The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-09-09

| They let you go-after the police
| examination. Then how II II that tho
authorities are after you again"
Its the bunch" replied the boy
Them guys out there knowed the dead
guy had mine or a ledge or somethin'
where he got the gold. Nobody was
wise 10 where. They told ut the jail
how he used to come In once In awhile
and send his dust 20 Los Angeles by
the express company. All them guys.
like the sheriff and the station agent
and all the people In that town. are
workin' tryin' 10 find out where tho
gold come from. They think because
Red and me Is tramps that they can
make us tell and arrest Us whenever
they like. But even Red don't know,
unless It's In the papers he hid In the
sand"
THAT sounds like pretty straight
story" said Stone. $50 you intend to
stick to this man RedY'
"Sure! Would you quit him now
when they're after him worstT
''They will get him finally
"Mebby. But Reds pretty slick at
getaway. II they do pinch him
again that's where come I'm. I'm the
only witness and the only friend he's
got"
"Of course. But don't you see, my
boy, that your way Of living Is SO much
against you that you couldn't really
help him? A mans naked word Is
worth Just what his friends and neigh
bors will allow him for It and no
more"
"But amt guy got no rights In this
countryT'
Certainly he has. But he has 10
prove that he Is entitled to them by
his way OF living"
Then he's got to go to church and
work and live decent or he don't get
square deal, heyT' - I.
"But why shouldn't he do that
mucnt ..s--Gl1->-... -..fAlSz&Sskl6S
Collie did not answer. Instead. he
inspected his questioner critically from
head TO foot II guess you're right"
no said finally. i've heard foIke talk
like that before, but I never took no
stock. They kind Of said IL bcchuse
they knowed It. / guess You say IT be-
cause you mean It."
"Qf course I DO" said Stone heartily.
well, here comes my niece With tAc
mail see Over there Is Ell Omino
Real, running north. Ny ranch Is up
there In the hills. My foreman's name
is Williams. II You should ask him
for work believe he might give you
something TO do. / heard him say he
needed man not long ago" 80
Boyar, the blnck pony, clattered up
and stopped. Hello, folksr' said Lou
ise. purposely including the boy In her
greeting
Collie flushed happily. Then Bit
terness grew in his heart as he thought
of his friend Overland. hunted from
town 10 town by the Same law that
protected these pcople--an unjust law
that they observed and fostered
''Well2" said Stone.
Collie's gaze was on the ground. II
don't know" he muttered.
"Well good luck to your And the
ponies swung into that philosophical
lope OF the western horse who knows
his journeys length.
The figures OF the riders grew small
err. Still the boy stood In the road
watching them. Undecided. he gazed.
Then came nm answer TO his stubborn
self questioning Louise glanced back
glanced bacl, for an instant In mute
sympathy with his loneliness.
Slowly the boy turned and entered
the jail. He folded his coat over his
arm stepped outside and closed tho
door.
Before him stretched Che hot gray
level OF III Canine Real. the road TO
the beyond From Il branched mar
rover road reaching up u;o the south
ern hllls-on mp 10 the mysterious
Moonstone canyon. with It's singing
stream and It's gracious sllnde. Some
where beyond. higher and In the shad-
owy fastncss Of the great ranges, lay
the Moonstone ranch--her home.
81 guess, steppin' up smart. I'll be
there Just about In time for supper"
said the boy. And, whistling cheerily.
he set his feet toward the south and
the Moonstone trail.
CHAPTER VII.
~co Rope q csyuse.'