. to hunt and to carry war.
But the valley itself is fertile,
wooded, and watered by large noun
tain creek, by eastern standards
river. There, when prairie lands
rose in price and homesteads were
hard to obtain. Government land
might still be had; and accordingly
to it came men with little money, VINO
desired to make homes and were not
afraid of the heavy labor of clearing
land One of the first of these was
Michael Rigney.
Rigney was a product of the east
ern pineries, in which he had worked
from the time he could swing an an
He came west to better his condition,
leaving behind him temporarily wlfe
and growing family. He worked at
such Jobs as he could obtain, saving
his wages and all the time drifting
westward and at last came TO the
foothills. He heard of Bush Valley
and made a lone excursion up II, ana
liked it. The creek put him in mind
of the driving streams of his native
habitat.
Sure enough It's like home" he
said aloud, with the warm friendli-
ness of the man who loves running
water as the hillman loves his hills.
"They's wood, plenty. TO burn, an
the soil is good. It'll do
so he filed on the piece of land of
his choice, and wrote to his wife that
he had done so and would send for
her as soon as he could.
That Winter he worked with a sur
vey party, and in the Spring came
into the valley again with team of
old grayS cast from contractors out
fit. a breaking plow, few tools and
a grubstake When the grubstaise
ran out he had built singlehanded a
log house and stable, broken and
cleared a patch of land, and fenced
1t. Again he was forced to get job
ter. But in the Summer he sent for
his wife and family, the latter con-
sisting of Timothy, aged u; Teresa,
aged 8; Bernard. aged Z, and the
twins, John and Terence, aged 5.
Mike Rigney found that he had to
get acquainted afresh with his
family. In the years of his absence
the children had grown away from
him and he from them. He was al
most a stranger. He came upon his
eldest born one day shortly after their
arrival, when the boy had hit his
thumb with a hammer and was using
years.
shut upr' the man commanded.
Them S no words for a boy to know,
let alone say. Who learnt you?"
1t appeared that the boy had had
no special tutor. He was a stocky
urchin, with a freckled face. reddish,
sandy hair, and clear blue eyes. The
Objectionable phrases, broadcast by
teamsters, river drivers and others
had been picked out of the air by that
wondrous receiving set, a boys
memory.
Never let me hear you say nav
thin like that again. Mike admon-
ished him.
You say it-only better" his son
argued.
Mike could not deny it
I'm a man. he said. Wait till you
grow up before you curse-like
snokin'."
I've smoked lots" the young hope
ful stated proudly.
You've gone to the devil intirely
since I've been away" his father
frowned. you'll quit them things. or
I'll larrup the life out of ye. Did
ye ever steal, tell me-"
Yes" the boy admitted frankly
We'll, / be DAM" his father ex-
claimed. But anyways ye're no liar.
What have We stole?"
1t appeared that the boy had stolen
annleS melons niaS and dn1l