The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-01-18
sunt.rranean channel and reappear be-

foot apart i'll the streAm bed but
widening above Overland scrambled
through On the other side of the
opening lie Strengthened UP. breathing
hard His hand crept to his hip On
sandy level few yards ahead OF
him stood Il ragged and faded canvas
tent, its dap wayering idly i'll breath
of wind In front of the tent was the
rain washed charcoal Of an old fire. a
rustel pan, /; q aud the worn STUB
Of a shove! lay near the stream.
box marked dynamite" was half fill
ed with odds and ends of empty tins.
cooking utensils, ard among the things
was glass fruit Jar half filled with
matches
Slowly Overland's hand dropped to
his side He stepped forward, stoop
ed and peered into tie ten;. though,
So" he said. laughing queerly Save
for a pair of old quilts and an old
corduroy coat the place was empty
Fools luck!' muttered Overland
Wonder the Gophertown outfit didn't
find him and fix him. But. come to
think of it, they amt so anxious to
cross over to this side of the range
and get too close to real town and
get run III or shot up. Fools luck!
he reiterated. cooly rolling Il cigarette
and gazing about with critical eye
"They's another trail into this canyon
that the prospector knoWed | got to
End it, Billy II be some Interested
Overland Red lay concealed in an ar
royo at the foot of the range. He
could overlook the desert without be-
ing seen 1t was the afternoon of the
day following Winthrop's departure.
Since discovering the dead prospec-
tors camp and all that it meant. the
tramp was doubly vigilant. He tried
to believe that his anxiety was for his
| own safety rather than for Winthrop's.
| He finally gave up that idea, grumbling
something about becoming plumb soft
| In his feelin's since he took to assO
| ciatin' with sassiety folks" However,
had Winthrop been of the west and
seasoned In it's more rugged ways
| Overland would have thought little OF
the young mans share in recent
| events. While he knew that Winthrop
looked upon their venture as nothing
/ more than rather keenly exciting
game, Overland realized also that the
easterner had played the game royal
ly. Perhaps the fact that Winthrop's
health was not of the best appealed to
some hidden sentiment in the tramp's
! peculiar nature
Far in the south u speck moved, al
most imperceptbly The tramp's keer
eyes told him that this was no horse
man He rolled cigarette and lay
back in the shade of bowlder. Hes
a couple Of points off his course. bu
he can't miss the range" he reflected.
Desiring to assure himself that nc
| Red made no sign that might help the
other to find the trail over the range
The rim of Winthrop's hat became dis
tinguis,,able; then the white lacing o.
his boots Nearer. Overland saw tha
his face was drawn and set with ,line:
OF fatigue
No riders appeared ON the horizon
Overland stepped out from behind th'
rock We'll. how did you make it?'
iae called.
Winthrop came forward wearily
mo luck at all
couldn't find it. eh?''
II counted every tie between tn
tank and that little ditch under th
track The entire stretch has been re
laid with new ties"
Overland wilistlcd Then he grinned
You had good healthy walk. an,
how" he observed.
ut doesn't seem to worry yon much.
said Winthrop.
Nope. Now you're back II don't.
reckcn you done, your best Angel
can do no less. Buck up. Billy. 70
are limper'n second hand porous llas
ter Here. take Il shot at this. Tia
will stiffen your knees some. Did 70
meet up with anybody
Net soul thought | shoul
, freeze last night, though. didn't In
ag:ne the desert could get SO cold
Never milll.' said Overland Rel
i've struck it rich here. And he eS
, planned at length.
do you remember" replied VIII
: threp, that | said. Il Gay or two ay,
that | shouldn't be surprised if tll
lost gold were in the very c;lnyo
where we camped? claim precedenc
Of divination. autosuggestion and rigl
of eminent domain | shall not waiv
my prerogatiye."
Il never owned one" said OyerIan,
But afore Ill let you come any sty
over me I'll have one made with
: Jest as soon as the claim gets to payi
S good Say, pardner. it's free gold an
r coarse wisht Collie was here-ti
little cuss.
Il Collier
: "Uhuh. The kid was tellln yt
about that | adopted back in Alb
querque. He's got share in this he
deal by rights He invested his eig
rollers and four bits III the chanc
Vt my ii.lslin the stuff II was all Il
,oin he had at the time Yon see.
was eampin up an the Moonstone I
a change of air. and Collie and me h;
a meetil of the board of dissectoI
The board votes unanimous to inve
the paid III capital in Il suit of ne
jeans for tiienresideni, which was q
got 'cin nn new You see. had
be doi!ied M tn look the part 50
could catch eenlc on aud get 7