The Glasgow courier., 1916-12-01

back into the bushes as the other men
rode up.
The foreman's interview with Collie
that evening was brief. It left lot
to the Imagination. "You said too
much about Overland Red the other
night when you was talkin' to Silent
Saunders" said Williams. Hes tryin'
to find out somethin'. don't know
what he's after. Keep your eye peeled
and your teeth on the bit. That's ALL"
A month had passed. The air was
warm and clear. the sky intensely blue.
MOOnstOne canyon grew fragrant with
budding flowers. The little lizards
came from their winter crevices and
clung to the sun warmed stones. A
covey Of young quail duttered along
the hillside under the stately surveil-
lance Of the mother bird. Wild cats
prowled boldly on the southern slopes.
Cottontails huddled beneath the grease.
wood brush and nibbled at the grasses.
The canyon stream ran clear again
now that the storm washed silt had
settled On the peaks the high winds
| "CAC NOiO OuO NuttAASs Uul vi SAO
slopes and in the valleys the earth was
moist and warm.
Louise humming song. rode slowly
along the MO0nstOne canyon trail. At
! the double turn" in the canyon. where
dwelt Echo and her myrmidons. Louise
!, rode more slowly.
Dreaming Fance. the cobblers son. took
Elu
! Wrought her shoes OF scarlet dye. shoes
as pale as snow.
| They shall lead her wild rose feet all the
| faery paces
| Danced along the road OF love. the road
such feet should 60.
She sang slowly, pausing after each
line that the echoes might not blur.
| Danced alOng-aIOng-the road--of
the echoes.
Louise smiled dreamily. Then the
clatter of Boyars shod hoofs rang and
re-echOed, finally to hush in the gravel
of the ford beyond.
Why Louise thought of Collie just
then 1t would he difficult to imagine
Still she had caught herself noting lit
! lIC uCNuAlS UoSV\AutCN Will ullu uHu
hts work. He brushed his teeth. Not
all Of the other men did. He did not
chew tobacco. Despite his lack Of ear
ly training he was naturally neat. He
disliked filth instinctively. His bits.
s.iIrs and trappings shone. He had
learned to shoe his string Of ponies
an art that IS fast becoming lost anon.
present day cowmen. With little com
! ment, but faithful zeal. he copied
Brand Williams. This. of course. fiat
tered the tactiturn cowman. who un
: obtrusively arranged Collie's work so
that it might bring the younger man
before the notice OF Walter Stone and
! incidentally Louise. OF course Louise
was not aware of this
The girl no longer sang as she rode
but dreamed with unseeing eyes on
the trail ahead-dreamed such dreams
rs one may put aside easily until, per
chance. the dream. converges toward
reality. which cannot he so lightly put
! aside
Brand Williams had his own ideas
Of romance. ideas pretty well sub
merged In the deeps Of hardy expert
ence. but existing nevertheless and az
! immovable as the bed Of the sea. He
badgered Collie whenever he CHANGED
to have seen him with the rose girl.
and. smiling inwardly at the young
mans Indignation. he would straight
way arrange that Collie should ride to
town for. say, few pounds Of staples
wanted in hurry. when he knew that
the blackboard would be going to town
on the morrow and also that there
were plenty Of staples In the store
room.
Something Of the kind was afOot, or
rather. a-saddle. as Louise rode down
the MOonstOne trail, for beyond the
turn and the ripping ford she saw a
1.-THE. blue shirted figure that she knew
Louise would not have admitted even
to herself that she urged Boyar. New
ertheless the reins frightened and slack
ened gently. Boyar swung into his
easy lope. 1t pleased the girl that Col
lie, turning In his saddle at the sound
Of hoofs. waved salute. but did not
check bis horse. He had never pre-.
I SuAACN OA uCI tAuuN AAlCnO0ulp duu
taken things for granted" He kept
bis place always. He was polite. q
little reticent and very much In love
with Louise Louise did not pretend
to herself that she was not aware Of
1t. She was all the more pleased that
Collie should act so admirably. She
had loaned him books. some Of which
be had read faithfully and intelligent
~. In secret he had kissed her name
written on the dyleaf of each Of them.
he really rather adored Louise than
loved her. and he builded we'll. for his
alteration (unintimate as alteration
must ever be until perchance It touches
earth and Is translated into love, was
Of that blithe and inspiritng quality
that lifts q man above bis natural self
and shapes the lips to song and tho
heart to unseldsh service. he knew
himself to be good looking and not a.