The diamond drill., 1916-09-30
gaunders.' said WiIlIams. Hes tryin'


came from their winter creyices and
clung to the sun warmed stones. A
covey or young quail huttered 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 nlbbled AT the grasses
The canyon stream ran clear again
now that the storm washed silt had
settled On the peaks the high winds
were cold and cutting, but on the
slopes and In the valleys the earth was
moist and warm.
Louise. humming a song, rode slowly
along the Moonstone canyon trail At
the double turn" in the canyon. where
dwelt Echo and her myrmidons. Louise
rode more slowly.
Dreaming Fance. the cobbier's son. took
his tools and laces
Wrought her shoes or scarlet dye, shoes
as pale as snow.
They shall lead her wild rose feet all tho
faery PAGES.
Danced along the road OF love, tho road
such feet should 60.
She sang slowly, pausing after each
line that the echoes might not blur.
Danced along-along-the road-of
love, the road-of love-of love-" sang
the echoes.
Louise smiled dreamily. Then the
clatter OF Boyar's 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 be difficult to imagine.
Still she had caught herself noting lit
tie details associated with him and
his 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 llth instinctively. His bits,
spurs and trappings shone. He had
learned TO shoe his string OF ponies.
an art that Is fast becoming lost among
present day cowmen. With little com.
ment, but faithful zeal, he copied
Brand Williams. This, OF course, fiat-
tered the tactlturn cowman. who IN.
obtrusively arranged Collie's work so
that it might bring the younger map
before the notice OF Walter Stone and
incidentally Louise. or course Louise
was not aware OF this.
The girl no longer sang as she rode,
but dreamed, with unseelng eyes on
the trail ahead-dreamed such dreams
as one may put aside easily until, per
chance, the dream converges toward
reality, which cannot be so lightly put
aside.
OF romance, ideas pretty well sub
merged In the deeps OF hardy expert
ence, but existing nevertheless and as
immovable as the bed OF the sea. He
badgered Collie whenever he chanced
10 have seen him with the rose girl,
and, smiling inwardly at the young
mans Indignation, he would straight.
town for, say. few pounds OF staples
wanted I'm "A 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 tho kind was afoot, or
rather, a-saddle. as Louise rode down
the Moonstone trail, for beyond the
turn and the ripping ford she saw
1.-the. blue shirted figure that she knew
Louise would not have admitted even
TO herself that she urged Boyar. New
ertheless the relns frightened and slack
ened gently. Boyar swung into his
easy lope. II pleased the girl that Col.
lie, turning In his saddle at the sound
OF hoofs, waved salute. but did not
check his horse. He had never pre-
sumed on her frank friendship and
taken things for granted" lie kept
his place always. He was polite, a
little reticent and very much In love
with Louise. Louise did not pretend
TO herself that she was not aware OF
It She was all the more pleased that
Collie should act so admlrabl She
had loaned him books. some OF which
he had read faithfully and intelligent.
ly. In secret he had kissed her name
written on the hylenf OF each OF them.
he really rather adored Louise than
loved her. and he builded well, for his
alteration (unintimate as alteration
must ever be until perchance II touches
earth and Is translated into lovel was
OF that bllthe and inspiritng quality
that lifts a man above his natural self
and shapes the lips to song and the
heart 10 unselflsh service he knew
himself TO be good looking and not al
together a barbarian. No morbid hope
lessness clouded his broad horizon He
knew himself and cherished his
strength and his optimism. He ate
slowly. which Is no Insignificant item
on the credit side OF the big book OF
Success.
Collie lifted his broad brimmed hat
as Louise rode up. His face was flush.
ed. His lips were smiling. but his dark
eyes were steady and grave
Morning. COLLECT Boyar is Just
bounSto lope He never can bear TO
have horse ahead OF him"
"He don't have to very often" said