The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-01-04

Reds kid pal. eh? Huh! knowed
down in Sonora in So Mexico was
some open country then. Jack was q
white pardner too. Went to the bad
account of that Chola girl that he was
courtin' goin' wrong. Funny how the
boss come TO pick up that kid Thinks
there's somethin' III him."
Williams picketed his pony In the
meadow above the third cross fence.
Loafing down the slope toward the
spring. he noticed the faint smoke Of
fire. Farther down the line fence he
could see Collie In the distance riding
slowly toward the three live oaks. The
foreman found a convenient seat on
ledge. rolled another OF his eternal
proach from below
Collie had already dismounted three
times that morning, twice to mend
fence and once more involuntarily. He
determined. with mighty VOW to the
bowlcgsed god Of all horse desla.--to
learn to stay on broncho or die learn
Ing.
The boy had native fondness for
animals. and he had already thought
of buying pony with his first few
months wages. But the vision of his
erstwhile companion Overland. per-
haps imprisoned and hopeless in the
grip of the bunch" annulled that de-
sire. He would save every cent for
that emergency.
Arrived at the spring, both boy and
horse drank gratefully. for the day
was hot Then Collie noticed the thin
smoke coming through the trees and
strobe toward it to find Overland.
ut amt much of fire yet" said
Overland Our hired girr'-and he
grinned through a two weeks tangle
of red beard-"oh. but ain't he the
cute little workin'man with his little
ole boss and his garments of toil?"
"Oh. Red" exclaimed the boy.
''Me sure. been hidin' in my whisk-
ers so long didn't know if you'd
know me-"
II been thinkin' about you every
day"
"Uhuh. So have /. reckon some
others has too. Say. what you been
dom lately, studyin' law or learnin'
the plano? l been lookin' for sou for
a week. It's the first day seen You
out Oh the range"
II was workin' in the garden first:
then they put me at this, this mornin'."
"Uhuh. Well, Col, that there get
away of mine is in all the papers.
Tramp Cowboy Steals Horse and Es-
capes.' Say. did she zip about my
borrowin' the cayuse?"
"She was mad at first, but your fam
cy rldin' kind OF made her forget.
told her you was square, Red"
Huh! guess she could tell that
herself"
But, Red. I'm not kiddln'. told
her uncle about the bunch and the guy
ON the desert"
did he believe it!'
II guess SO. He amt said much.
But he gives me the chance to. make
good. He must have believed some
thin"
well. stick to It, Collie. You never
wasscut out for genuine towerist like
me. anyhow. 1t amt In your blood"
What you goin' to do now, RedT'
ale? Listen! There's gold out there
somewhere. I'm broke now. / need
some dough. | got ideas Ten dollars
does It | get new set of clothes
and get shaved and me hair trimmed
close. Then l commence me good
work in Main street. in Los. Down on.
North Main is where catch the gent
from the east who will fall for any.
thing that wears new hat and some
outdoors complexion. tell all about
my ledge in the Mojave and get staked
to go out and prospect. It's bein' done
every day-it and the other fella."
But, Red
Hold on. kid amt goin' to bunk
nobody. This here's square. / need
financin'-a burro and q grubstake-
and me for the big dry spot. Ship the
outfit to the desert town. and then hit
1t along the rails to where we hid II.
II the papers we hid is any good me
to locate the ledge. Anyhow, there's
q good five hundred In the poke, and
that's better than a kick"
you'll get pinched sure, Red"
nix. kiddo Not ont there. Money
talks Course 1t amt maxim any dis
tressin' sounds around here jest now:
but. say, got the makin's7"