Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 15, 1922, Page 12

LA ALY A A W s S R S T A R S THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER ~ ~ DESERT GOLD A\ SAuthor of Riders of the Purple Sage. COPYRIGUT "N “HARPER AND SRGTHRRS. (Continueq from lass fissue) p— CHAPTER XVIIL Reality Against Dreams. Dick Gale was standing bowed over Well’s slight form, almost hidden in his arms. Belding hugged them both. He was llke a boy. He saw Ben Chase and his son slip away under the trees, but the circumstances meant nothing to him then. “Dick! Dick!” he roared. “Ts it you? ... Say, who do you think's here—here, in Forlorn River?” It was then three more persons came upon the scene—Elsie Gale, running swiftly, her father asslsting Mrs. Gale, who appeared about to faint. “Belding! Who on earth’s that?” eri. -k, hoarsely. - “Quien sabe, my son,” replied Beld- ing; and now his voice seemed a little shaky. “Nell, come here. Give him & chance.” Belding slipped his arm round Nell, and whispered in her ear. “This'll be great!” Elsle Gale’s face was white and agl- tated, a face expressing extreme joy. “Oh, brother! Mamma saw you— papa saw you, and never knew you! But I knew you when -you 'jumped quick—that way—oft y«ur horse. And now I don't know you. You wild man! You giant! You splendid barbarian! « + « Mamma, papa,, hurry! It is Dick! Look at him. Just look at him! Oh-h, thank God!” Belding turned away and drew Nell with him. In another second she and Mercedes were clasped in each other’s arms, Then followed a time of joyful greetings all round. Diablo found his old spirit; Blanco Sol tossed his head and whistled his satisfaction; White ‘Woman pranced to and fro; and pres- ently they all settled down to quiet grazing. How good it was for Belding to see those white shapes against the - rich background.of greenl His. eyes glistened. It was a sight he had never expected to see again, He lingered there many moments when he wanted . to hurry back to his rangers. At last he tore himself away from watching Blanco Diablo and returned to the house. It was only to find that he might have spared himself the hur- ry. Jim and Ladd were lying on the beds that had not held them.for so many months. Thelr slumber seemed as deep and quiet as death. Curiously Belding gazed down upon them. They had removed only boots and chaps. Their clothes were in tatters. Jim ap- peared little more than skin and bones, a long shape, dark and hard as iron. Ladd’s appearance shocked Belding. The ranger looked an old man, blasted, shriveled, starved. About the middle of the forenoon on the following day the rangers hob- , bled out of the kitchen to the porch. “I'm a sick man, I tell you,” Ladd was complalning, “an’ I gotta be fed. Soup! Beef tea! That ain’t so much | as wind to me. I want about a barrel ' of bread an’ butter, an’ a whole plat- ter of mashed potatoes with gravy an’ green stuff—all kinds of green stuff— an’ a whole big apple pie. Give me everythin’ an’ anythin’ to eat but meat. Shore I never, never want to taste meat again, an’ sight of a plece of sheep meat would jest about finish me. Jim, you used to be a human beln’ that stood up for Charlie Ladd.” “Laddy, I'm lined up beside you with both guns,” replied Jim, plaintively. “Hungry? Say, the smell of bréak- fast in that kitchen made my mouth water 80 I near choked to death. I reckon we're gettin' wost onhuman treatment.” “But I'm a sick man,” protested Ladd, “an’ I'm agoin' to fall over in a winute if somebody don't feed mie. Nell, you used to be fond of me.” “Oh, Laddy, T am yet,” replied Nell. “Shore, I don't belleve it. Any girl with a tender heart just couldn't let a man starve under her eyes. . . . Look at Dick, there. Tll bet he's had something to eat, mebbe potatoés an’' gravy, an’ pie an—" 1”7 *Laddy, Dick has had no I gave you—indeed, not 1. much.” “Shore he's had a lur of for he hasu't hotlered on treatment.” “Perhaps he has.” said Nell, witn blush; “and if you think that— I would help you to be reasonulle might—T1—" “Well, powerfut fond as I am of yoa. Just now kisses'll have to run secoud to bread an’butter.” “Oh, Laddy, what a gallant speech! Taughed ' Nell. “I'm sorry, but I've dad’s orders.” “Lad interrupted Belding, “you've got to be broke in gradually to eating. " “You were never sick in your life, and if all the bullet holes I see‘in you couldn’t kill you, why, you never will die” “Can I smoke?” queried Ladd, with sudden animation, “My Gawd, I used to smoke, - Shore I've forgot. Nell, if you want to be reinstated in my gal- lery of angels, just find me a pipe an’ tobacco.” “I've hung onto my pipe,” said Jim, thoughtfully. “I reckon I had it emp- ty in my mouth for seven years or so, wasn't it, Laddy? " A long time! I can see the red lava an’ the red haze, the red twilight creepin* up. It was hot an’ some lonely. Then the wind, and always that awful silence! An’ always Yaqui watchin’ the ‘west, an’ Laddy with his checkers, an’ Mer- cedes burnin’ up, wastin’ away to nothin’ but eyes! It’s all there—TI'll never get rid—" “Chop that kind of talk,” interrupt- ed Belding, bluntly. “Tell us where Yaqui took you—what happened to Rojas—why you seemed lost for so long.” “I reckon Laddy can tell all that best; but when it come to Rojas’ fin- ish I'll tell what I seen, an” so'll Dick an’ Thorne. Laddy missed Rojas’ fin- ish. Bar none, that was the—" “I'm a sick man, but I can talk,” put | in Ladd, “an’ shore I don’t want the whole story exaggerated none by Jim.” Ladd filled the pipe Nell brought, puffed ecstatically at it, and settled himself upon the bench for a long talk. He talked *for two hours— talked till his voice weakened to a husky whisper. At the conclusion of his story there was an impressive si- lence. Then Elsie Gale stood up, and with her hand on Dick's’ shoulder, her eyes bright-and warm as sunlight, she showed the rangers what a woman thought of them and of the Yaqui. Nell clung to Dick, weeping silently. Mrs. Gale was overcome, and Mr. Gale, very white and quiet, helped her up to her room. Early in the afternoon of the next day Belding encountered Dick at the “water barrel. “Belding, this is river wat muddy a2t that” said_Dick, = Knows I'm™ not Kicking. But Tve dreamned some ©of our cool running | spring, and I want a drink from it.”" | | “Never again, ‘son. ‘The spring’s gone, faded. sunk. dry as dust.” | “Dry!” Gale slowly straightened. - “We've had rains. 'The river’s full, The spring out to be overflowing. What’s wrong? Why is it dry?’ “Dick, seeing you're interested; I ; may as well tell you that a big charge of nitroglycerin choked my spring.” “Nitroglycerin?” echoed Gale. Then : he gave a quick start.. “My mind's been on honie, Nell, my family. But all the same I felt something was wrong here with the ranch, with vou, with Nell. . . Pelding, that ditch there s dry. The roses dre dead. The little green in that grass has cowme with the rains. What's happened? The ranch’s run down. Now T look around I see a change.” i “Some change, yes,” replied Belding, ‘ bitterly. *“Listen, son.” Briefly, but not the less forcibly for that, Belding related his story of the operations of the Chases. With deep voice that had many a break and tremor he told Gale how Nell had been hounded by Radford Chase, how her mother had been driven by Ben Chase—the whole sad story. “So that's the trouble! Poor little girl!” murmured Gale, brokenly. *“I felt something was wrong. Nell wasn't natural, like her old self.”. “It was hard on Nell,” said Belding, simply. “But it’'ll be better now you're here, Dick, I know the girl. She’ll re- a0 | fuge to marry you and you'll have a hard job to break her down, as hard ag the one you just rode in off of. T think I know you, too, or I woulda’t be saying—" “For God’s sake, you don't helleve what Chase safd?’ queried Gale, in passionate haste. “It's a lie. I swear it’s a lie. I know it's a lie. And I've got to tell Nell this minute. Come on in with me. I want you, Belding. Om, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Belding felt himself dragged by an iron arm into the sitting room, out into the patio, and across that to where Nell sat in her door. At sight of them she gave a little cry, drooped for an in- stant, then raised a pale, still face, with eyes beginning to darkea. “Dearest, I know now why you are not wearing my mother’s ring,” said Gale, steadily and low-voiced. “Dick, I am not worthy,” she re- plied, and held out a trembling hand with the ring lying in the palm. Swift as light Gale caught her bhand and slipped the ring back upon the third finger. “Nell! Look at me. gagement ring. . . . Listen. believe this—this thing that's been tor- turing you. I kmow it's a He. I am absolutely sure your mother wili prove it a lle. She must have suffered cace— perhaps there was a sad error—but_the It is ycur en- thing you fear is not true. But, hear H me, dearest; even if it was true it wouldn’t make the slightest difference to me. I want you all the more to be my wife—to let me make you forget— and | t0—" sord ! She rose swiftly with the passionate aban of a woman stirred to her ' said that. 1 don't ! - Scoft’s Emulsion Qeptiis, and she Kissed Wim. “Oh, Dick, you're good—so good You'll never know—just what those ‘words to me. They've saved me —I think.” 3 “Then, dearest, It's all right?” Dick questioned, eagerly. “You will keep your: promise? You will marry me?’ The glow, the light faded out of, her face, and now the blue eyes were al- most bluck, She drooped and shook her head. They stepned “L.love you with my soul. I'd die for yo whispered Nell with elenching -hands. “But I won't disgrace you. Dick, you give not one thought to your family. Would they receive me as your wife?” “They surely would,” replied Gale, steadily. N “No! oh no!” “You're wrong, Nell. I'm glad you Yon give me a chance to I into the shade, vhole heart and prove something. and tell them all. T'll be back here in less than—" - “Dick, you wili not tell her—your mother?” cried Nell, with her eyes streaming. “You will not? Oh, I can’t bear it! She’s so prond! And, Dick, I love her. ‘Don't tell her! Please, please don’t! She'll be going soon. She dn’t ever know—about me. Please don’t go!” _“Nell, I'm sorry. I hate to hurt you. Bat you're wrong. You can't see things clearly. This is your happiness I'm fighting for. And it's my life. . . . ‘Wait here, dear. I won't be long.” Gale ran across the patio and dis- appeared. Nell sank to the doorstep, and as she met the question in Bel- ding’s eyes she shook her head mourn- fully. They waited without speaking. 1t seemed a long while before Gale re- turned. Belding thrilled at sight of him. There was more boy about him than Belding had ever seen. Dick was coming swiftly, flushed, glowing, eager, erect, almost smiling. o i (Uuntinued i Next 188te) SUBSCRIBE FOk THE PIONEER VITAMINES essential, health-building factors. kave always been in cod-livir oil and account for its helpfulness in over- coming malnutrition. should be'taken for a reason- ! - able length of time [ daily, to enable ‘its § rich, vitamine-nour- § ishing virtues fo help refresh, energize and build up the body. | ©s o > for your selection. Electric toaster Electric Flashlights Electric Table Lamps to suit. 7.50 Rlectric Grills.. $8 to $12 Electric Irons.. $4.50 to $8 ... $1.00 to $4.00 $8.50 to $18.00 HER MOST APPRECIATED GIFT Men, can you think of any gift for that good wife, better_ than electrical appliances? Here Are Some Thoughts—Come in and ’ Talk it Over All the newest and most improved appliances are here Electric Fans ..$10 and up Electric Floor Lamps . $20.00 to $35.00 Vacuum Cleaners $49.50 Electric Perculators .. $10.50 to $18.00 We have a most beautiful line of electric fixtures for the home, ranging in price from $1.50 upwards. We sell all our electric appliances for cash or give terms We Love to Be Bothered NAYLOR ELECTRIC AND CONSTRUCTION 0. THE RADIO STORE had forgotten Belding, who J I'll go this minute § A You may not be aware of the many things in our stoek that will make very sensible dnd desirable Christmas gifts—and the best part about it is the fact that prices are so reasonable—in fact the = very best kind of merchandise at the smallest posible prices. LOOK OVER THIS LIST OF SUGGESTIGNS —THEN COME AND SEE THE G0ODS BLANKETS FOR XMAS WOOL NAP BBLANKETS, light colors, blue, yellow, lavander, grey, brown and pink plaid double woven wool nap. full size, very special at HEAVY WOOL NAP SINGLE BLANK- ETS plaids in all colors, very special -..$3.45 JACQUARD BLANKETS, heavy wool double woven blankets 66x80, very pret- ty patterns, a fine Christmas gift, enly” ESMOND BLANKET COMFORTABLES' in dark coclors, in Navajo patterns size 64x78, a very generous asortment of pat- terns to choose from at $3.98 0. D. ARMY BLANKETS, they kept the boys warm in the army, they’ll keep you warm too, all weol and only .. .$2.58 HORSE BLANKETS, there’s no reason why the horse should not enjoy a’Xmas gift of one of these splendid blankets, canvas coverad with blanket lining per pair $5, each ... ¥ / O.D. BREECHES Made with lace leg ,in the approved army style, a new shipment has ar- rived, here’s what you’ve been lock- ing for, all sizes here NOW. Class A, reclaimed % Brand new HALTER TIE CHAINS, well worth 75¢ special here while the lot lasts for ....35¢ HUNTING AXES, made of one pice of solid tool steel, by the Griffith Steel -orks a dandy present for a boy and use- ul around the house, special at ........89¢ WRECKING BARS also made of one piece of tool steel, you’ll be surprised at the uses found for this article, only - 69¢ Army 4 lb. Axes, made by the Mann Edge Tool Co. complete with handle for only 98¢ SHEEP LINED COATE, moleskin covered, sheep lining, reinforced pock- ets, belted all around, good big heavy fur collar, short style only ... ...$9.75 Same coat as above in 3-4 length only ....$15.95 NAVY PEA JACKETS they cost the government $18: by the thousand, you know they’re good, our special };;nas FUR OVERCOATS, big and warm, we have a limited amount of them, .well worth $75 our price™ ....$35 Big fur driving mitts. Get him a pair of thgse at only. .... .$3.50 Leather Vests, with or without sleevs sheep lined; leather lined and blanket lined, some withk mole skin covering at from $3.98 to $10.50 FREE—With every purchase of $5 .or over we will give a dandy barracks bag they make fine- laundry bags made of denim. . DURHAM DUPLEX RAZORS, complete With 3 blades, 6 shaving edges and at- tachment for stropping only 49c COTTON CLOTHES LINES 25¢ two to- gether for SRS 173 WEBB BEBLTS new. - Reclaimed HOSIERY FOR CHRISTMAS What could be more appropriate for a man’s Christmas than Hosiery? We have an exceviontally large stock which we are offering. Lisle Sox, special 4 pair ... Angora Goat hair sox, each 8 pair Army Wool Sox, per pair. < Cashmerette sox, a splendid light snx each ... 5 pair for > Khiaki sox, the best wearing work sox medinm waioht, per pair Qc 6 pair for .. Finest wool dress sox in brown, blue - and ereen. Come and see these for his Christmas present, per pair .. ° 8 pair for ... Navy regulation Jersey Sweater all wcol A splendid buy at 84.50. Our special- Christmas offer, each .. $2.98 MEN’S WOOL UNION SUITS Underwear. Worth $7.50 per union Suit. Special— 0. D. WOOL BLOUSES or coats.... $2.45 KHAKI BLOUSES or coats . 0. D. ARMY OVERCOATS. Dyed Army; Overcoats 1 finger Army, all leather, Transport Gaduntlets. A dandy glove for 2 man who drives a car or team. A dandy gift Flannel shirts, O. D. color, A bargain at .. ....98¢ U. S, Army pocket combs, each ........ 10c Shawl collar, jumbo ribbed, heavy red sweater coats . Grey sweater coats 4 buckle Artics at per pair Slip-over sleeveless sweaters 0. D, Trousers, straight leg, all wool worth twice what we ask for them per pair .. Johnson’s army officer’s Dress Shoes, per pair . $4.95 with hard toes and rubber heels. Army Russet Shoes, per pair with Wing Foot rubber heels, Herman Navy shoes, 113,000 pair, per pair, : Last contract. Beautiful patterns in Floortex, per sq. yard "Turkish towels extra large 22x42 in- ches, splendid u-sefu’l gift. Bach 2 for What.could be nicer than a regulation O. D. Shirt for Xmas. All wool, chest lined, double elbows and everything. Each, our special price for Xmas $2.98 Price for two $5.50 Canvas gloves .. Overseas Caps.of O. D. Cloth, worth 25¢ 1 ALL GOODS SOLD ON GUARANTEE OF SATISFACTION U. S. Surplus Army Goods Store 220 Third Stret Bemidji, Minn. MAIL ORDERS GIVEN PROMPT AND CAREFUL ATTENTION A Now you know that. You'd be the se- verest kind of a boss if you had some | beggars on your hands.” Tm-slck—T'm dgin’,” howledl BEMIDJI, MINN. Phone 122 1ns3rdst ! =]