The diamond drill., 1916-09-30

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hills-the cool, inyigoratlng mornings,
the keen wind OF the noon peaks, the
placidity OF the evening as the stars
multiplied In the peaceful sky.
He became that rare quantity among
cowmen, rider who handled and mas
tered unbroken horses without brutal.
! ity. This counted heavily for him, both
with Louise and Walter Stone. Men
new TO the range laughed at his meth
od OF "gentling" horses. Later their
laughter stllled to envious desire. Lack
Ing his invariable patience. his con.
sistent magnetism, they finally resum-
ed their old methods and earned domi-
nance by sheer strength OF arm-"main
strength and awkwardness," as VIII
liams put It
"Its easy-for him." commented
Brand Williams, discussing Collles al
most uncanny quelling of vicious, un-
bitted mustang. 'It's easy. You fellas
expect hoss TO buck and bite and kick
and buffalo you generally. lie don't
He don't expect anything like that, and
he don't let 'em learn how"
"Can you work 1t that wayr asked
Billy Dime.
"Nope. l learned the other way, and
the hosses knows II. l always had to
sweat He's born to IL natural, like a
good cow pony is"
And Collie looked upon his work as
a game-a game that had TO be played
hard and well, but a game neverthe-
less. Incidentally he thought often OF
| Overland Red. He had searched the
papers diligently for a year before he
received the 1rst letter from Overland
Tho news IL contained set Collie to
thinking seriously Of leaving the Moon
stone rancho and joining his old com
panion In this new venture OF gold dig
ging, which. as Overland took palms TO
explain, was paying big" But there
was Louise. They were great friends
They had even ridden TO town together
and attended the little white church In
the eucalyptus grove. He thought OF
their ride homeward late that Sunday
afternoon.
Once and once only had Oyerlands
name been mentioned In the bunk
! house. Saunders. discussing horses
and riders Ia general, listened TO Col
! lies account OF overlands escape from
the deputy, Tenlow. Then he spoke
slightingly OF the feat. claiming that
J any man who had ever ridden range
could do as much with the right pony.
Brand Williams tried to change the
subject. for shrewd reasons OF his
own, but Collie famed up instantly.
'T got a little saved up" he said.
"mebbe $500. She's yours II you dast
to walk a horse. comm or goin', over
that drift that Red took on the jump.
Are you game"
I'm not on the bet" replied Saun.
ders. $50 Overland Red Is a friend OF
yours, chi"
Overland Red could ride where you
dassent TO walk and drag halter"
asserted Collie. Then he relapsed TO
silence, q little ashamed in that he had
been trapped into showing temper.
Williams the taciturn astonished the
bunk house by adding: THE kid IS
right Red could outride most men. i
was his pal once down In Sonora.
There amt better two gun artist liv-
in" And the lean foreman looked
pointedly at Saunders.
Saunders smiled evilly. He had rea-
son 10 believe that Williams had
spoken the truth.
A few weeks later Williams. return.
ing unexpectedly to the bunk house.
found Saunders changing his shirt
preparatory TO a ride to town. The
rest OF the boys were already on their
way 10 the Orc rancho across the val
ley. Williams saw two puckered
scars, each above the elbow. on Saun.
ders' barred arms.
THAT was good shootin'," said the
foreman. indicating the others SCARED
arms.
"Fair," said Saunders grufiy.
Takes a gun artist TO put man out
OF business that way and not finish
him." said Williams, smiling.
"Cholo mixup," said Saunders.
"And shootin' from the ground at
that" continued Williams. And at a
fella on a horse. Easy to see that,
for both holes are slandn' up. The
shootin' was done from below"
Saunders flushed He was about 10
speak when Williams interrupted him.
Makes mo think OF some OF Overland
Red's-that is, old Red Jack Summer
fancy work. I don't know why" he
drawled, and, turning. he left the bunk
house.
Collie, returning from a visit 70 the
Orc rancho that evening, was met by
williams. The latter was on foot
drop into my shack after dark"
said the foreman. Then he stepped
back into the bushes as the other men
rode up.
The foreman's interview with Collie
that evening was brief II left lot
70 the Imagination. "You said too
much about Overland Red the other