That's the only consolation I've got.
But I'm not going. I'm broke. I won't be a tramp. And it's up
to me to do something."
"How'd you like to be a border ranger?" asked Belding, laying a
hand on Dick's knee. "Part of my job here is United States Inspector
of Immigration. I've got that boundary line to patrol--to keep out
Chinks and Japs. This revolution has added complications, and
I'm looking for smugglers and raiders here any day. You'll not
be hired by the U. S. You'll simply be my ranger, same as Laddy
and Jim, who have promised to work for me. I'll pay you well,
give you a room here, furnish everything down to guns, and the
finest horse you ever saw in your life. Your job won't be safe
and healthy, sometimes, but it'll be a man's job--don't mistake me!
You can gamble on having things to do outdoors. Now, what do
you say?"
"I accept, and I thank you--I can't say how much," replied Gale,
earnestly.
"Good! That's settled. Let's go out and tell Laddy and Jim."
Both boys expressed satisfaction at the turn of affairs, and then
with Belding they set out to take Gale around the ranch. The
house and several outbuildings were constructed of adobe, which,
according to Belding, retained the summer heat on into winter,
and the winter cold on into summer. These gray-red mud habitations
were hideous to look at, and this fact, perhaps, made their really
comfortable interiors more vividly a contrast. The wide grounds
were covered with luxuriant grass and flowers and different kinds
of trees.
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