Desert Gold

  "Laddy, it's open enough around Forlorn River to satisfy even an old-time cowpuncher like you," laughed Belding.  "I'd take your staying on as some favor, don't mistake me.  Perhaps I can persuade the young man Gale to take a job with me."

  "That's shore likely.  He said he had no money, no friends.  An' if a scrapper's all you're lookin' for he'll do," replied Ladd, with a dry chuckle.

  "Mrs. B. will throw some broncho capers round this ranch when she hears I'm going to hire a stranger."

  "Why?"

  "Well, there's Nell– And you said this Gale was a young American. My wife will be scared to death for fear Nell will fall in love with him."

  Laddy choked off a laugh, then evidently slapped his knee or Belding's, for there was a resounding smack.

  "He's a fine-spoken, good-looking chap, you said?" went on Belding.

  "Shore he is," said Laddy, warmly.  "What do you say, Jim?"

  By this time Dick Gale's ears began to burn and he was trying to make himself deaf when he wanted to hear every little word.

  "Husky young fellow, nice voice, steady, clear eyes, kinda proud, I thought, an' some handsome, he was," replied Jim Lash.

  "Maybe I ought to think twice before taking a stranger into my family," said Belding, seriously.  "Well, I guess he's all right, Laddy, being the cavalryman's friend.  No bum or lunger?  He must be all right?"

  "Bum?  Lunger?  Say, didn't I tell you I shook hands with this boy an' was plumb glad to meet him?" demanded Laddy, with considerable heat.  Manifestly he had been affronted. "Tom Beldin', he's a gentleman, an' he could lick you in– in half a second.  How about that, Jim?"

  "Less time," replied Lash.  "Tom, here's my stand.  Young Gale can have my hoss, my gun, anythin' of mine."

  "Aw, I didn't mean to insult you, boys, don't mistake me," said Belding. "Course he's all right."

  The object of this conversation lay quiet upon his bed, thrilling and amazed at being so championed by the cowboys, delighted with Belding's idea of employing him, and much amused with the quaint seriousness of the three.

  "How's the young man?" called a woman's voice.  It was kind and mellow and earnest.

  Gale heard footsteps on flagstones.

  "He's asleep yet, wife," replied Belding.  "Guess he was pretty much knocked out....I'll close the door there so we won't wake him."

  There were slow, soft steps, then the door softly closed.  But the fact scarcely made a perceptible difference in the sound of the voices outside.

  "Laddy and Jim are going to stay," went on Belding.  "It'll be like the old Panhandle days a little.  I'm powerful glad to have the boys, Nellie.  You know I meant to sent to Casita to ask them. We'll see some trouble before the revolution is ended.  I think I'll make this young man Gale an offer."

  "He isn't a cowboy?" asked Mrs. Belding, quickly.

  "No."

  "Shore he'd make a darn good one," put in Laddy.

  "What is he?  Who is he?  Where did he come from?  Surely you must be–"

  "Laddy swears he's all right," interrupted the husband.  "That's enough reference for me.  Isn't it enough for you?"

  "Humph!  Laddy knows a lot about young men, now doesn't he, especially strangers from the East?...Tom, you must be careful!"

  "Wife, I'm only too glad to have a nervy young chap come along. What sense is there in your objection, if Jim and Laddy stick up for him?"

  "But, Tom–he'll fall in love with Nell!" protested Mrs. Belding.

  "Well, wouldn't that be regular?  Doesn't every man who comes along fall in love with Nell?  Hasn't it always happened?  When she was a schoolgirl in Kansas didn't it happen?  Didn't she have a hundred moon-eyed ninnies after her in Texas?  I've had some peace out here in the desert, except when a Greaser or a prospector or a Yaqui would come along.  Then same old story– in love with Nell!"

  "But, Tom, Nell might fall in love with this young man!" exclaimed the wife, in distress.

  "Laddy, Jim, didn't I tell you?" cried Belding.  "I knew she'd say that....My dear wife, I would be simply overcome with joy if Nell did fall in love once.  Real good and hard!  She's wilder than any antelope out there on the desert.  Nell's nearly twenty now, and so far as we know she's never cared a rap for any fellow.  And she's just as gay and full of the devil as she was at fourteen. Nell's as good and lovable as she is pretty, but I'm afraid she'll never grow into a woman while we live out in this lonely land. And you've always hated towns where there was a chance for the girl–just because you were afraid she'd fall in love.  You've always been strange, even silly, about that.  I've done my best for Nell–loved her as if she were my own daughter.  I've changed many business plans to suit your whims.  There are rough times ahead, maybe.  I need men.  I'll hire this chap Gale if he'll stay. Let Nell take her chance with him, just as she'll have to take chances with men when we get out of the desert.  She'll be all the better for it."

  "I hope Laddy's not mistaken in his opinion of this newcomer," replied Mrs. Belding, with a sigh of resignation.