The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-02-08

but hesitated, ears fiattened. curious
half belligerent.
That afternoon Silent Saunders, rid:
ing along the border of the desert
town, had seen strange horse and
rider far out, away from the road and
evidently heading for the water hole
Saunders rode into town, borrowed IL
pair of fieldglasses and rode out again.
He at once recognized the roam pony
as the Or0 outlaw. But the rider? He
was not SO sure. He would investi-
gate.
The fact that he saw no glimmer Of
fire as he now approached the water
hole made him doubly cautious. Near
er, he crouched. behind a bush. He
threw pebble at the pony. She cir
cled the picket, awakening Collie. WHO
spoke to her sleepily. Saunders crept
back toward his horse. He knew that
voice. He would track the young rider
to the range and beyond-to the gold.
He rode back to town through the
night. entered the saloon and beckoned
to belated lounger.
Shivering in the morning starlight.
Collie arose and saddled the pony. He
rode in the general direction of the
range.
Suddenly the shadows Of the hills
pushed back. Almost instantly he faced
the quick rise of the range. Out Of the
silence came the slithering step Of
some one walking in. the sand. The
darkness seemed to expand.
Overland Red stood before him, 81.
lent. alert, anxious. "You, Chico?' he
asked.
"Sure Hello, Red"
anybody see you come across yes.
terday?'
mot that I know of. I kept away
from the town"
| "YOur hoss shodT'
"Yes; all around. Why"
'Nothin'. I'm sufferin' glad to Sc.
you again. When we get on top of tn,
hills you take the left trail and keel
on down. You can't miss the canyon
I'll leave you here. I got to stay herr
spell to see that nothin' else come.
| up but the sun this mornin'."
"All right, Red. Your pardner dow
| there?''
Yep. Whistle when you get up t,
the meadow in the canyon. Billy Z
be lookin' for YOU.
ANY trouble lately?"
"Nope. But Billy's got a hunch
though. He says he feels 1t In tn
air.
When Collie arrived at the CAM
Overland was there waiting. Winthrop
and he greeted Collie cordially. ''Shor
cut" explained Overland. jerking Iii
thumb over his shoulder. mo hos
trail, though. Too Steep"
Faint dawn lights we're shifting
along the canyon walls as they hat
breakfast. AS the morning sunlgh
spread to their camp C0llie's natura
curiosity in regard to Oyerlahd's part
ner was satisfied. He saw a straight
slender figure in flannel shirt and kha
ki The gray eyes were peculiarly kee
and, humorous. Winthrop was not
little like his sister Anne in poise IN
coloring. The hands were neryousl
slender and aristocratic. albeit rough
cned and SCARED by toll. There wa
a suggestion of dash and go abOu
Winthrop that appealed to Collie.
There's spare blankets In the ten
Roll In for snooze, Collie. Billy an
nell pack your saddle and stuff u
here later"
II guess I win. You might spong
Yuma's back a little, Red. She
brought me close to. 200 miles in til
last three days" - :.
"Sure, Bo! I'll brush her teeth; an
manicure her toe nails If you say til
word. / guess that ,hoss has kind {
made a hit with you.''
Collie yawned. "Alebby But It ism
; In it with the hit she'll make wit
you ii you try to take up her fee
She's half sister to shot of dyn,
mite. I'm only telling you SO she won
kick your fool head of"
You talk like most full size man
said Overland.
Down at the meadow Overland loo
ed ut the colt and shook his hea
"He Is correct" he said succincti
"That hoss don't welcome handli
worth a bean.'
II Winthrop's silence rather stirrt
Overland's sensitive pride in his hors
manship. Course l broke and rot
hundreds like her down in Mex. B
then was paid for doin' it. 1t W,
my business then. Now minin' nj
| educatin' Collie is my business, and
busted neck wouldn't help any,
! winthrop realized for the. first tin
that Overland's supreme interest in Ii
was Collie's welfare. Heretofore q
i,aternal note had not been evideI
Winthrop had imagined them chun
friends, tramps together. They, we
more than that. Overland consider
Collie an adopted son.
That afternoon. toward evening, c.
lie arose, refreshed aud eager to inspe
tho claim. He could hear the fai
click Of pick and shovel up the canyo
He stretched himself, drank from t
stream aud sauntered toward the mea
ow. He would see to his pony first.
Isl He found the horse had been pick
ed afresh by Overland when he III
come for the saddle. He was retur
ing toward camp when he heard
slight noise behind him-the noise
mans boot makes stepping on pe
- BILE that turns beneath his weight.
). Collie wheeled quickly. saw nothi
IT unusual and turned again toward t
te camn. Then he hesitated. He wor
look down the canyon He realiz
that he was unarmed. Then he grt