The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-11-11


81 guess II was Parks" murmured
Overland. lie had plenty OF chance.
wasn't after him"
Slowly the group OF horsemen rode
across the desert. The afternoon sun
made queer shadows OF them and their
mounts. Billy Dime rode bent for
ward. Ills face was white and bead
ed with sweat Overland, on Longs
pony, was supported by Miguel and
Brand Williams Pars Long had dis.
appeared In the shadows OF the range.
One morning some three weeks after
the invasion OF Gophertown Bud Light,
Billy Dime and Brand Williams ap-
peared at the Moonstone ranch office.
Quite casually they had dlsmounted
and, Jlngling up, had asked for Walter
Stone. Upon his appearance the young
er men applied individually for their
old places. The room smelled OF ciga-
rette smoke and antiseptics. Quite as
though nothing unusual had happened
the rancher reinstated them.
Have n good time, boys?" he asked.
Eyes, sir; very good time; better than
we expected" replied Billy Dime. Bud
Light nodded.
Stone looked hard at Billy Dimes
bandaged arm. Miguel and Parson
Long have good time also"
Stayed to help Overland Red work
the claim. Overland Red got hurt a
little dom somethin'. He's all right
now"
None OF the Moonstone boys were
injured?
Nope; not one of u.s." replied Dino
blandly.
Walter Stones eyes twinklsd, but no
did not smile. I'VE will call 1t n vaca-
ton this time. with pay. Tell VIII
liams to step in here, please" And TIA
rancher dismissed his embarrassed and
happy punchers with a gesture.
The interview with Williams was
not so brief. The boys came out OF 1t
all rlght?" asked Stone. shaking hands
with his old foreman.
Yes, sir"
How did you manage that?"
Didn't. They did"
ANY one-er-of the other side have
an accident?
"Saunders-and six gents got hurt
pretty bad"
"Whew! Our boys were lucky"
ut was nothin' but luck that they
aln't all back there now-on the sand.
You see. the Gophertown outfit are all
what you'd call good with gun, but
IL was kind OF surprise, the spread
in OF the thing from Reds little pri-
vate deal TO six hand game. We
sure was lucky"
"And Collier"
Williams shook his head. 81 don't
know. We thought he had crossed over
Seems he took n new holt The doc
and Winthrop brung him 10 Los in the
automobile. He's at the hospital. But
they say he don't pick up any since he
come there"
AN right. Brand. think that IS
all"
How about my name goln' back on
the booksT asked Williams.
at hasn't been off the books You
know. Louise attends TO the time
sheet y
Williams nodded. 81 expect Miguel
and parson Long will be snilin
around lc.bin for job before long
They agreed TO stay with Red TN he
got on his feet again. But they told
him they would go just as soon AZ ne
was all right. for you couldn't run
your ranch without EN-"
Walter Stone smiled broadly. You're
foreman. Brand"
"Thcy was iightin' just as much for
the name Of the old Moonstone ms for
Collie or for fun" said Williams.
81 know II. But ] don't believe In
Iuch methods That sort OF thing Is
about done with, said stone.
81 was rcadin' about the old days in
the Panamint. not long ago" said WI
llams, gazing at a corner of the Office.
"I-they was list OF names Of ranch
ers that cleaned mp the rustlers over
there, back In Sc IL was lnterestin'-
some Of them names"
Walter Stone coughed and turned In
his chair. lie gazed out OF the win.
dow. Finally he faced Williams again.
I'VE had 10 do It. he said, smiling.
Williams nodded. They understood
each other.
Louise returned home, heartslck and
haunted by Collies eyes that had
seemed so listlcss, so Indifferent, so
weary. She had hoped TO cheer him.
Ills indifference affected her more
than his actual physical condition,
which seemed TO be the cause Of II.
Louise recognized In herself n species
Of sclhshness I'm feeling as she did.
Like most folk OF superintendent
health. she was unable TO realize the
possibilities Of sickness. She longed
for his companlonship. She had not
dared 10 ask herself whether or not she
loved him. She was glad that he should
love her. and yet she was not altogeth
or happy. she had sent him her token,
the little gray riding gauntlet lie had
I'm no way acknowledged II.