Nogales international., 1934-01-20
brows at this statement-as a general
fhino IA rtr1erS agreed

brows at this statement-as a gencrai
thing partners agreed.
Parker turned to the attorney. 1T
would be legal for Mrs. Warren to
offer her interest even though Mr..
Snavely does not wish to offer his,
wouldn't itI"
"Why, yes, it would be legal; it can
be done. However"-he studied
Snavely-''it will be a rather unique
state of affairs. Should the cattle come
on the ranch they will increase the
value of the ranch and likewise the
value of the partnership interests. In
other words, Mrs. Warren would be
increasing Mr.. Snavely's property for
him, while Mr.. Snavely, in refusing to
offer his share as security, would be
contributing nothing to the welfare Of
the partnership However," he turned
to Parker as though he had seen
enough of Snavely, II think Mrs.
Warren's note will be sufficient"
An hour later the machine was dis
appearing into the gufch aud Ruth
Warren had mortgaged her entire in
terests in the Dead Lantern ranch:
Snayely came UP behind. her.
what you Jest done was agin' my
advice, Mrs. Warren. Don't expect me
to do nothin' if things don't turn out
like you hgger."
Ruth smiled. Certainly, I under
stand. But you- were there when Mr..
Parker and went over the. situation
Il know and you know the water IS a
little scanty, but if things don't go too
badlyI may even be able to pay off the
note next November. hope shall,
but il not, he agreed to give me
year"
Seems like you're talkin' LOT
about yourself" he replied tensely.
"You talk like this was your ranch"
Il didn't mean it that way" an
swered Ruth lightly.
The look on Sriavely's face brought
Ruth back to earth with a jerk. For
moment she thought he was going to
leave her without speaking, but her
relief was short-lived Do you know
somethin'? I come by the deep tank
il. the south pasture on my way home
this mornin'. Well, it qeas]red ont last
night-that's what it did. The water
in that yebreSa's gone to hell this min
ute. Them other shallow ones won't
last two weeks!" For moment, his
glinting eyes played over her sardoni-
cally. With a short laugh he walked
| to his horse and, mounting, rode away.
On the day after the cattle deal
| IoA 4oi,a-, in the
kitchen when Ruth arose. Neither
was she in her room. Nothing i'll the
kitchen appeared to have been touched
since the evening before, nor was the
FIRE lighted. She built the fire. Soon
| Snavely came to the door.
"Where's Ann?"
'I'm sure I don't know I thought
perhaps she had to do something out
side before breakfast and hadn't con1s
in yet"
"Did you look in her room?"
Il didn't look-1 opened the door
and called
"Huh!" Snave1y went to AIMS
room and returned shortly. Her bed
amt been slept iil-she's gone ag'in.'
"Why, what do you mean!" =
"Bout every two months or so Ann
goes away for spell-don't know
where. Well, you can get me some
thin to cat, I reckon"
For five days Ruth was cook on the
Dead Lantern, and Of the fifteen meals,
twelve Of them consisted of Mexican
beans and boiled sun-dried beef.
On the morning Of the sixth day
Ann was in the kitchen when Ruth
entered.
why hello, Ami When did you
get back"
''Last evenin'."
'T. didn't hear you come H."
''No, Mrs. Warren"
"Where have you been, Ann?
'T've been away" answered the
huge woman quietly.
Ruth said nothing more.
The cattle had come--a long, wind