The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-01-18

ley Williams saw two pucEered
scars. each above the elbow. on Saun-
ders barred arms
THAT was good shoo,in'. said tie
foreman. indicating the others Scared
arms.
"Fair." said Saunders gru1ly.
Takes gun artist to put man out
Of business that way and not finish
him." said Williams. smiling
.'Cholo mixup," said Saunders
And shootin' from the ground at
that" continued Williams And at u
fella on a horse Easy to see that.
for both holes are slantin up The
shootin' was done from below
Saunders flushed He was about to
speak when Williams interrupted him.
Makes me think of some of Overland
Red's-that is. old Red Jack Summers
| fancy work. | don't know why. he
drawled. and. turning, he left the bunk
house.
Collie. returning from a visit to the
| Orc rancho that evening. was met by
Williams. The latter was ON foot
| Drop into my shack after dark"
said the foreman. Then he stepped
back into the bushes as the other tnen
| rode up.
The foremans interview with Collie
that evening was brief. 1t left lot
| to the imagination. "You said too
much about Overland Red the other
night when you was talkin' to Silent
Saunders" said Williams. Hes tryin'
to find out somethin' l. don't know
what he's after Keep your eye peeled
and your teeth on the bit That's ALL"
A month had passed The air was
warm and clear, the sky intensely blue.
Moonstone canyon grew fragrant with
budding flowers. The little lizards
came from their winter crevices and
clung to the sun warmed stones. A
covey Of young quail futtered along
the hillside under the stately surveil.
lance of the mother bird Wild cats
prowled boldly OH the southern slopes.
Cottontails huddled beneath tile grease
wood brush and nibbled at the grasses.
The canyon stream ran clear again
now that the storm washed silt had
J settled On the peaks the high winds
were cold and cutting. but Oh the
slopes and In the valleys the earth was
moist and warm.
Louise. humming song, rode slowly
! along the Moonstone canyon trail At
the double turn" in the canyon. where
dwelt Echo and her inyrmidons. Louise
rode more slowly.
; Dreaming Fance. the cobbler's son. took
his tools and laces
ii Wrought her shoes OF scarlet dye. shoes
as pale as snow.
They shall lead her wild rose feet all the
faery PAGES.
Danced along the road of love, the road
such feet should so
u She sang slowly. pausing after each
j tine that the echoes might not blur
Danced aIong-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
j 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
! oil Of the other men did lie did not
chew tobacco. Despite his lack Of ear.
y training he was naturally neat. He
/ disliked flth instinctively. His bits.
spurs and trappings shone. He had
4 learned to shoe his string of ponies.
an art that Is fast becoming lost among
present day cowmcn With little com.
J, ment. but faithful zeal, he copied
!. Brand Williams. This, OF course, fat
tered the tactiturn cowman. who un.
obtrusively arranged Collie's work SO
!, that 1t might bring the younger man
before the notice Of Walter Stone and
!. incidentally Louise. OF course Louise
!. was not aware Of this.
The girl no longer sang as she rode
!, but dreamed, with unseeing eyes or
the trail ahead-dreameds such dreams
as one may put aside easily until, per
chance, the dream cOnverges towari
reality, which cannot be SO lightly put
aside
Brand Williams had his own idea:
: Of romance. ideas pretty well sub
merged In the deeps OF hardy expert
ence. but existing nevertheless and al
= immovable as the bed Of the sen. Fl,
badgered Collie whenever he CHANGED
= to have seen him with the rose girl
and. smiling inwardly at the youn!
$ mans indignation. he would straight
x way arrange that Collie should ride t,
IS town for. say. few pounds or staple
j wanted in q hurry. when he knew tina
% the blackboard would be going to tow
;e on the morrow and also that Their
II were plenty Of staples in the store
ye room.
; Something Of the kind was afoot. ol
le rather. a-saddle. as Louise rode dow
Is the Moonstone trail. for beyond th
5 turn and the rippling ford she saw
d. 1.-THE. blue shirted figure that she knew
81 Louise would not have admitted eve
er to herself that she urged Boyar. Nel
d ertheless the reins frightened and slael
ened gently Boyar swung into b
n easy lope. It pleased the girl that Co
~ lie. turning In his saddle at the sonn
Of ho0fs. waved salute. but did III
-, check his horse. He had never pr
= sumed on her frank friendship al
- .taken things for granted He kel
a his place always. He was polite.
little reticent and very much In io'
:. with Louise. Louise did not prefer
= to herself that she was not aware
II. She was eli the more pleased TIL
:. Collie should act so admirably. 81