The Glasgow courier., 1916-12-08
OVERLAND RED
Continued rom page 5)

ed for his holster. when he saw that
In Collie's hand which precluded fur.
ther argument.
Don't get upv' said Collie quietly
Il never killed a man. but I'm going to.
quick. II you lift finger"
Saunders kept still. Collie stepped
round behind him. Now. get up.
slow" he commando
When Saunders was on his feet Col
lie reached forward and secured bis
gun.
I'm send ysur check to the store"
said Louise, addressing Saunders. II
shall tell Mr. Stone that discharged
you. I don't believe had better tell
the men about this
Beat It Saunders" said Collie. laugh.
ing. "You are icaving here afoot,
which suits me fine. Red would be
plumb happy to know it,
Reds goin to walk into my lead
some Of these days"
That's some day. This is today"
said Collie.
Saunders, turning, gazcd covetously
at the pinto Rally. Collie saw and
smiled. Il missed twice. The third
trick is goin' to be mine. Don't you
forget that. Mr.. Kid" said Saunders.
"Oh. you here YETI" said Collie. and
he was not a little gratiied to notice
that Saunders limped as he struck off
down the trail.
Louise drew off her gauntlets and
tossed them on the rock. Collie saw
the print Of Saunders fingers OH her
wrist and forearm. II ought to "a
made him kneel down and ask you to
let him live!" he said.
II was afraid-at first. Then l was
just angry. 1t was sickening to see the
marks grow red and swell on his face.
I hit him as hard as l could. but I'm
not sorry"
"Sorry:" growled Collie. HE takes
the letter. l got to thank you q whole
lot for that"
But how did he know l had 1t?
What did lie want with the letter?''
"He saw me give 1t to you. He's one
Of the bunch, the Mojave bunch that's
been trailing Red all over the country.
When Red disappeared up in those des
ert hills. ! reckon Saunders must have
got hold Of paper and read about the
getaway here at the MoOnst0ne. He
just naturally came over here and got
Job to see If he couldn't trace Red"
| You are thinking Of joining Mr.
Summers ut the clamp
| Yes. The eastern folks are gone
now. hate to go. But l got to get
busy and make some money A fellow
hasn't much of a show without money
these days"
Louise was silent. She sat gazins
across the valley.
Collie approached her hesitatingly
Il just got to say it-after all that's
happened. Seems that could, now"
Louise paled and flushed. "Oh Col.
lie." she cried entreatingly. I'VE have
been such good friends Please don't
spoil 1t all"
II know I am fool" he said. cor
was going to be- But please to take
Boyar and go. III bring Rally. l was
wrong to think you would listen lit.
tle."
But Louise remained sitting upon the
rock as though she had not heard him.
Slowly he stepped toward her. his
spurs jingling musically. He caught up
one Of her gloves and turned it over
and over in his fingers with a kind OF
clumsy reverence. ITS mighty little
and there's the shape Of your hand in
It, just like it bends when you hold the
reins. 1t seems like a thing almost too
good for me to touch. because 1t means
you. | know you won't laugh at me-
either"
Louise turned toward him. mo. |
understand" she said.
Here was where Red and first sa "
you to know who you was. | used to
hate folks that wore good clothes.
thought they was all the same, you and
all that kind. But, no. it amt so. You
looked back once. when you were rid.
ing away from the Jail that time.
was going to look for Red and not go to
work at the Moonstone. ! saw you look
back. That settled it. ] was proud to
think you cared even anything for a
tramp. l was mighty lonesome then
Since l got to thinking Id be some.
body some day. But can see where
stand. I'm puncher, working for the
Moonstone. You kind Of liked me be-
cause ! had hard luck when l was a
kid. But that made me love you. 1t
amt wrong. l guess. to love something
you can't ever reach up to. 1t amt
wrong to keep on loving. only its awful
lonesome not to ever tell you about it."
I'm sorry. Collie" said Louise gen
tly.
"Please don't be sorry. Why, I'm
glad! Maybe you don't think it is the
best thing in the world to love a girl
amt asking anything but to just go
on loving you. Seems like man
wants the girl he loves to know It..
even If that is just all. You said l
love horses. do. But loving you