The Bossier banner., 1922-05-25

nan OF twenty-eight or thirty years.
with clear eyes and well-cut face, and
yet with some subtle quality In his ex-
preston that implied that under his
fair exterior lay deep cunning, and
that he was man not to be trusted
In matters where his own interests
might be at stake.
"Hello, Hiram," he said quietly.
''You didn't figure on seeing me here,
did your
At first glance Riles did not recog-
nfze him, and he raised the oil lamp
to turn the light better on the strang-
er's face.
"Well. II 1t amt Gardiner!" he ex-
claimed. where in Sam Hill did you
come frOm?
"It's big country, Hiram," he said
with touch Of bitterness, but not
big enough for fellow to lose himself
in." He sat down on the side of the
bed and lit cigar, rendering another
to Riles. and the two men puffed in
silence for few minutes.
"Yes, I've hit lot of trail since I
saw you last" he continued, "and
when you're In the shadow of the
Rockies you're long piece from Plain
Vile. How's the old burg? Dead as
ever?"
"About the same" said Rifles. "You
don't seem t be wastin' no love on it"
Nothing to speak Of" said the 9TH
er, slowly flicking the ash from his
cigar. Nothing to speak of. You
know got raw deal there, Hiram,
and It amt likely I'd get enthusiastic
over it."
sWell, when fellow gets up against
the law an has t clear. out" said
Riles, with great candor, '.that's his fu-
neral. AS for me. amt got nothin'
agen Plainville. You made little
money there yourself, didn't your
The younger man leaned back and
slowly puffed circles of fragrant smoke
at the ceiling, while Riles surveyed
him from the head of the bed. He had
been business man in Plainville, but
had become involved in q theft case,
and had managed to escape from the
town simply because a fellow man
whom he had wronged did not trouble
to press the matter against him.
Gardiner showed no disposition to
reopen the conversation about Plain
vile. so at last Riles asked. "How
d'you know was here?"
Saw your scrawl on the register"
he said, "and I've seen 1t too often on
wheat tickets to forget It. Thought
I'd look you up. Maybe can be Of
some service to you herese What are
You chasing-more land?'
.sWell, won't say that exactly, but
/ kind o. thought I'd come out and look
over some of this stuff the gover'-
ment's givin' away, before the furri-
ners gets it all. Guess IL there's any
thin free goin' us men that pioneered
one province should get II on the
next"
''You don't learn anything. Riles,
do you? You don't know anything
more about making money than you
did 20 years ago"
swell. maybe / don't, and maybe
do. but | can pay my way, an can go
back t. Plainville when I like, too"
1Don't get hot" said Gardiner, with
mistaken composure. "I'm just trying
to put you wise to yourself. Don't
make any difference to me II yon
spend your whole life sod-busting; it's
your life-spend It any way you like.
But it's only men who don't know any
better that go on to the land now
adays. It's lot easier to make liv-
ing out of farmers than out of farm
ing"
4'Well, p'r'aps so. but that's more In
your line. never"
That's just what l say-you never
learn. Now look mt me. | amt wear
ing my last suit. nor spending my last
dollar. either. and haven't done what
you'd call a days work since / came
west. There's other things so much
easier to do"
"Meanin'?-s
"Oh, lots Of things. Remittance
men, for instance These woods are
full of them. Chaps that never could
track straight in the old ruts. and
were sent out here where there aren't
any ruts Mt all. They're not bad
bunch: brought up like gentlemen,
most OF EN-: play the piano and talk
In three or four languages, and all that
kind Of stuff. hut they're simply dan
gerous with money. So when It comes
to hand, In the public interest they
have to be separated from IT."
Sounds interestin'." said Riles.
Tis, too. especially when one of
'em don't take to the treatment and
lays for YOU with gun. But my
nair's all there That's what comes o..
wearing tall hat"
Tell me" said Rifles. his face lii up
with interest. show dye do it?.'
: 'Twouldn't do you any good" said
Gardiner you've steered too many
plow handles to be very nimble with
your fingers. But there's often other
game to be picked up. II a man knows
where to look for II"