The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-02-15
them papers and that dust Billy tried
to find out there by the track?'


to find out there by the track?'
"Yes."
"Well found it ALL Since the com.
pany Is workin' the claim now and
di1a't have so much to do l got to
thinkin' Of them papers. l went out
there. paced her OF down the track.
guessed at about where 1t was and
found EN-"
Found them?"
Yes. sir. There was that little bag
almost atop Of the sand, account OF
| wind and rain. Then there was q rec.
! ord of the claim. our claim. It's been
| fled on before. We made mistake
and fled ON the wrong section. When
me and Billy went to file | noticed the
clerk said something about havin'
neighbors on the claim next. but I
was scared Of answerin' too many
questions. so give him some cigars
and beat it."
"WhO owns our claim, then?"
That's the queer part OF It. You
know the guy we give the water to-
the one that died out there. He owns
the claim. or he did. 1t belongs by
rights to his girl now. His name was
Andre Lacharme."
"IAcharmer'
"Yes: Louise's pa. Recollect your
boss tellin' us how the Rose Girls
daddy was missin' out In the Mojave7
, Then they was letter-old and most
wore out-from Walter Stone himself
1t was to him-her pa-tellin' him
about the little Louise baby and askin'
him to come to the Moonstone and take
a job and quit prospectin' That's
where we stand"
!, Louise, breathless. listened and could
not believe that she was real, that this
was not a dream. Andre Lacharmel
Her father!
II seen n lawyer about it," resumed
Overland. "He said 1t was plain enough
that the claim belonged to the dead
:" pr0spector or his girl, now. You see.
!. we worked the claim and KEEP up the
: work accOrdin' to law. What we made
amt ours, but I'm mighty glad it's
hers. Course we earned what dust we
dug, all right. Now I'm leayin' 1t up
to you. Do we tell her or do we say
y nothin' and 60 ON gettin' rich?"
why do you put It up to me?" asked
Collie
Because, kid, you got the most to
t lose. Your chance Is about gone with
e the Rose Girl II you let go the gold
% Sab4? The little Rose Girl is wise
: She don't give two cents for money.
= But she amt foolish enough to marry
puncher that's workin' for wages on
u her uncle's ranch. And when she gets
X all me and Billy made and your share
le she'll be rich. That won't be no time
r for you to 60 courtin' her. It amt
Il that you amt good enough for any
It girl But now'da things is different
! You got to have money"
* "Do you think Louise would tnke
the money p asked Collie.
ed II don't know. But that amt It
L We either give 1t up-or we don't
as What do you say?"
=. "Why-to tell Louise. of course. ]
- meant that right along. You ought to
W know that"
y. "You givin' 1t up because you had
no some fuss with her or anything like
e. thatY'
NO "No. lied. l say tell her because its
square, Did she stop to ask questions
when was in trouble? No. She went
y! to work to help me quick. ! guess we
. II cor, mora for har than ! whole carlond
Of gold"
lne "Well, | guess Once ! wouldn't q
stopped to worry about whose gold Il
MS was. But KNOWN: the Rose Girl
EN- KNOWN what she is-why. It's maxim
~ me soft In me morals"
"" what do we do now. Red?"
ne "Tm goin' to beat 1t. Back to th'
" dusty for mine"
'You don't have to do that. Red"
~ That's just why I'm a-doin' It
like to do what like"
:, "Quitting now seems like saying
- I'm whipped" said Collie. "Qutttini
e.e after giving up our money to her look
like we were sore, even II we do !
sc' and smile. She would feel bad. Red
~" She'd think she drove US off. VIII.
don't you ask Stone for a job?"
~ - What? Me? After bein' presiden
~ OF the Rose Girl Mining company. in
eas Say! They's no halfway house for mi
~ It's all or nothin'. Why. | don't eve
~. own the Guzzuh. Could you stand it I
-. see her every day. and you just
puncher workin for the Moonstone
~. She would smile and treat you fine, an
..a. you'd be eatin' your own heart out II
g. her."
onc mo. / couldn't" said Collie slowl,
RED, guess you're right"
II amt askin' you, Collie. but there
nothin' like ramblin' to make you 70
one get. It's got hard work beat to a mus
EaH because when you're ramblin' you'l
r'eo most always hungry. Listen! Love
nen when you amt satisfied. So is emp
ieie stomach. A felia's got to eat Do "
oii'e get that?'
"Yes: but. Red, you said you loved
nse- woman once You didn't forget?"
nan % mo. kid. didn't Once didn't I
o.io nothin' else but remember | got ov
e.. that It's only accidental to circul
n :" stances pertainin' to the fact that l |
.o,L member now. You never seen me G
in my soup. did your
woa but you're different"
The That's the b'eat every Year,
side makes till he grows up and finds 9
hear he's COW jest like his ma. ali
not different inside. And bleedin inside
dangerouser than bleedin' outsi'
lone. Listen! Remember the little fire
get side the track when we was way
here IN the big hills? Remember the cur
like a snake unwindin' where she r