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God ever made！〃 exclaimed Senor Johnson with entire conviction。
And no matter where he went； nor into how familiar country he rode； the
shapes of illusion offered always variety。 One day the Chiricahuas were
a tableland； next day a series of castellated peaks； now an anvil； now a
saw tooth； and rarely they threw a magnificent suspension bridge across
the heavens to their neighbours； the ranges on the west。 Lakes rippling in
the wind and breaking on the shore； cattle big as elephants or small as
rabbits； distances that did not exist and forests that never were； beds of
lava along the hills swearing to a cloud shadow； while the sky was
polished like a precious stonethese； and many other beautiful and
marvellous but empty shows the great desert displayed lavishly； with the
glitter and inconsequence of a dream。 Senor Johnson sat on his horse in
the hot sun； his chin in his band； his elbow on the pommel； watching it all
with grave； unshifting eyes。 Occasionally； belated； he saw the stars；
the wonderful desert stars； blazing clear and unflickering； like the flames
of candles。 Or the moon worked her necromancies； hemming him in by
mountains ten thousand feet high through which there was no pass。 And
then as he rode； the mountains shifted like the scenes in a theatre； and he
crossed the little sand dunes out from the dream country to the adobe
corrals of the home ranch。 All these things； and many others； Senor
Johnson now saw for the first time； although he had lived among them for
twenty years。 It struck him with the freshness of a surprise。 Also it
reacted chemically on his mental processes to generate a new power
within him。 The new power； being as yet unapplied； made him uneasy
and restless and a little irritable。 He tried to show some of his
wonders to Parker。 〃Jed；〃 said he； one day； 〃this is a great country。〃
〃You KNOW it；〃 replied the foreman。 〃Those tourists in their nickel…
plated Pullmans call this a desert。 Desert； hell！ Look at them flowers！〃
The foreman cast an eye on a glorious silken mantle of purple； a hundred
yards broad。 〃Sure；〃 he agreed； 〃shows what we could do if we
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only had a little water。〃 And again： 〃Jed；〃 began the Senor； 〃did
you ever notice them mountains？〃 〃Sure；〃 agreed Jed。
〃Ain't that a pretty colour？〃 〃You bet；〃 agreed the foreman； 〃now
you're talking！ I always； said they was mineralised enough to make a
good prospect。〃 This was unsatisfactory。 Senor Johnson grew more
restless。 His critical eye began to take account of small details。 At the
ranch house one evening he； on a sudden； bellowed loudly for Sang； the
Chinese servant。
〃Look at these！〃 he roared； when Sang appeared。 Sang's eyes
opened in bewilderment。 〃There； and there！〃 shouted the cattleman。
〃Look at them old newspapers and them gun rags！ The place is like a
cow…yard。 Why in the name of heaven don't you clean up here！〃
〃Allee light；〃 babbled Sang； 〃I clean him。〃
The papers and gun rags had lain there unnoticed for nearly a year。
Senor Johnson kicked them savagely。 〃It's time we took a brace
here；〃 he growled； 〃we're livin' like a lot of Oilers。〃＇5＇
＇5＇ Oilers： GreasersMexicans
CHAPTER THREE THE PAPER A YEAR OLD
Sang hurried out for a broom。 Senor Johnson sat where he was； his
heavy； square brows knit。 Suddenly he stooped； seized one of the
newspapers； drew near the lamp； and began to read。 It was a Kansas
City paper and； by a strange coincidence； was dated exactly a year before。
The sheet Senor Johnson happened to pick up was one usually passed over
by the average newspaper reader。 It contained only columns of little two…
and three…line advertisements classified as Help Wanted； Situations
Wanted； Lost and Found； and Personal。 The latter items Senor Johnson
commenced to read while awaiting Sang and the broom。 The notices
were five in number。 The first three were of the mysterious newspaper…
correspondence type； in which Birdie beseeches Jack to meet her at the
fountain； the fourth advertised a clairvoyant。 Over the fifth Senor
Johnson paused long。 It reads 〃WANTED。…By an intelligent and
refined lady of pleasing appearance； correspondence with a gentleman of
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means。 Object matrimony。
Just then Sang returned with the broom and began noisily to sweep
together the debris。 The rustling of papers aroused Senor Johnson from
his reverie。 At once he exploded。 〃Get out of here； you debased
Mongolian；〃 he shouted； 〃can't you see I'm reading？〃 Sang fled；
sorely puzzled； for the Senor was calm and unexcited and aloof in his
everyday habit。 Soon Jed Parker； tall； wiry； hawk…nosed； deliberate；
came into the room and flung his broad hat and spurs into the corner。
Then he proceeded to light his pipe and threw the burned match on the
floor。 〃Been over to look at the Grant Pass range；〃 he announced
cheerfully。 〃She's no good。 Drier than cork legs。 Th' country wouldn't
support three horned toads。〃
〃Jed；〃 quoth the Senor solemnly； 〃I wisht you'd hang up your hat like I
have。 It don't look good there on the floor。〃 〃Why； sure；〃 agreed Jed；
with an astonished stare。
Sang brought in supper and slung it on the red and white squares of
oilcloth。 Then he moved the lamp and retired。 Senor Johnson
gazed with distaste into his cup。 〃This coffee would float a wedge；〃
he commented sourly。 〃She's no puling infant；〃 agreed the cheerful
Jed。 〃And this！〃 went on the Senor； picking up