The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-01-11

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"Whatll you gents have?"
"Seein. I'm all right. Sweeney. III
take So in small change. ! need the
coin for entertainin' purposes. I'll pay
you In the mornia'.'
"You got me that time." said Orcutt.
Here's the coin.
"Shall we sit down hereT asked
Winthrop, Indicating one OF the tables |
Sure Now. this amt no frame
up. No; I'll set where ! can watch |
Sweeney. He's like to steal his own |
cash register If you don't watch him. "
And Winthdop noticed that his COM
panion faced the door. He also no
ticed. as the mans coat brushed
against chair as he sat down, that
that same coat covered shiny black
shoulder holster i'll which cleaned the
worn butt of an automatic pistol.
my real name is Jack Summers"
began Overland Red. Some folks took
to calm me Overland Red, seein' as ]
been some towerist in my time"
"Greatr' murmured the easterner.
Overland Red! That name has me
hypnotized."
'sYou was sayin'7'' queried Overland.
..Eag your pardon. Nothing worth
while. haven't been SO happy for
year. Let me explain. have little
money pretty well invested. | also
have lungs,I believe. The doctors
don't quite agree about that, however
The last one gave me six months to
live. That was year ago. owe
him an apology and six months. I'm
not afraid exactly. and I'm certainly
not glad. But want to forget It
That's all. Go ahead about that desert
and the gold I'm listening"
CHATTER TX.
aPerfectiy Harmless Tenderfoot.n
w TILLIAM STANLEY WIN
MAJ THROP woke next morning
w with a vague impression Of
having lost something He
gaZed indolently at the sunlight filter.
ing through the curtains of his sleep
Ing room Beyond the archway to the
adjoining room of his suit ray Of sun
| shine lay like living gold upon the soft.
rich hued fabric of the carpet.
"Goldr' he murmured. "Mojave des-
ert! Overland Red! Lost gold! No, It
isn't the $500 invested in the rascal's
story. for it was worth the money. ]
never spent four happier hours in my
| life ut $50 an hour. The best Of It Is
he actually made me believe him !
think he believed himself.
Winthrop sat up iii lied, yawning. =
| think black coffee will be about all
this morning.. he murmured as he
dressed leisureiy.
/ He was<tying a fastidiously correct
4 bow on his tan Oxford when he hap
i pened to glance out Of the window.
Below on the smooth black pave
ment pattered two laden burros accom-
panied by typical miner. Such an
Rdventurer was the Overland Red he
4 had talked with The tramp had men,
toned town far out on the desert
Winthrop sauntered down to the de
i serted Office and secured time table
When the eastbound express left Los
.
throp was aboard, uncomfortably In
stalled In the private drawing room o1
sleeper. He had cheerfully paid thu
double fare that he might have ths
entire space to himself, and he needed
it Around him, on the. door. In thu
seats, in the racks and on the hooks
were innumerable packages. bags anS
bundles.
i Next morning as the train. slowe!
down for the desert town Winthrol
was in the vestibule peering out anx
iously 1t did not occur to him tina
Overland Red knew nothing Of hi
coming or that the other would By
waiting on the station platform If h
did The tramp had not the faintes
desire to make himself conspicuous
Some of Winthrop's enthusiasm ha'
, evaporated during the hot night In tn
J sleeper.
He watched the train crawl dow
the track He wondered how long
would be able to distinguish the PAT
tern Of the brasswork on the observa
tion car rail
Out Of the empty distance came th
! click, clink. clank Of hammers an
y shovels as the section men. q mil
down the track, stepped into work bt
hind the train.
"Prospectin'7 r queried lank ind
vidual, slouching up to Winthrop.
"A little." said Winthrop. TITS pre-
ty dry work.
:1Jhuh. It's goin' to be hot abor
noon.
Il suppose so. VIII you kindly CIV
me q hand with this monstrosityi
said Winthrop. indicating the pacl
: .The agent seems to be busy
II Sure! She amt rOped very tight"
Which proved to be true. The bul
die with a kind of animate tndi0fe
ence slowly sagged, opened, and thini
began to trickle from 1t In its journe
across the platform. Among Il
things was a bottle Of brandy. II
lank individual picked this up tende
" and set it to one side. Winthrt
| noticed his solicitude and smiled
J 1--WE can rope 'em up again." sa
the lank one, suddenly becoming e
thrsiastic. MY names Jim Hick
I'm constable here. =
q 81 see. Well. I'm William Winthro
; from Los Angeles I'm naturaifs
7 will you accept cigar7"
Thanks. You want to pack Il
here bottle too?
.. Not right away. Whewl It IS 3