The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-01-11
Copyright. 1914.
by Houshton Mifflin Co.
CHAPTER VII.
A Celestial Enterprises.

CHAPTER VIII.
A Celestial Enterprise.
n ROAD avenues Of feathery pep
per trees. long driveways be-
tween shadowy rows of the SOL
dierly eucalyptus. wide lawns
and gigantic palms of the southern
isles. weaving pampas grass. gay as.
the plumes of romance: jasmine. orange
bloom and roses every where. Over all
are the eternal sunshine and noon
breeze of the sea. graciousiy cooling.
Roundabout is a girdIe Of far hills.
Some old Spanish padre named it
.Nuestra Sonora Reina de Los An
geles." making melody that still lures
with its ancient charm. A city for
angels. verify. A city OF angels? Yer
lily. some fallen. indeed. for there IS
much nefarious trafficking in real es-
tate. but all in all the majority OF
souls in Los Angeles are celestial
bound. treading upon sunbeams in their
pilgrimage.
Overland lsed. harsh note In the
somnolence Of the place. stepped buoy
antly across the square. And here. It
ever. Overland was at home.
4 swarthy. fat Mexican shaved him
while lean old rurale of Overland'S
earlier acquaintance obligingly accept
ed some pesos with which to drink the
tsenor's health and other pesos with
which to purchase certain clothing for
the senor.
The retired rurale drove relentless
bargain with countryman. returning
with certain picturesque garments that
Overland donned In the back room Of
the little circus blue barber shop.
The tramp had worthily determined
to hold wise and remunerative con-
verse with the first eastefner that
looked good to him." He would make
half truths do double duty. He need.
ed money to purchase a bnrro. packs.
canteen. pick. shovel. dynamite and
provisions. He Intended to repay the
investor by money order from some
desert town as soon as he found the
hidden gold. This unusual and worthy
Intention lent Overland added assur-
ance. and he needed it. Fortune. god
dess evanishing aud coy. was with him
for once-if be could but dodge the
plain clothes men long enough to outfit
and get away.
The Mojave bar. OH North Main
street of the City Of Angels. was all
but empty. Upon It the lassitude of
early afternoon lay heavily. The spi-
der legged music racks OF the Mexican
string orchestra. the empty platform
hairs. the deserted side tables alon:,
he pictured wall. the huge cactus
surawlcd over with pin etched initials
all the impedimenta of the saloon
seemed to slumber.
The white coated proprietor. with Ell
bows on the bar. gazed listlessly nj a
Remington night scene-a desert noe
turne with a shadowy adobe against
| the bIue-black night, glimmer ol
lamplight through doorway. and Ii
the golden pathway pony and ride
aud the red fash of pistol shots.
| Opposite the bartender. at tak.s
against the wall, sat a young man. clas
In cool gray. He smoked cigarette
and occasionally slipped from O tai
glass. He was slender, clean cut, higl
colorel, an undeniable patrician. Ii
his mild gray eyes. deep down. glcam
4 ell latent humor, an interior twin
king not apparent to the multitude.
Sweeney Orcutt, the saloon keeper
noticed this reserve characteristic nov
I for the first time, as the young maj
turned toward him. Sweeney was ,
retired plain clothes man with q reeor,
and bank account. 1t was said tha
be knew every crook from Los Angelo
to New York, Be it added, to his creil
1t. that he Kept his own counsel-at
tending to his own business on bot
sides of the bar.
| "Do they ever do those things now
| queried the young man. nodding te
ward the picture.
4 Sweeney Orcutt smiled thin lippe
smile. mot much. Sometimes In Te,
rs or Mexico. | seen the day whe
they did,
The young man lazily crossed hi
legs. Nice and cool here" he remark
ed presently.
Been In town long?" asked swe,
ney.
NO. only few days
Il was goin' to say there's goo
show over on Spring street-movin' ri
lures of the best ridin' and buckin' an
ropin' seen yet
Yes? Is there any one III town wh
is not working for the movies?"
Again Sweeney Orcutt smiled h
thin Tipped smile. Yes. guess thel
Is. might scare up one or two use
to know who IS workin' the transient
which amt exactly workin' for Il
movies.
Il should like to meet some chara
ter who Is really doing something
earncst-that IS, some cowboy. mine
prospector, teamster. one of tllos
twenty mule team Lind. you know. !
any such chap. Why, even the re
estate men that have been up to N
hotel seem to be acting q part Oh
expects every minute to see one !
them pull q gun and hold up feIio'
No doubt they mean business.
81 sBank on that, said Circuit dryly.
You see. continued the Young mn
III III have too nuch time on mr. l,ant