The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-02-08
town. The boys gets kind os

restless
Boys? Amt yousalone?'
Il should say notr' replied Williams
disgustedly. Il wish was. got
four pigeon toed, bowlegged, bat cared
MOOnstoners down in that meadow
just itchin' mad to cut loose. And
they amt sayin' word. which is sus-
picious. Worryin' across the old dry
spot the last three days has kind OF
het 'em up. And then hearin' about
Collie"-
How'd you come to have SO much |
comp'ny?" queried Overland.
II was plumb fool enough to read |
that letter of yours to 'em. They all |
like Collie first rate, better than cal. |
fulated Oh. The boss talked turkey to
EN-, but be had to let 'em come. He
did everything he could to hold 'em,
KNOWN what was In the wind"
"And they quit?"
"Quit? Every red eyed bat Of EN-
Bud and Pars and Billy and Miguel
Told the boss they quit because, me
bein' foreman, they would do as says,
but II they quit wasn't their foreman
any longer, and they would do as they
dunn please. They had the nerve to
tell me that could come along II I
was wishful."
Overland nodded. We'll, Brand, /
guess I'll step down and look 'em
over"
Hinged round their little fire In the
meadow sat or lay the MoOnstone rid
ers. While crossing the desert Will
liams had sketched a few Of the red
episodes in Overland's early career.
These pleased the riders nightly.
They were anxious to meet Red Jack
Summers. When Williams did intro
duce him they were rather silent, ask
ing after Collie in monosyllables. They
seemed strangely reticent.
Both Williams and Overland felt an
inexplicable tensity in the situation.
Miguel, the young Mexican vaquero,
broke silence. How long you call It
to this Gophertown place. think?'
Thirty miles," said Overland.
Suddenly Pars Long glanced ut the
foreman. Brand" he said quietly.
1--WE expect you didn't read oil Of that
letter from your friend here. You said
Collie was shot You didn't say how,
which ain't natural We been talkin'
| about 1t. Where was he hit?''
Overland saw his chance and grasp
ed it with both hands. "In the back," /"
he said slowly and with great inten-
| sity.
Followed a silence. In which the
stamping Of the tethered horses and
the whisper Of the fire were the only
sounds.
Presently Miguel ran his fingers
through his glossy black hair. I'm the
back! he exclaimed "And you
needn't to tell that he was run away,
neither"
I'm the back" echoed Billy Dime.
Overland and Williams exchanged
glances. "You done it now." said VIII.
liams
"'Cordin' to agreement" said Over.
land
| "Only thirty miles. What do you
say, BrandY'
"NOthin'."
"As usualv' calculated Dime.
II say about tomorrow morning :
ventured Iars Long. Light will be
good about 0. We can do the thirty by
o. A fella would be able to ride round
town then without fallin' over any
thing"
i "What you fellas gettin' att" queried
Williams.
"Gophertown," replied Dime. "Yor
want to come along?"
"Well. boys. it would "a been N,
way Of evenin' up for pal"
'Then you're comm too?"
do you think I'm packin' these hert
two guns and this belt jest to reduct
my shape?" queried Williams in Z
rather hurt tone.
"Whoop-ee for Brandt they chorus
ed, and the tethered ponies SHE'D ant
circled.
II never rode out lookin' for trou
ble," said Williams, land never shiei
from lookin' at it when it come m,
way"
.Who said anything about trouble? z
queried Billy Dime innocently. TN
dry. l want a drink. I'm g0in' Ovel
to Gophertown to get it. I'll treat tht
. bunch
"Wc'll be there when you call ou
numbers, sister. You comin'?' asket
Pars Long, nodding toward Overland.
ME? Nope. I'm goin'. I'm goin
to ask you boys to kindly allow M
the privilege Of gettin' my drink frs
and by my lonesome. There will b
gent there with sore eyes. He 60
sore eyes waitin' and watchin' for m
to call. l expect to cure him Of hi
eye trouble. After that you will b
as welcome as Mary's little lamb
: fried"
"Bur-rie me not on the lo-o-ne pral
ree," sang Bud Light.
!. Not while you got the fastest hos
. in the outfit" said Williams.
: Coolies hoss is here" said Ovel
land. I'm ridin' her this trip.
! kind Of like the idea OF usin' his hos
on this here errand Of mercy"
1 "Three-tomorrow mornin'!" calle
i Billy Dime as Overland disappeare
n In the shadows.
4 Brand Williams, the taciturn, the 3
: lent, stepped from the fire and strod
), across the meadow. He paused Of
posite the Yuma colt and gazed at he
!. in the moonlight. He jerked up hl
chin and l0urhcd nOiSelesSly "TW
: gun Jack Summers on that red Yum
!, hoss ridin' into Gophertown with bot
hands filed and lOOkin' for trouble