The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-02-01
gered. gritted his teeth and flung him.

self ut the younger man. The fight was
unequal from the beginning. Apache
snorted and circled as the bushes
crashed and cracked
a few minutes later Tenlow strobe
from the brush leading his pony. He
wiped the blood and sweat from his
face and spat viciously
Louise. riding homeward slowly.
heard a horse coming behind her. She
reined Sarko and waited. Collie saw
no way out of 1t. so he rode up. grim
ming from bruised and battered face.
"Why. Collier
The young man grinned again. His
lips were swollen. and one eye was
nearly closed.
Dismounting. Louise stepped to the
ford "Oh I'm sorry" she cried ''Your
face is terribly bruised And your
eye Sho could not help smiling At
coliie's ludicrous appearance.
Il took fall.' he mumbled blandly
Apache here is tricky ut times"
Louises gaze was direct and re-
proachful. Here. let me bathe your
face. Stoop down, like that. You don't
look so badly. now that the dirt IL OF.
Surely you didn't fall on your eye?"
Collie tried to laugh. but the effort
was not very successful
Tenderly she bathed his bruised face.
Her nearness, her touch, made him
forget the pain. Suddenly he seized her
hand and kissed it, leaving 4 stain Of
blood where his lips had touched. She
was thrilled with mingled feeling Of
pride and shame-pride In that be had
fought because Of her, rs she knew
well enough, and shame at the brutal
ity of the affair, which she understood
as clearly as though she had witnessed
1t. She was too honest to make herself
believe she was not Hattered in way.
but she made Collie think otherwise.
He evaded her direct questioning
stubbornly. Finally she asked whether
Mr. Tenlow had taken fair or not.
"Sure he did," replied Collie. "A cou
pie or three years ago-tryin' to out
ride Overland Red. Don't you remem-
ber?'
"Collie you're regular hypocrite."
Yes, ma'am."
And you look-frightful.''
Eyes, ma'am."
You're not q bit ashamed"
"Yes, ma'am, am."
Don't say Yes, ma'am,' oil the time.
You don't seem to be ashamed. Why
should you be, though? Because you
were fightingf'
"No, Miss Louise. Because gol
licked"
Louise mounted Sarko and rode be
side Collie silently. Presently she
touched his arm. But did you r ehs
asked, her eyes grave and her tone con
veying subtle question above th<
mere letter.
mo! By thunder!' he exclaimed
mot in hundred yearsr'
We'll, get some raw meat from the
cook. I'll give your explanation to Dr.
and Mrs. Marshall. for you will hay,
to be ready for the trip tomorrow. 70,
will have to thin1 OF better explana
tion for the boys."
While riding homeward, Louise drop
ped her glove. Collie was afoot Il,
stantly and picked 1t up. "Can l keel
it?" he said.
The girl looked curiously at him To-
a moment. mo. think not. Collie.
she said gently.
Collie rode up to the corrais tha< af,
lernoon whistling as blithely as b
could. considering his injuries. He cor
tinued to whistle as he unsaddle'
Apache.
At the bunk house Brand William
looked at him once and bent doubt
with silent laughter. The boys badger
ed him numerically. "Fell of hos,
Go tell that to chink!-Who ster
ped on your face, kid?-Been ridin' o
| your map, eh?-Where was the wreck
Who sewed up your eyer
| "S-s-h-h. fellas," said Miguel, grir
ming. "If you make all that noise ho'
you going to hear the tune he Is whia
Ting, hey?''
| Collie glanced at Saunders, who ha
said nothing. "Got anything to offe
on the subject, SilentT' he asked.
"Nope I take mine out in thinkin'.' y
You're going to have chance to d
whole lot more of 1t before long
said Collie, and he said 1t with a sui
gestiveness that did not escape til
taciturn foreman. Brand Williams.
A letter from Overland informed Co
lie that his share in the mine to dat
was 5000, and he began planning [
buy ranch.
Hearing that the Orc foreman In
offered Yuma "outlaw" horse to al
Moonstoner who could ride her. Coll
determined to win the prize.
Il hear that you intend to ride tt
outlaw Yuma Is It so7" Louise Il
quired
Collie nodded.
Il had rather you didn't" said Lo
: Use.
"Why?" asked Collie tactlessly.
: Louise did not answer, and Coll
strobe Off feeling angry with himse
and more than ever determined to ri,
! breaking his neck to win the outlaw.
Collie. miffed because Louise selee
ed Miguel to ride her pony Boyar
the races. placed bets against Boy
!, and on buckskin pony backed
the Orc Mexicans.
5 Boyar. the M0onstone pony. ran sc
: ond in the finals. The buckskin OF Il
Mcxicans won first place. Collie Ct
lected his winnings indifrerently.
strolled over to the crowd, finding
place for himself on the corral bars.
Mat Gleason. superintendent OF 4
: Orc ranch. loafed. his back against