<< I don’t know when this was written, but it was written
longhand on plain paper folded into a chapbook.
It was sub-headed: A
Novelette. I’m guessing that she would have
used the name H if it had been written after 1929. I’m going to make an effort to refrain from
editing as I type. It’s possible she was
very young when she wrote it. >>
Wall Rock foreman of the Circle R. ranch, halted on a small
knole, on either side grew tall elm, oak, and willow trees. The faint clatter of horses hoofs striking
against the hard earth came to Wall Rock halted on the narrow trail. Dismounting he concealed his horse in a clump
of bushes. Moving swiftly, and keeping
under cover Wall Rock pushed his way cautiously along the trail.
Rounding a bend in the trail revealed a small stream of
water creeping from a stone wall.
Here Wall Rock paused, large boulders were strewn around
him, he hid between two of these as a rider came into view.
The stranger rode a dainty, little blue roan. He was riding hard and the horse was covered
with lather. Wall Rock stepped from
between the boulders as the horse drew near.
“Hands Up!” The rider urged the
horse forward at greater speed. Wall
Rock fired, then once again. The rider
fell heavily as the horse reared suddenly into the air.
Holding his left arm tightly with the fingers of his right
hand, he arose, his lips tightly closed and determined. He was of small statue, about the height of
five feet five inches. His hat which had
fallen off revealed beautiful golden, wavy hair. His deep blue eyes looked into Wall Rocks
black ones, for just a second. “Well
stranger I reckon I know who Yuh are. I
seen yuh’re picture on a poster with $5000 reward. I’ll cash in on that tin ware. Wall Rock had seen the poster at the sheriffs
office in La Crane. Reach for the moon
Sonny I cain’t take chances of yuh’re decoratin’ me with yuhr B. B’s.
Wall Rock lead the horse back to where his own was
picketed. Nice poney yuh got here
Son. Blue Belle’s, what does that
mean,”? he asked as he gazed upon the
name written in small gold letters across the front of the bridle. But he received no ans. Wall Rock didn’t mind, he could, and would
talk. As he mounted his horse he took
his had away from the bridle of the other horse, in an instant it had leaped to
one side, one soft call from its master and it dashed forward.
Wall Rock fired, the shot went wild. He raced after the stranger with his own
chestnut colored horse, but Blue Belle’s gained rapidly until at last Wall
realizing it utterly futile, gave up the chase.
He had ridden back perhaps a half mile when he was halted by
a group of men, whom he recognized as the sheriff and two – deputies and three
men from neighboring ranches. “Hey Wall
did yuh see a pritty fella on a swell little hoss?” “I reckon he was headed, this here way.”
“Yuh just missed him, he went thet way, Wall pointed behind him. I stopped him, but the pony got away with
him.” . . . . . . . .
Two weeks later Wall rode into La Crane again “Another hold
up huh!’ ‘The sooner yuh git thet fella the better fer yuh Sherriff.”
Sherriff Tabor a large man with grey eyes and a black
mustache which nearly covered his face, greeted Wall kindly
Then. “Will you
help?”
Wall hesitated “I tell yuh what if I see him I’ll stop him.”
Several persons had glimpses of the horse and rider,
although none were able to catch him.
This was the third hold-up in La Crane during that last eight days.
Next morning Wall Rock had scarsly left the circle R. ranch
when the rider crashed through the timber.
At sight of Wall he attempted to get into the timber again, Wall fired,
the riders hand flashed down up and fire seethed through the air an instant
later, the report of a six-gun filled the air.
Wall Rocks right arm hung useless, in a half second another report
sounded Wall gun in hand walked over
where the rider had fallen I guess my
left hand’s peart near’s good as my right he muttered to himself. He bent over the stranger. Not dead he breathed. He knelt beside him, blood streaked his shirt
on the right side.
Wall Rock started to open his shirt in neat, small letters
on the chest were the letters B. B. He
opened the shirt a little farther. “God
a girl,” he leaped to his feet, looked around as though not knowing what to
do. Looking down he knew he must stop
the blood and try to fix the wound, not a large one, he went in search of
water.
He came upon a water hole a quarter of a mile farther on
filling his had, he returned to make as soft a bed as possible on some boughs
of Willow tree. Searching the girls
saddle, he found a small ring with B. B. on it also.
Blue Belle’s he mused thinking of the bridle taking her
blankets, which also had the initials B. B. neatly embordered in the corners,
he finished making the bed. Then gently,
he lifted her and lay her upon it. He
washed her face in some of the cold water he had carried from the distant water
hole. Her eyelids quivered, and she
regained consiousness. He felt a queer
tug dangerously close to his heart, what caused it? He didn’t know. Suddenly she sat up asking,
“What are you going to do call the Sherriff?”
“No I am not” he answered. She
whistled, the horse lifted its head and looked at her inquiringly. “Come here Blue Belle’s.” The horse crossed quickly to where she sat,
nosing around her lovingly. Blue Belle’s
and I are pals aren’t we Blue?” The
horse put its nuzzle against her cheek gently nibbling for answers.
What is your name Wall asked at last. She hesitated for an instant looking at him
carefully. Then “I guess I can tell
you, its Belle Blue, you see I named
Blue, the opposite she is a wonderful horse, isn’t she pretty so neat and
dainty a real blue, and her dark mane and tail!”
“Yes pretty! Wall
affirmed ‘Wait Pony I’m not going to hurt you” he said, as he attempted to lay
his hands on her neck she drew away. “Oh Blue is always sny of strangers.”
Wall stood evidently in thought, at last he turned.
“Blue, that’s the name of the owner of the circle R. He disappeared a month ago, we have been
lookin’ for him ever since.”
“I know, the girl sighed he is my father I know where he is
but I’ve been gathering evidence against the fellow who has been staging these
hold-ups, he is the one who kidnapped ‘Daddy’.
I had gathered all the proof needed and was on my way to La Crane to
have him arrested. I have been searching
for proof and was hot on the trail when you shot me. I cut across to catch him when he passed this
way with the loot of the last bank robbery I came this way for it is about ten
miles shorter than the other way, and I am convinced he doesn’t know this old
trail, few do. He will be along any
minut now.
After a wait of perhaps ten minutes they heard twigs
snapping. Across the opening a man was
seen stalking cautiously, leading his horse.
Although they could see him they were hidden from his view by a clump of
spruce trees. Wall gasped, for it was on
of the Deputy sheriffs, one of the most trusted men in La Crane. Wall Rock leaped angrily forward, “Hands up
he rasped. The Deputys hands went up
immediately.
“Whats the matter Wall, what hev’ I done”?
“Tell that to Sherriff Tabor yuh’er need a yarn, and a pair
of lies.” A nice gent yuh are trying and
willing to have a girl lynched to save yuh’re dirty sneakin’ hide.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Two months later - -
Wall Rock sat on a spirited black horse while Belle sat on
Blue to his right. They had rode across
the Circle R ranch and now sat looking the sun going down “Wally do you remember just two months ago
today?”
We say I do he said putting his arm around her. Butt that’s over. He’s doing prison duty now, and our
Dad home an – and yuh’re goin’ to marry me ain’t yuh Belle?” Blue stepped closer to the “Black Major, at a
pressure on her side from Belles leg.
Belle laid her head against Wall’s shoulder.
“Yes Wally.” He
kissed her. He reached down and patted
the horses neck it neighed softly. “My
Blue and Belle he said in a whisper Blue and Belle or Mrs. Wallace Rockell.”
