The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-23

 kissed me"
 Walter Stone laughed heartily. But | do take . great deal. of interest in anything that interests you"
 Louipe slipped lithely from tho porch rail and swung up on the broad arm of his chair, smuggling against him inn petuously. II know you do, uncle. I just love youl I'll stop teasing"
 'I surrender. I'm pretty fair sol aier at long range, but this'-and his arm went round her affectionately- 'sthis is utter defeat. strike my col ors. Then. you always. give in so gracefully"
 "To you, perhaps, Uncle Walter. But {, | haven't given in this time. I'm just as interested as ever."
 "And you think they are the men we saw out on the Mojave by the wa ter tank r
 .oh. know it! They remembsssd the rose Theyspoke of 1t right away, befcre did"
 "Yes, Louise, And you remember. too, that they were arrested at Bar stow-for -murd6r, the conductor said ?"
 That's just 1t! The boy Collie says the rsnp Overland Red didn't kill the mn. He was tryir . to save him and gave him water. If you could only hear what the boy says about it''-
 My heart. my service and my fu- ture are at your feet, Senorita Louise, my mouse. Are your eyes gray or green this morning."
 Both" said Louise quickly. "Green for spunk and gray for love That's what Aunty Eleanor says" Come nttlo nearer. Let me see. No, they arc Quite gray now"
 'Cause why !" she cooed. and, stoop- ing, hased him with warm, careless affection. You always ask me about my eyes when you want me to kiss you. Of course when you want to kiss nc. why, you just como and take 'em." "
 ~1(y esteemed privilege, sweetheart. am your caba1ero." "Dld Aunty HleanWY' satd Louise.
 But Walter Stone rose and straight ened his shoulders. That will do, mouse. I can't have anyf5ealousy be- tween my swesfhearts."
 .Neverl And, Uncle Walter, do you want to Tide Major or Raltyf Rally and Boyar get along better together. I'll saddle Boy in | jiny.*
 
 At tho crossroads In. the valley stood the local jail, or '4coop," as 1t was more dascripttvely called Unpainted, fsolat- a, its solitary uglinoss lacked even the squalid dtsnitv conmpnly associated with the word 'jatl." Tho sun pelted down upon its bleached. unshaded roof and sidee. The burning air ran over It's warped shingles Ike . kind of color lees ire.
 The boy Collie. half dreaming in the | suffocating heat Of the place, started to his feet as the dooA swung open. He had heard horses coming. They had stopped. He could hardly realize that the sunlight was swimming through 1 the close dusk of the place. But the girI of Moonstone canyon, refining Boyar round, was real, and she smiled and nodded greeting. This is Mr.. Stone, my uncle." she said. He wants to talk with you" With a glance that noted each un- lovely detail of the place. the broken Iron bed, the cracked pitcher and the unspeakahie blankets, Louise touched her pony and was gone.
 Collie rubbed his eyes, blinking in
 the sun as he stood gazing after her.
 Walter Stone. standing near the door
 way, noted the lads clear, healthy skin.
 his well shaped head with its tumble 1 of wavy black hair and the luminous dark eyes. He felt an instant sympa. thy for the boy, sympathy that he
 masked with businesslike brusque- ness. Well, young manr' "Yes, sir"
 l Come. outside. It's vile in there" | Stone Led his pony to the north side Of the ''coop." ! Collie followed Away to the west he saw the hazv l peaks. A lake of burning air pulsed above the lat, hot floor of the valley. l Over there lay the hills and the shade and the road. Somewhere beyond was Overland, his friend, penniless, hunt a, hungry.
 "shs bgung your queried the boy. l Yes. have seen Tenlow, the sher- n. HeAs willing to let you go at my : request. What do you intend doing l now that you are free7" T don know. Find Red, g,lkss.~ | Walter Stone nodded. \ sWhat thenT
 ~Oh, stick 1t out with Red. They'll | be aftsr him sure now. Reds my pal. :, What has he done to get the police after himY
 "Nothfn'. It's the bunch" 'sThe bunchT
 sUhuh. Them guys out on the Mo
 5ave: but, gay, are you woriin' me to l get next to Red and get him pinched
 againr
 "No. You don't have to answer me.
 This man Red is nothing to me one way or the other. He took Miss La
 charme's pony, but she has overlooked
 that. thought perhaps you might
 care to explain your position. Perhaps
 you had rather not. You may go now