SOME NEWS
Perhaps if Len had done the manly thing--if he had owned to some of his
misdeeds, and had promised not to repeat them, Dave might have forgiven
him. For Dave was not a fighter by nature.
Physically the two were well matched, with the advantage, if any, in favor
of Len, who was larger than Dave. And if Len had acknowledged that he was
afraid to fight, Dave would not have pressed it.
But the bully and coward made the mistake of his life. As he sprang to his
feet he caught up a stone and suddenly hurled it at Dave. The latter
ducked just in time to save his head. And then his anger welled up.
"So that's your game; is it?" he cried.
Even then Len might have gotten out of it, only he did not. He aimed a
wild blow at Dave, and then the fight was on.
Len was no match for Dave in skill. The young cowboy easily dodged the
blows aimed at him, and for a moment, he refrained from hitting Len hard.
Then, as he saw Len again look about for a stone, Dave struck him so hard
that the bully toppled over.
"It's no more than you deserve!" Dave exclaimed.
Len got up, and with a cry rushed at his opponent. Again, Dave sent him
down.
But I am not going to give you all the details of that fight which was
soon over. Len, bruised and sore, cried out that he had had enough.
"That'll teach you to behave after this, I guess," said Dave, as he moved
over toward his horse.
Len did not answer for a moment. He, too, approached his steed. And when
he was mounted he cast a look full of anger and hate at Dave, and said:
"You wait! I'll get even with you yet!"
It was the usual retort of a sneak and coward.
"You had your chance," said Dave, grimly. "If you couldn't take advantage
of it that's not my fault."
Then he rode off, collected the strays he was looking for, and made his
way back to the ranch.
"What's the matter, Dave?" asked Pocus Pete, as he saw the lad leap from
his pony. "Did you have a fall?"
"No, it was the other fellow," was the grim answer.
"Len?"
"Yes."
"Does he look anything like you?"
"Worse!"
Dave's face was scratched and one eye bruised.
"Well, I s'pose it had to be," chuckled Pocus Pete. "What'd he do, try to
rope you?"
"No. He wouldn't have much chance at that, even if I was not on Crow."
Then Dave told the story of the encounter.
"Well," said Peter reflectively, "I reckon, just as some one said about
dogs, that a certain amount of fleas was good for 'em, a little fightin'
is good for some fellows. Are you sure Len got enough?" he asked
anxiously.
"He said so," replied Dave, sententiously.
"Well, he ought to know," was Pete's dry comment.
Life at Bar U ranch went on in much the same way for many days. There was
a great deal of work to be done, and Dave did his share. But, all the
while, he could not shake from his mind the memory of the revealed secret
regarding himself.
"I wonder who I am?" he asked himself again and again. But he could not
answer. He made up his mind that some day he would have a long talk with
Mr. Carson, and see if there was not some way in which clews to his lost
parents could be obtained.
"There must be some," reflected Dave.
Mr. Bellmore had almost recovered now. He could ride his horse about, and
often accompanied Dave on the latter's trips. The Chicago man could limp
about fairly well, but in the West, at least on the cattle ranges, little
walking is done. If a person has only to go across the street it is the
most natural thing in the world to leap to the saddle to cover the
distance.
"Well, I think I must get busy on that water business now," said Mr.
Bellmore one day, when he and Dave had come in from a little round-up. "It
won't do to wait any longer. My people will be wondering why I am taking
such a long vacation."
"They know you were hurt; don't they?" asked Dave.
"Oh, yes, but I'm practically well again."
"What are your plans?"
"I must see if I can get some concerted action in forming an irrigation
company. I think I shall talk to Mr. Molick, even if his son and you are
not on friendly terms."
"Oh, don't let that stand in the way of business," Dave said, heartily.
"I hope you won't misunderstand my motives," said the water agent.
"Not at all."
It was a few days after this that Pocus Pete, coming in from a distant
part of the range, said to Dave and Mr. Carson.
"I see they're putting up some new fences along the river on the Centre O
ranch."
"Is that so?" asked Mr. Carson. "That's news to me, I wonder what that
means?"
"Perhaps I can tell you," said Mr. Bellmore. "I have made some
arrangements with Mr. Molick about water rights. He is going into the
irrigation scheme with me. I really need him, as he owns certain patents
in the water course. I meant to mention it to you, but it slipped my
mind."
"So you are going in with Molick?" asked Mr. Carson, in a curious tone of
voice.
"Yes. Is there any objection?"
"Well, I don't know but what there is," was the reply of the ranch owner.
"Sit down, and I'll tell you a few things you ought to know, Mr.
Bellmore."