The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-07-29

ion for thirty miles around not only
Knew McFarlane's girl. but that every
Unmarried man-and some who were
Doth husbands and fathers-kept IL
leeply interested eye upon her daily
motion. and certain shameless ones
openly boasted among their fellows Of
their intention to win her favor. while
the shy ones reveled in secret exulta-
tion over every chance meeting with
her. She was the topic of every lum-
ber camp and the shining lure of ev-
cry dance to which the ranch hands
often rode over long and lonely trails.
Part of this intense interest was due.
naturally. to the scarcity of desirable
women. but larger part was called
out by Berea's frank freedom Of man
ner. Her ready camaraderie was taken
for careiessness. and the candid grip
Of her hand was often misunderstood.
and yet most of the men respected her.
and some feared her After her avow-
cd choice of Clifford Belden they all
kept aloof, for be was hot tempered
and formidably swift TO avenge an in
suit
At the end of week Norcross found
himself restless and discontented with
the Meekers He was tired Of fishing.
tired of the old mans endless argu-
ments and tired of the vulgar COW
hands The men around the mill did
not interest him. and their Saturday
night spree at the saloon dissusted
him. The one person who piqued his
curiosity was Landon. the ranger. who
was stationed not far away and who
could be seen occasionally riding by
on a handsome black horse. There
was something in his bearing. in his
neat and serviceable drab uniform.
which attracted the convalescent and
on Sunday morning he decided to ven-
ture call. although Frank Meeker
had said the ranger was "grouch."
His cabin. u neat log structure. stood
just above thesroad on huge natural
terrace of grassy powders. and the
flag which tiuttered from a tall staff
before it could be seen for several
miles. the bright sign of federal con-
troll. the symbol of law and ortler. just
as the saloon and the mill were signs
Of lawless vice and destructive greed.
Around the door flowers bloomed and
kittens played.
The cabins interior pleased Wayland
almost Us much us the garden. II
was built of pine logs neatly matched
and hewed on one side.
The ranger. spurred and belted. with
his cuffs turned back, was pounding
the typewriter when Wayland appear,
ed ut the open door, but he rose with
grave courtesy. Come ill.,. he said.
and his voice had pleasant infection
I'm interrupting-
Nothing serious; just Il letter. There's
no hurry. I'm always glad of an ex-
cuse to rest from this job" He was
at once keenly interested in his visitor.
for he perceived in him the gentleman
and, of course. the alien.
Wayland. with something of the feel
ing of civilian reporting to an officer,
explained his presence in the neighbor,
hood.
"I've heard of you." responded the
ranger. land I've been hoping you'd
look in on me. The supervisors daugh-
ter has just written me to look after
you. She said you We're not very
WELL"
Again Wayland protested that he was
not consnmptive. only student who
needed mountain air, but he added. III
is very kind of Miss McFarlane te
think of me-
"Oh. she thinks of everybody" the
young fellow declared. She's one OF
world"
Something in the music of thi:
speech. and something ,L the look u
the rangers eyes. caused Wayland tt
wonder if here We're not still anothel
| of Berries subjects. He became Ger
tain Of it as the young officer went on
with pleasing frankness. and it was no
| long before he had conveyed to Way
land his cause for sadness shes EN-
gagged to il man that is not her equal
In a certain sense no man is her equal
but Belden is Il pretty hard type, ant
| believe. although | cunt prove it
that he is part owner Of the salool
| over there"
How does that saloon happen to b
herey'
Its ON patented land-a so calle'
placer claim'-experts have reporte'
against it. McFarlane has protestet
against it. but nothing is done. Th
4 mill is also on decided land. and togeth
er they are plague spot. I'm thei
! enemy. and they know it. and they'y
threatened to burn me out. Of cours
they won't do that, but they're read
to play any kind of trick on me-"
Il can well believe that. for | III
I getting my share of practical jokes a
Meeker's."
They're not a bad lot over there
only just rowdy. / suppose they'r
Initiating you" said Landon.
Il didn't come out here to be a COW
boy responded Norcross. "but Fran
Meeker seems to be anxious to sho'
me oil the good old cowboy courtesie,
On Monday he slipped a burr unde
my borse's saddle. and came near I
having my neck broken. Then he {
some one else concealed a frog in m
bed and fouled my hair brushes.
fact. | go to sleep each night in expe
tation of some rev attack. but the Il
and the riding are doing me a gre;
deal Of good. and SO stay
Thereafter Wayland spent nearly e
cry day with the ranger. either in h
cabin or riding the trail. and duriI
these hours confidence grew until
l last or,, fe,sr..1,a @l,.,4 t,;e.