The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-11-10

Baldy-the heart with u cross inside
"Me?' cried Badly, with intoxicated
archness. You old sugar stealin'
coyote: Don't remember! Why, you
dadblamed old long horned turtledove,
the boys in camp was all cognoscious
about them hiroglyphs. The 'gizzard
and crossbOnes' we used to call it. We
used to see 'em on truck that was sent
out from the ranch. They was mark
ed In charcoal on the sacks of -four
and in lead pencil on the newspapers"
"Santa's father" explained Webb
gently. '.got her to promise that she
wouldn't write to me or send me any
word. That heart and cross sign was
her scheme. Whenever she wanted to
see me in particular she managed to
put that mark on somethin' ut the
ranch that she knew I'd see.
1.-The last time Santa sent me the
sign" said Webb, was once when she
was sick. noticed it as soon as hit
camp. and galloped Pinto forty mile
that night. went to the house. Old
McAllister met me at the door. Did
you come here to get killed? says he.
I'll disoblige you for once. just
started Mexican to bring you. Santa
wants you. Go in that room and see
her and then come out and see me-
Santa was lyin' in bed pretty sick.
But she gives out a kind Of smile.
and her hand and mine lock horns.
and sets down by the bed-mud and
spurs and chaps and all. I've heard
you rjdin' across the grass for hours.
Webb she says. I was sure you'd
come. You saw the signT she whis-
pers The minute | hit camp says
l. Twas marked on the bag Of pota-
toes and onions? They're always to-
gether.' says she. soft-lik-'always to-
gether In life They 60 we'll togctb-
err says. in a stew ! mean hearts
| and crosses says Santa. Our sign
to love and to suffer-that's what they
mean There was old Doc Musgrove
amusin' himself with whisky and n
palm leaf fan. And by and by Santa
goes to sleep. and Doc feels her fore
head. and he says to me: You're not
such bad febrifuge. but you'd better
slide out now. for the diagnosis don't
call for you In regular doses. The
little lady'll be all right when she
wakes up
II seen old McAllister outside. Shes
asleep. says |. and now you can start
In with your colander work. Take
your time. for l left my gun on my
saddle horn
"Old Mac laughs. and he says to me-:
'Pumpin' lead into the best ranch boss
in west Texas don't seem to me good
business policy. | don't know where
could get as good one. It's the
admire for to use you as target.
You amt my idea for member Of
the family. Rut l can use you OF the
Nopalito If you'll keep outside Of a
radius with the ranch house in the
middle of It,"
Badly Woods pulled down his hat
and uncurled his leg from his. saddle
horn. Webb shortened his rein. and
his pony danced. anxious to be of
The two men shook hands with west
ern ceremony.
"Adios. Baldy." said Webb. "rm
glad | seen you and had this talk
At 8 o'clock on the following morn
ing Bud Turner rolled from his saddle
in front Of the Nopalito ranch house
and stumbled with whizzing rowels to-
ward the gallery. Bud was in charge
of the bunch of beef cattle that was to
strike the trail that morning for San
Antonio. Mrs. Yeager was on the gal.
lery watering cluster of hyaciDths
growing in red earthenware jar.
"King" McAllister had bequeathed to
his daughter many of his strong char.
acteristics = his resolution. his gay
courage. his contumacious self reli
ance. his pride as reigning monarch
Of hoofs and horns. Allegro and fortis
simo had been McAllister's tempo and
tone. In Santa they survived. trans
posed to the feminine key.
Webb stood on one edge Of the gal
lery giving orders to two or three sub
bosses of various camps and outfits
who had riddensin in for instructions.
"Mornin'." said Bud briefly. "Whert
do you want them beeves to 60 ir
town-to Barber's. as usualY'
Now. to answer that had been thu
prerogative of the queen. All th'
reins of misunderstanding. selling ant
banking-had been held by her capa
BILE fingers The handling of the cattle
had been intrusted fully to her hus
band. In the days of king" McAllis
ter Santa had been his secretary ant
helper. and she had continued her worl
with wisdom and profit. But befor'
she could reply the prince consor
spake up with calm decision:
"You drive that bunch to thinner
man and Nesbit's pens. spoke t
Zimmerman about It some time ago."
Bud turned on his high boot heels.
"Waitr' called Santa quickly. Sh
looked at her husband with surprise Il
her steady gray eyes.
"Why, what do you mean. Webb?
she asked. with small wrinkle gath
ering between her brows. Il Deve
deal with Zimmerman and Nesbi
Barber has handled every head q
stock from this ranch in that marke
for FIVE years. I'm not going to tax
the business out Of his hands," Sh
faced Bud Turner. Deliver those ca
tie to Barber" she concluded pos
) lively Bud gazed at the waite