The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-24
THE EVENING STORY
Maisie's Forest Ranger.

(By Cora A. NJ. Dartmouth
He is hunting for big game, he
said
Then he's lost his bearings quoth
Timothy blandly. There's nothing
larger than a woodchuCk or a deer on
Mount Euphrata. 1 can't abide him
myself
Dawes broad shoulders shook with
silent mirth at the old guides retort.
Neither can 1, Tim. He gets my
goat and all the home flock of sheep,
too. He's too good to be true Rave
you been up to his camp?'
Camp? He amt got a camp. He's
living in the old stone house on the
west slope The hunters always have
quarters there, and there's a bed and
stove and table. That's where his
camp is. 1 don't know where he got
the horse from, but he acts suspicious
to me-
I'D give $40 and more to find out
something about him straight. The
young ladies rather take to him, Tim.
Tim nodded Understandings and
lay the camp, its white tents showing
up in the moonlight. The melody of
mandolin came up to them. Some
body was singing. too. the old Spanish
air La PaIoma,' in Spanish.
That's him. said Tim, with grunt
French and German and now it's Span
ish Got all the folks there listening
to him, specially the women
Was he here before we came up?'
Tim shook his head doubtfully. Il
can't say, Mr.. Axtell. L come and go
mountains. but 1 don't usually come
this high up Most of folks amt as
anxious for high views as your party,
so that way I may have missed his
coming"
Dave shifted his position restlessly.
He had been there in camp for three
weeks nov, and the very first day of
their arrival there had ridden down
the mountain this handsome. careless,
debonair youngster- He wore gray
trousers and a gray flannel shirt, and
was always hatless.
Maisie had been partial to him from
that first day. She was rather seri-
Gus and liked mystery. With her wide
blue eyes looking after the vanishing
figure of their neighbor she had de-
cIared they must do all they could to
make things pleasant for him.
There are nine of us, Dave, and
there he is all alone. 1 told him to
ride down, every day, and just make
himself at home.
You don't know a thing about
him. growled Dave.
yes, 1 do. His name is Paul Car
out west some place.
He was good on details, wasn't he?"
Il really think she paused to let
the accusation sink in for all it was
worth. Il really think you'se jealous,
Dave"
why shouldn't 1 be? Here I've
been tagging after you for years
ready to marry you at the drop of
your handkerchief, and 1 can give
you everything you wa -
Can you, Dave?" She smiled the |
little maddening, enigmatical smile he
always dete sted You're big and
good-natured. and L suppose you
would be a good provider.' - She |
laughed teasingly That's what faith |
err always tells me. But what do you !
know know of a woman's real hearth" |
What do you-at 1922
81 know one thing. anyway. You've /
got to bring more to a woman today |
when YOU ask her to be your wife |
than Just check book and a pleas |
ant disposition. Mr.. Carter seems to !
some way, everything L
say, and even think"
Made good progress, hasn't he, IN
two visits?"
You're jealous already
by George, I think I am" fiared |
I'D Dave I'm sick and tired dancing
attendance forever, while you f1irt with
every Tom, Dick and Harry who shows
up on the scene
Go talk to mother and Aunt Belle
Maisie suggested kindly. You mustn't
fret me when I'm reading, and this is
poetry. I'm going to lend it tonight
Dave checked the rising flood of |
words on his lips, seeing Timothy's
shock of red hair rise suddenly behind
some bushes He strolled away and
met him at the turn of the road Ev-
cry day they went through the autumn |
woods hunting game, while Maisie and
the other girls sat around Mr.. Carter,
with Maisie's aunt and mother quite as
entranced. listening to the stranger
read aloud. The mystery around him
enhanced his attractiveness. He
seemed to have travelled everywhere,
and he was so charmingly indefinite.
Il drift about a s it pleases me-" he
told them. Now here. now there.
love nature in her widest mood. She
lures me. From here I shall go farther
north, possibly into Canada. Yes,
feel sure it will be Canada next"
I'VE break camp next week" Maisie
said one day as they watched the sun
set from the trail above the camp
isn't it queer to think we may never
meet again2'
He stood behind her. leaning back
against a tree, the sunset throwing a
red light over him and on his face. He
was looking down at her, at her 1oos-
ened. fluffy hair, her provocative lips
and long-lashed eyes that dropped at f,
the corners And suddenly he reached
down and took her hands. pulling her
up beside him. In flash all of his pol
iSh. his cIOak of good manners and 1