The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-09-16

! proach from below.
Collie had already dismounted three
times that morning, twice to mend
fence and once more involuntarily. He
determined, with mighty vow TO the
bowlegged god OF all horse flesh, to
learn TO stay on a broncho or die learn
ing.
The boy had a native fondness for
animals, and he had already thought
OF buying pony with his first few
months wages. But the vision OF his
erstwhile companion Overland, per-
haps imprisoned and hopeless In the
grip OF the bunch" annulled that de-
sire. He would save every cent for
that emergency.
Arrived at the spring. both boy and
horse drank gratefully, for the day
was hot Then Collie noticed the thin
smoke coming through the trees and
strobe toward It TO find Overland.
'It amt much OF fire yet" said
| Overland. ''Our hired girl"-and he
grinned through a two weeks tangle
| OF red beard-"oh, but amt he the
/ cute little Workman with his little
ole boss and his garments OF toilr
"oh, Redw exclaimed the boy.
me sure. been hidin' I'm my whisk-
ers so long l didn't know II you'd
know me-"
~ been thinkin' about you every
day"
"Uhuh. So have 1. / reckon some
others has too. Say. what you been
dom lately, studyin' law or learnin'
the piano? / been lookin' for you for
a week. It's the first day seen you
out on the range"
IL was workin' in the garden first;
then they put me at this, this mornin."
"Uhuh. Well, Col, that there get
away OF mine Is In all the papers.
Tramp Cowboy Steals Horse and Es-
capes.' Say, did she zip about my
borrowin' the cnyuseT
"She was mad at first, but your fan
/ cy ridin kind OF made her forget /
told her you was square, Red"
"Huhl i guess she could tell that
herself"
"But, Red, I'm not kiddin' l told
her uncle about the bunch and the guy
on the desert"
"Did he believe IT."
az guess 50. He amt said much.
! But he gives me the chance 90 make
good. He must have believed some
I thin"
We'll stick 10 1t, Collie. You never
was cut out for genuine towerist like
me- anyhow. II amt In your blood"
what you goin' TO do now, Red?'
me? Iisten There's gold out there
somewhere. I'm broke now. / need
some dough. / got ideas. Ten dollars
does It. / get a new set OF clothes
and get shaved and me hair trimmed
close. Then l commence me good
work In Main street, I'm Los. Down on
North Main is where | catch the gent
from the east who will fall for any
thing that wears n new hat and some
outdoors complexion. tell all about
my ledge I'm the Mojave and get staked
TO go out and prospect. It's bein' done
every day-it and the other fella."
"But, Red
Hold on. kid ! amt goln' TO bunk
nobody This here's square. l need
financin'-a burro and grubstake--
and me for the big dry spot Ship the
outfit 20 the desert town, and then lift
II along the rails 10 where we hid It.
II the papers we hid is any good me
TO locate the ledge. Anyhow. there's
good Ave hundred in the poke, and
that's better than a kick"
"You'll get pinched sure, Red"
''Nix, kiddo. Not out there. Money
talks. Course It amt maxim any dis
tressin' sounds around here jest now;
but, say. got the makin'sr
"I Amt smoked since | been here,
Red"
Excuse me. Miss Collie. What de
nomination did you sayT'
Straight. Red I'm sayin' my
money"
what do they pay you for settin' on
that cayuser'
"Fifteen a month and board and the
horse 10 ride"
Don't mention the boss, pal Jest
make motions with your hands when
you mean him. Talkin' Is apt 10 wake
him up"
For a moment the boy gazed away
30 where the silver OF the Southern
Pacific rails gfinted In the valley.
Overland Reds presence brought back
poignantly the long. lazy days OF loaf
ing and the wide. starry nights of way
side FIRE, tobacco and talk. There was
a charm IN the free life OF the road
that long. gray road that never ended
never ended In the quiet shade OF a
mountain ranch or In the rose bordered
pathway to n valley cottage. The long,
gray road held out no promise OF rest
FOR worn and aged folk. After al. its
only freedom was the freedom OF eter-
nal wandering until one could adyen.
ture no longer-and then? Better 20
tread the harder path OF duty.
The boys black eyes were lifted