The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-15
Wife GAY BANDIT
. " of#e; B 30 ID
y TOM GILL


snow from her pavement. ran all
the way home to show the big silver
piece to dad. You know. there were
tears in my fathers eyes. He held
it up in the sunlight and said to me
SO earnestly that remember every
word, Never be without these, son.
he told me. To be poor-that is the
unforgivable> SIM"
Radcliffe's broding face cleared.
I'VE weren't poor long after that.
My fathers luck turned. That win.
ter he herded sheep on shares, and
next spring had a band of his own.
Later we went to Washington and
in a gear father was the leading
spirit in group of men who were
developing land in South and Cen.
trail America. He touched every
kind of misunderstanding, to-
bacco. sugar-cane plantations, trop-
ical woods-and they all yielded
gold. I'm very proud of him. and
respect him more than any man in
the world. You see, we suffered to.
gether and came through the dark
places together" Radcliffe stopped,
and added slowly. Then FIVE years
ago he died."
The silence that followed was
broken by a closing door above them,
and a moment later Major Blount
clattered down the stairs. The ma.
jor's ruddy face that seemed never
to tan beneath the suns of sixty
years smiled broad welcome. He
was short, inclined to heaviness, and
his shirt bulged dangerously above
his vest. 1t was, as Mrs. Blount had
many times declared. sad but seien.
tifc fact that the major looked better
in uniform than in evening clothes.
He doomed his greeting from across
the room.
GLAD Clara asked you both to get
here ahead of the mob"
Over Adela's hand he bowed his
stiff military bow. and, holding Rad
cliffe's hand for an instant, looked
up into the younger mans eyes. To
Radcliffe it seemed that some mo.
mentary pain passed across the old
soldiers face, vanishing as he spoke
again. Bob left note asking US to
take care of you until he gets back.
It's = pleasure to do that" Abruptly
he asked, Staying long in Verdil"
How long can't say. My com.
ing has been unexpected and little
mysterious"
Again that fleeing look of pity
seemed to touch the majors eyes.
Aunt Clara lighted another of her
interminable cigarettes. 1T was pref
ty low down to let you in for q
formal dinner party this first night.
There will be twelve of u. Adela
and you are the only ones who
haven't reached second childhood"
IF ever Uncle Pace hears that you
are numbering him among the old
and toothless." the girl warned,
there will be international compli.
cations"
Mrs. Blount turned to her guest.
Were talking about the big man Of
northern Mexico"
"Paeo Morales?"
The woman nodded. "You know
him7"
NO" Radcliffe shook hi. head.
But ! saw him once back East nv
father told me he holds this border
country in the palm of his hand"
That's true enough. But hi. sre.A.
est claim to immortality lies in Be.
ing Adela's uncle. He is her euard;a.
and he's finding it life work" Aune
Clara smiled. IF Paco Morales had
his way. Adela would be in : con.
vent Or"
"or married to Jito." added TIE
girl with little grimace.
Radcliffe looked quickly no. Aeaia
ne remembered the yengcful look a
that Mexican vaquero and tl,e words.
Tito. our leader, viii make ti,ia
gringo regret"
Morales Is really the government
of northern Mexico wrspped up in
one man." the major was saying. 1T
does whatever he says, and he con-
'rols practically every ioct Of lanc
south Of the Rio Gran6e hack 10 the
mountains. A man Of TIE old Span.
sh blood"