Nogales international., 1933-12-23

tcrest? I'd like to know the value
you set on it"
Snavely took three slow steps to
the girls side. Il told you yester-
day." he said tcnsely, that l didn't
want no money"
Again the girl forced herself to
smile. "All right; the ranch will
need you badly, Of course. II we do
obtain capital, it will have to be spent
by some one who understands what
improvements should be made"
The man nodded, then said easily,
"You goin' down to the box? I'll be
ridn' that way-I can take your let
ter for you To-day's the day the
mail gees in"
Thank you-but I haven't had a
ride for weeks. think David and
I will CO."
"You won't get there in time
with the boy. Thane'll be goin' past
inside Of an hour. Better let me
have i"
Ruth he5itated. hanl1, you," she
smiled, perhaps it would be best for
you to take Tiff it isn't out OF your
way. I'll get the letter. But please
catch my horse for ne; | think I'll
take ride anyway"
She hurried to. the adobe, Snarely
following. Her letter lay upon the
table. For a moment she regarded ii
thoughtfully, but she picked it up and
going to the door gave it to Snayely
,.,t+l, ,,,o.J ~ 414o,,1Yr
Ten minutes after he had ridden
along the southern bank Of the gulcll,
Ruth mounted her horse and followed
Tucked in her blouse was another
letter to the Dempster Greys. This
letter, which she had Just written, was
duplicate of the enc she had given
Snavcly.
She left David with Ann. She
hoped she wouldn't meet Snavely but,
ii so, she could say that she had for
gotten something in the first letter.
Perhaps he would take her letter to
the mail box; but he had seemed too
eager. She knew. that he would
rather not secure capital for the ranch.
Ruth saw no sign Of .Snavely. Nor,
when she reached the box, had Snavely
been before her-there was nothing
in the box bit the tin can.
She determined TO wait for Old
Charley. She waited nervously, for
she was worrying about David. She
had never left him before. She
believed Ann would watch him care
fully; but suppose she didn't? David
could slip out Of sight so easily. He
might step on a snake; he might
wonder what the fence around the old
we'll concealed and find a way to
crawl over.
Ruth tortured herself with such
thoughts for half an hour more.
Finally, after long look around, she
put the letter in the box, carefully
placed the can on top as signal to
Old Charley to pick up the mail, and
started back.
Five minutes after she had disap-
peared Snavely rode out of rayine
three hundred yards north of the
ranch road and galloped toward the
mail box. He had ust reached a
brush-bordered gully, still some dis
tance from the box, when Old Char
leys car swooped over hill on the
main road and disappeared at the
bottom. The car would be at the box
very soon.
Snavely brought his horse to a slid
ing stop, forced it into the gully and
dismounted.
A forty-fve barked from the gully
and splinter few from the top Of the
mail box. At the next shot the can
fell to the ground
Shortly after, Old Charley drove
past, glancing at the bare top of the
mail box. When he was quite gone
Snavely rode leisurely out of the
gully.
For three consecutive Saturdays
Ruth and her son were waiting at
the mail box when Old Charley ar
rived. She was by this time expect
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