The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-09
CHAPTER VII
Red and the Tenderfoot

| btIofs hed lett the neighbOrhOOd
OF the Moonstone Ranch he made
an opportunity TO see Collie and re.
veal his plans. And he took away
with him more than the lads first
pay. which the latter insisted on
/ contributing toward the new enter.
/ prise. Red had. too. what WAS in
finitely more precious TO the
pote" tramp. the knowledge that
Collie had made his real start in
life and the confirmation OF his
high faith In the Rose Girl.
All this meant much TO Overland.
and he slipped into Los Angeles
with a light heart. in spite OF the
81 900 price on his head. Ills plan
was TO recover the papers OF the
dead prospcctor. Red was sure he
could easily find the railroad tie
under which no had buried them.
But even with them as guide 10 the
desert rats hidden mine he must
first have money TO purchase an
outfit.
To this end the tramp had de-
termined TO hold wise and re-
munerative converse with the first
fastener that looked good to
him"
And II all happened more easily
than Red could have possibly
hoped. lie WAS visiting the saloon
OF his old friend. Sweeney circuit.
when the meeting took place. The
victim was a young chap. West for
his health. named William Win
throp. The fastener had learned
TO lounge In Circuits cool bar and
amuse himself by watching what
he called types" Overland was
a distinct type. and as Winthrop
not only had more money and time
than he knew what 10 do with. but
was also becoming more and more
bored as his strength returned. he
fell easy prey To Red.
Ny real name is Jack Summers. %
the tramp begun. after Sweeney
had introduced them. Some folk :
took TO calm me Overland Red.
seeln' as | been some towerist In
my time"
Great" tho fastener had re-
piled. Overland Red That
name has me hypnotired."
You was sayin'?" queried Over.
land.
Beg your pardon. Nothing worth
while. | haven't been 80 happy for
year. Let me explain. | have a
little money. pretty well invested.
also have lungs. believe. The
doctors don't quite agree about
that, however. The last one gave
me six months TO live. That was a
year ago. owe him an apology
and six months. I'm not afraid.
exactly. and I'm certainly not glad.
But ] want 10 forget IT, That's
all Go ahead about that desert
and the gold. I'm listening"
And that desert and the gold
became land OF promise with
Overland's telling.
William Stanley Winthrop woke
next morning with vague impress
sion OF having lost something.
Gold" he murmured. "Moiave
Desert Overland Red Lost gold,
No. Il isn't the two hundred dollars
invested in the rascal's story,
for II was worth the money. |
never spent four happier hours In
my life. The best of II IL he actual
~ made me believe him. ! think
he believed IL himself"
Winthrop sat mp In bed, yawning.
Il think black coffee will be about
all. this morning" he murmured.
as he dressed leisurely.
He was tying a fastidiously cor
rect bow on his tan Oxford when
he happened to glance out OF the
window.
Below. on the pavement. battered
two laden burros On their packs
hung dusty. weather.worn canteens.
a pick and shovel. and a rifle in it's
frayed scabbard. The burros fol.
lowed a man. whose flop-brimmed
hat. faded shirt. and battered boots
told a tale OF the outlands. whis.
pered OF sun-swept immensities.
sand and silence.
Another dust rat" thought the
policeman on the corner between
his dreams OF what he would do
with the $1,000 should he catch
Overland Red.
Winthrop drew long breath.
Such an adventurer was the over.
land Red he had talked with the
evening previous. The tramp had
mentioned town far out on the
desert. Winthrop sauntered down
to the office and secured a time
table.