The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-08-05

right command. You want to cut this
NIL out, | tell you! won't have amy
more of it! The boys up ut the mill are
all talkin' about your interest In this
little whelp. and I'm getting the brand
ing iron from every one meet. Sam
saw you 20 into the barn with that
dude. and that would have been all
over the country tomorrow. II l hadn't
told him I'd sew his mouth up II he
said IL word about it. OF course don't
think you mean anything by this cod
dim
''Oh. thank you," she interrupted,
with flaming. quick. indignant fury.
That's mighy nice Of you. went to
| the barn to show Mr.. Norcross where
to stall his horse. l didn't know Sam
was here"
He sneered: "No. bet you didn't"
She fired at this. Come now! Some
| thing nasty is In your mind. Go on!
What have I done? What makes you
so hot!''
He began to weaken. II don't accuse
you of anything. I-but r.
| Yes. you do-in your heart you dis
trust me-you just rs much as said so!'
He was losing his high air Of COM
mand. Never mind what said, Ber-
rie. r.
She was blazing now. But / do
mind-i mind a whole lott didn't
think it Of you." she added as she re-
allied his cheapness. his coarseness.
i didn't suppose you could even think
such things OF ME. l don't like It,"
she repeated, and her tone hardened,
"and | guess you'd better pull out of
here-for good. If you've no more
faith in me than that want you to go
and never come back"
You don't mean that!'
| "Yes, | do! You've shown this vel
low streak before, aud I'm tired of it.
This is the limit I'm done with you"
She stood between tears and benumb-
Ing anger now. and he was scared.
Don't say that, Berrie!" he pleaded,
trying to put his arm about her.
Keep away from me-" She dashed
his hands aside. Il hate you. never
want to see you again. She ran into
her own room and slammed the door
behind her.
4 Belden stood for long time with
bis back against the wall, the heat of
his resentment utterly gone. an empty,
aching place in his heart. He called
her twice, but she made no answer,
! and so at last he mounted his horse
and rode away.
Young NOrcross, much as he admired
Berrie. was not seeking to exchange
her favor for her lovers enmity, and
he rode away with an uneasy feeling
of having innocently made trouble fol
himself as well as for fine. true heart
ed girl.
What good friendly talk we were
having" he said regretfully. "And te
think she Is to marry that big, scowl
ing brute! How could she turn Ian
don down for a savage like thatY'
He was just leaving the outer gate
when Belden came clattering up and
remed his horse across the path and
called out: See here. you young skunk
You're poor. white livered tender
foot. and l can't bust you as l would
a full grown man. but I reckon yoy
better not ride this trail any more.''
why not?" inquired wayland.
Belden glared. Because tell 70,
so. Your sympathy hunting game ha.
just about run into the ground You'v,
worked this baby dodge about len,
: enough. You're not SO almighty sicl
as you put up to be, and you'd bette
hunt some other cure for lonesomenes
or I'll just about cave your chest In"
; All this was shockingly plain talk 70
o a slender young scholar to listen to
, but Norcross remained calm. II thinl
you're unnecessarily excited" he re
marked. II have no desire to max
. trouble I'm considering Miss Berea
+ who is too fine to be worried by u.s."
His tone was conciliating, and th
: cowman. in spite Of himself, respond
4 ed to it. That's why advise you t
: go. She was all right till you came
e Colorado's big place. and there ar
!. plenty other fine ranges for men Q
your complaint. Why not try Rout
J. county? This is certain, you can
stay in the same valley with my CIR
' serve notice of that"
h you're making prodigious ass Q
|. yourself" observed Wayland. wit
z calm contempt.
+ "You think so, do your Well. +
make Jack rabbit out Of you II
n find you on this ranch again. You'v
i worked on my girl In some way Il
e she's just about quit me. | don't Sc
how you did 1t. you measly little pul
but you surely have turned her agains
E. mew His rage burst into flame as b
J. thought of her last words. IF go
n were so much as half man I'd brea
you in two pieces right now, but you'l
u not You're nothing but dead on tt
hoof hunger, and there's nothing to
= bnt run you out. So take this as yol
y final notice You straddle horse al
head east and keep a-ridin', and II
e catch you with my girl again I'll de
you whole hatful Of misery. Nov
= that's right!
:: Thereupon. with final glance I
= hate in his face. he whirled his hor!
'e and, galloped away. leaving Norcro
dumb with resentment, interminglt
! with wonder
:. Truly the west Is a dramatic cou
" try. Here am involved in lover
wrath and under sentence Of banis
menf ali within month! Well,
. suppose there's nothing to do but ca
), ry out Belden's orders. He's the boss
be said as he rode on Il wonder ju
what happened after left? Som
!. thing stormy evidently. She mu