Williston graphic., 1916-08-31
CHAPTER u.
Ragged Romance.

Ragged Romance.
At the wide gate of the mountain
n ranch stood the girl. Her black
n saddle pony Boyar fretted to be
away. Glancing back through
the cavernous shade of the live oaks,
the girl hesitated before opening the
gate. \ little breeze wayfaring
through Moonstone canyon and on up
to the mountain ranch touched the
girls cheek and she breathed deeply
of its cool fragrance.
The wide gate swung open, and Lou
ise Lacharme, curbing Black BOyar,
rode out of the shadows into the hot
light of the morning. singing as she
rode
The girls eyes. the color of sea wa
ter in the sun, were leveled toward the
distant hills across the San Fernando
valley. From her fingers dangled the
long bride reins. Her lips were gen.
tly parted. Her gaze was the gaze OF
one who dreams in the daylight. And
close in the hidden meadow crouched
Romance. Romance ragged. unkempt.
jocular.
Boyar first scented the wood smoke.
Louise noticed his forward standing
ears and his fdgeting. Immediately
before her was the low rounded rock,
a throne OF dreams that she had graced
before. From down the slope and al
most hidden by the bulk of the rock
little wand of smoke stood up in the
MINDLESS air. to break at last into tiny
shreds and curls of nothingness.
1T can't be much Of fire yeti! ex-
claimed Louise, forever watchful. as
are all the hill folk. for that dread,
ungovernable red monster of destruc.
tion, mountain fire. 1T can't be
much of fire yet
The pony Boyar. delicately scenting
something more than wood smoke.
snorted and swerved. Louise dismount-
ed and stepped hurriedly round the
shoulder Of the rock A bristle beard
ed face confronted her. ''No, it amt
much of fire yet, but our hired girl
she Joined movin' picture outfit, So
us two he things are d0in' the best
we can chasin' breakfast" And the
tramp, Overland Red. ragged. un-
kempt, jocular. rose from his knees
beside tiny blaze. He pulled bleak
flop Of felt from his tangled hair in
an overaccentuated bow Of welcome.
I'VE offer you the freedom of the
city, ma'am. Welcome to our midst
and kindly excuse appearances this
morning. Our trunks got delayed in
New York"
Unsmilingly the girls level gray eyes
studied the tramp's face. Then her
glance swept him swiftly from barred
head to rundown heel. Il was just
making up my mind whether I'd stay
and talk with you or ask. you to put
out your fire and go somewhere else.
But l think you are all right. Please
put on your hat
Overland Reds self assurance shrank
little. The girls eyes We're direct
and fearless. yet not altogether un-
friendly He thought that deep within
them dwelt smile. ~
"You got my map all right" he said.
a trife more respectfully. Course We'll
douse the fire when we duck out Of
here But what do you think of Collie
here, my pal? Is he all right?"
"Oh. he's only a boy" said Louise,
glancing casually at the youth crouch
ed above the fire.
The boy. a slim lad Of sixteen or
thereabout. flushed beneath the batter
ed brim Of his black felt hat. He
watched the tomato can coffeepot in
~tently. Louise could not see his face.
"Yes, miss. I'm all right and so is
he" And humorous wistfulness crept
into the tramps eyes. Hes what you
might call changeling."
"Changeling?
"Uhuh! Always ehangin' around
from place to place when you're young.
Amt that it?''
"Oh! And when you are older?" she
queried, smiling.
Overland Red frowned. "Oh, then
you're just tramp, Willie. Bo. a
hobo.'
He saw the girls eyes harden lit
tie. He spoke quickly and, she i'm
agined, truthfully. III worked ten years
for one outfit once without a change.
And I never knowed what it was to
8 do days work out of the saddle. You
know what that means"
Seattle? MexicO?"
Overland Red grinned. "Say, you
was born in California. wasn't you?"
"Yes, Of course"
"'Cause Mexico has been about the
only place puncher could work that
long without doin' day labor on foot
half the year. Yes, ! been there.
Course now I'm doin' high finance and
givin' advice to the young and Twin
on my income. And, say. when It
comes to real brain work I'm the most
exhausted baked high potentate. but
wouldn't do no mineral labor for no.