Nogales international., 1933-12-02

Take anything you want, Ann-all
of them if they'd be of use to you.
They'll spruce up dress wonder
fully"
II don't never spruce up" replied
Ann quietly, "but I'll take little Of
this gold one if you want"
"Oh, take it all"
"No." Ann took the scissors and
reverently cut about twelve inches
from the band.
"Well, if you ever want any more,
You'll know where to find the box,
Ann. What will you do with that
piece
Fer the first time since Ruth had
known her, Ann smiled. 1t was the
rlost expressive smile the girl had
ever seen. Ann looked toward the
door. "Sugarfoot.' she called.
The little dog arrived at once, and
| Ana, still smiling. tied the bright rib
bon about his neck. Then she tilted
her head to one side, cav, Mr.. Sugar
loot, amt you jes' the classiest little
dog now!"
Ruth Warren felt moisture in her
eyes. Ann" she said inpulsively,
take something for yourself-I know
you want to-pleaSe !"
AIMS black eyes looked into the
earnest hazel ones before her. No
thank you kindly
For Ruth, the next two weeks were
days of bewilderment. She could not
realize her isolation; it was inlpos-
siblc for her to accept the fact that
beyond that distant horizon there was
only more horizon.
| She wanted desperately TO under
stand her surroundings; she forced
herself to study everything which
| might add to her knowledge OF the
country and the operation OF the
ranch. Snavely was no help. Each
morning he rode away very early-to
watch the cattle, she Supposed-re-
turning late in the afternoon. And
when she was able to speak with him
his pale eyes regarded her contemptu-
ously and he answered in monosyl-
lables. Only once or twice did he re-
ply at any length and then to dwell
upon the discouraging features of the
ranch and the dangers OF the country
to those unacquainted with it.
With the passing of the days War
ren's health improved noticeably. At
his repeated request, Snavely grudg-
ingly turned two horses over for the
use OF the little family, and in the cool
of the evening Warren found that he
could take short horseback rides with
his wife and son.
AS Warren's cough seized him less
often, his mind freshened; he became
the eager, buoyant, impractical, low
able boy Ruth Grey had eloped with
six years before. His old zeSt for the
connecting of dreams, which he be-
lieved to be plans, returned. He thor
oughly considered the possibilities Of
the ranch. Calling Ruth's attention to
the low hills of the pasture lands, he
observed that they looked very like
certain hills in Oklahoma where he
had seen oil derricks. 1t might, he
thought, be worth while to have a
gcologist come out and look around.
And while the geologist was there, it
wouldn't hurt to have him prospect for
gold and other mineral wealth in the
mountains-Arizona was famous for
mines. There was perhaps only one
use of the twenty thousand acres upon
which Warren did not speculate-their
use as a cattle ranch.
In her heart Ruth knew that this
was the only real value of the land.
lust how valuable a ranch it was, or
how valuable it could be made, she
had no idea She wished she could
talk to Old Charley about it.
Kenneth's schemes about the ranch
dwindled and for a day he found moth
ing to interest him. Then suddenly he
discovered the fascination of rhym-
ing. With boundless optimism he gave
David over to the complete care of
Ruth and went joyfully at the busi-