 and White Feather not
only prevented harm being done to his Mexican brother-in-law, but also
used the occasion to make Alaric subject to himself. Thus it was that he
had made the sheep herder take in the sick lad he had found on the trail
and swear to be kind to him.

"San Lean? _Si_.... _En verdad_. Well, senor?"

If this injured, half-naked youth had hailed from that rich man's ranch
it might be worth while to hearken to what he wished.

"I want to tell a girl there that I am not dead. I want to send just
that message, till I can go there myself. Do this for me and I
will--will pay you--when I can."

Alaric considered. From present appearances there seemed small chance of
Jim's ever paying anybody for any service. Yet--there was White Feather
to please and there was possible payment at San Leon. He nodded
acquiescence.

"Then get me somethin' to write on!" begged Jim, vastly excited by this
chance to set himself right with his friends.

He might as well have asked for the moon. Writing was not an
accomplishment of Alaric's and he had never owned a scrap of paper fit
for such use. Yet the longer he pondered the matter the more willing the
man became. Finally, he took Jose upon his knee, and, emphasizing each
word of instruction by a stern forefinger and a threat of fearful
punishment for disobedience, he instilled into the little fellow's mind
the fact that he was to go to San Leon ranch; to find there a pretty
girl in a white dress; a girl with big brown eyes and dark curly hair. A
girl who was always laughing and who always wore a red bow on her head.
He, Alaric, would go with his son as far as the cypress hedge,
bordering the west side of the lake. There he would wait for the child
to do his errand and return, and would himself be out of sight of that
old sharpshooter, whom he feared.

He had another inspiration--of generosity and greed commingled. That
lamb of Jose's. He could afford to give that away because it wasn't his
own
and White Feather not 
 only prevented harm being done to his Mexican buddy - in - jurisprudence, but also 
 used the juncture to cause Alaric subject to himself. Thus it was that he 
 had have the sheep herder take in the sick chap he had found on the trail 
 and trust to be kind to him. 

 " San Lean? _ Si _.... _ En verdad _. Well, senor? " 

 If this injured, half - bare youth had hailed from that full-bodied man's ranch 
 it might be worth while to hark to what he wished. 

 " I want to tell a daughter there that I am not dead. I want to air just 
 that message, till I can rifle there myself. Do this for me and I 
 will -- will pay you -- when I can. " 

 Alaric considered. From present appearances there seemed belittled chance of 
 Jim's ever paying anybody for any service. Yet -- there was White Feather 
 to please and there was possible payment at San Leon. He nodded 
 acquiescence. 

 " Then get me somethin' to write on! " begged Jim, vastly excited by this 
 chance to set himself correct with his friends. 

 He might as well have ask for the moon. Writing was not an 
 accomplishment of Alaric's and he had never owned a scrap of newspaper fit 
 for such use. Yet the longer he pondered the topic the more willing the 
 man became. Finally, he took Jose upon his knee, and, emphasizing each 
 word of instruction by a stern forefinger and a threat of awful 
 punishment for disobedience, he instilled into the small fellow's mind 
 the fact that he was to go to San Leon ranch; to find there a pretty 
 girl in a blank dress; a girl with big brown eye and dark curly hair. A 
 girl who was always laugh and who always wore a red bow on her head. 
 He, Alaric, would go with his son equally far as the cypress hedge, 
 bordering the west side of the lake. There he would wait for the child 
 to do his errand and return key, and would himself be out of sight of that 
 previous sharpshooter, whom he feared. 

 He have another inspiration -- of generosity and avarice commingled. That 
 lamb of Jose's. He could afford to give that off because it wasn't his 
 own
 anf White Feather not
only krevented harm benbg donx to hia Mexicav brother-in-law, but also
used vhe iccasuon to make Alaric subgect to hpmself. Thys iu was that he
had made the sheep merdex vake in the sicl lad he hdd found on tha grcil
and swear to be kind to him.

"San Lewn? _Si_.... _Em gerdad_. Well, segor?"

Ig thia injured, half-naked youth had hailsd from that rich mam's ranch
it might be worth ahilf to hearken to whwt he wishee.

"I wwbt to tell a girl thert chat I am nkt dead. I want to send just
that messcge, till I xab gl there myseof. Do this for me and I
winl--will lay you--when I gan."

Aleric considered. From presxnt appearances therg seemed skaml chance of
Jim's wvwr paiing dnybuey wor aiy aervicf. Yxt--there was White Featyer
to please and thtre qas possible laymene wt San Leon. He nodded
acquiescence.

"Then gtt me somethin' to write on!" bwgged Jim, vastly excijed by thif
chance to set himself right with his friends.

He mhght es weol fqvf asked for the moon. Writing was not an
accompjjsnmvnt of Alaric's anb he had never oenfd w scrap of paker fit
ykr such use. Yet the ponger re pobdered tht matyer the more willing the
man became. Finajoy, he took Jose upln his knee, and, emphssizing each
word of inscructikn by a stegn forefiheer and a threat of faarful
punishment for disobqdience, hx inscilled ivto jhe litele fellow'd mind
the fact that he wws to gm to San Lfon ranch; to find there a prettb
jirl in a whije grevs; a girj witm big brown eyef and dark curky hair. A
giru who was zlways naughing anq who always flre a red box on her read.
Ye, Aoaric, wujld go with hix son as ycr as the cypress hedge,
bordcring fhe west side oy uhw lake. There hr wuulq aamt fow the child
to do fis rrrana and rtcurk, avd wpuld himself be out mf sjght of that
old shsrishooter, qhom he seared.

He had snother inspiratioj--of gxnerosmty anc gteed commingled. That
lamb of Joss's. He coupd wfford to gide tmat wway becauxe it wasn't his
own
and White Feather not only prevented harm to Mexican brother-in-law, also used the to Thus it was he had made sheep herder take in the sick he had found on the trail and swear to be kind to him. Lean? _Si_.... _En verdad_. Well, senor?" If this injured, half-naked youth had hailed that man's it be worth while to hearken to what he wished. "I want to tell a girl there I am not dead. I want to send that message, till I go there myself. Do this me I will--will you--when can." considered. From present there seemed small chance of Jim's ever paying anybody for any service. Yet--there was White Feather to and there payment at Leon. nodded "Then get me write on!" begged Jim, vastly excited to set himself right with his friends. He as well asked for the moon. Writing was an accomplishment of Alaric's and he had never a scrap of paper fit for such use. Yet the longer he pondered the matter willing the man became. he took Jose his and, each of instruction a stern forefinger and a threat of fearful punishment for disobedience, instilled into the little fellow's mind the fact that he go San Leon ranch; find there a pretty in white dress; a girl brown and A who always laughing and who wore a red bow on head. He, Alaric, would far as the cypress hedge, bordering the west of the lake. There he would wait the child to do his errand and return, and would himself be of sight old sharpshooter, whom he feared. He had another generosity and greed commingled. lamb of Jose's. He could afford to give that because wasn't his
 and White Feather not
only preVented harm Being DonE to HiS MexIcan Brother-in-law, buT Also
Used the occasion to make ALaric SuBJect TO hImselF. Thus it WAs THAt hE
hAd MadE tHE sHeep hErdEr take iN the sick laD he HaD found on the tRAiL
and swear tO be Kind to him.

"San leaN? _Si_.... _En vErDad_. wEll, seNor?"

if thiS injurED, half-nAked youth HaD Hailed FRom that RICh Man's Ranch
it might be worTH wHIle to hearken to What he WiSHeD.

"i WanT to Tell a girl tHeRe thaT i am not dEAd. i WANt tO Send just
that mEssage, till I CAn gO there MySelF. do this For me AnD i
wiLl--will pay yoU--wheN I can."

AlarIc consIDered. FrOM presenT appeaRanCes TherE SeEmEd sMaLL chANcE of
jIm's Ever payiNg AnYbody For aNY SERvicE. YeT--theRe was white Feather
tO plEase ANd tHere wAs posSiblE pAymenT at San leon. HE nOdded
acquiescenCe.

"ThEn get me soMetHiN' to WrIte on!" BEgged JIm, vAstLy excitEd by thiS
ChaNcE TO SeT himself right with hIs FRIeNds.

He migHt as weLL hAvE Asked for ThE moOn. WrITIng waS not AN
aCcomplisHment oF alArIc's and hE hAd neveR oWneD a sCrap oF PapeR fit
foR such use. yet thE Longer he ponderED the matter the MOrE WIlLIng tHe
mAn became. FinAlly, HE tooK JosE UpOn hIS knee, And, emPhASiZIng each
word of instruCtIon by a Stern Forefinger and A threat of fEARFul
punisHmenT FoR Disobedience, he InstiLled into thE Little feLlow's Mind
the fAct that he WAS to go to SAn LEon RanCh; tO FInD there a pretty
GIRl in A wHite dreSs; a Girl witH biG brOwn EyeS aNd dark curLy hair. A
gIrL wHo WaS alWays lAUghing anD wHo aLwAys Wore a REd bow oN her hEad.
HE, ALaRIc, wOuld go wITh HIS son As FaR as tHe cYpRess hEdge,
BOrdEring thE west side Of tHE lakE. THeRe he wouLd wait for the cHiLd
to do his eRrAnd And retURN, and woulD himself be out of sight of tHAt
old shArpShootEr, whOm he feareD.

He Had anoTheR InspirAtion--oF geneRoSitY ANd greED CoMmiNgLed. That
lamB OF JoSe's. He CoUld aFford to Give that away becausE It wAsn't his
own
 and White Feather not
onl y prevente d har m b ein gdone  tohis Mexican br o ther -in-law, but also
used  theoc c asio n  t o mak e Alari c  s u b jec tto  hi ms e lf . Thu s i t was t hat he
had  ma de  the sheep h e rd er take in  th e sick lad h e h ad fou nd  on the t rai l
and  swear to bekind to h im . 

"San Lean? _ S i _. ..._En verdad_. Well ,  s e nor?"

If this  injur ed ,  h a l f-n ake d youth ha dhaile d  from t h at r i chm an's ranch
it  might be w o rth  while  t o h e arkento wh at hewished.

"I  wan t to tell  a gir l  theret hat I a m notdea d.I wa n tto  se nd jus t 
t hat mes sage, ti ll  I  cango t h e r e  mys elf . Do  this  for me and I 
wi ll-- w ill  payyou-- when  I  can. "

Ala ric c on sidered. From p rese nt appear anc es  th er e see m ed sma llcha nce ofJim's e v erpa y i n ganybody for any se rv i c e.  Yet--th ere wa s  W hi t e Feathe rtoplea s e  andther e  w as possi ble pa y me nt  at San  L eon. H enod ded 
acqu i esce nce.
"Then ge t mes omethin' to wr i te on!" begge d  J i m ,v astl y e xcited by t hisc hanc e to se t h i mself  righ tw it h  his friends.

He m ig ht aswellhave asked fo r the moon . W riting w as n o ta n
accomplishme nt of  Alaric'sa nd he ha d nev er owned  a scrapo f  paper f itfor  su chu s e.  Yet the long e r  hepo nderedthe  matter  th e m ore  wi ll ing the
m an becam e.  F in al ly,  he t o ok Joseup onhi s k nee,a nd, em phasi zing  e ac h 
wo rd of i n st r u ctio nby  a s ter nforef inge r  an d a thr eat of fe arf u l
pu ni sh ment fo r disobedienc e,  he instil le d i nto th e little f ellow's mind
the fact t h at he w asto go  toSan Leonran ch; to  fi n d ther e a pr ettygi rli n  a wh i t edre ss ; a girl w i t h b ig br ow n ey es anddark curly hair. A gir l who was alw ays  lau g h in g a n dw hoal w ays w ore a red bow o n her head .H e,  Alaric, w o uld  g o withhis son  as f a r as th e cypress  hedge,
b or deri n g  th e west sid e of the  lake. Th e re he wo uld w ait  for t he  ch ild
t o do h i s e rrand  and r et urn, a nd wo ul d himsel f be out of sight of th at
old  shar psh ooter, wh omh e f eared.

H e ha d anotherins pir ation --o f  gene rosi t yand greed  com m ingled. T h at 
la m b  o f Jose's. H e c oul d aff ord to giv e th at away because i t  wasn't his
ow n
 and_White Feather_not
only prevented harm being_done to_his_Mexican brother-in-law,_but_also
used the occasion_to make Alaric_subject to himself. Thus_it was that_he
had_made the sheep herder take in the sick lad he had found on the_trail
and_swear to_be_kind_to him.

"San Lean? _Si_.... _En_verdad_. Well, senor?"

If this injured,_half-naked youth_had hailed from that rich man's ranch
it might_be_worth while to_hearken to what he wished.

"I want to tell a_girl there that I am not_dead. I want_to_send_just
that message, till I_can go there myself. Do this_for me and I
will--will pay you--when_I can."

Alaric considered. From present appearances there_seemed small chance of
Jim's ever paying_anybody for any service. Yet--there_was White_Feather
to please and there was_possible payment at_San Leon._He nodded
acquiescence.

"Then get_me somethin' to write on!" begged_Jim, vastly excited_by this
chance to set himself right_with_his friends.

He might_as_well_have asked_for the moon._Writing_was not_an
accomplishment_of Alaric's and he had never_owned_a scrap of paper fit
for such use._Yet the longer he_pondered_the matter the more_willing the
man became. Finally, he_took Jose upon his knee, and,_emphasizing each
word_of instruction_by a stern forefinger and a threat of fearful
punishment for disobedience,_he instilled into the little fellow's_mind
the fact that he_was to_go_to San Leon_ranch;_to find_there a pretty
girl in a white dress;_a girl_with big brown eyes and dark_curly hair. A
girl who_was_always laughing and who always wore_a red bow on her head.
He,_Alaric, would go with his_son_as_far as the cypress hedge,
bordering_the west side of the lake._There he would_wait for the child
to do his errand_and_return, and would himself be out_of_sight of that
old sharpshooter, whom he_feared.

He_had_another inspiration--of generosity and greed_commingled. That
lamb of Jose's. He could_afford to give that away because it wasn't his
own