Alma record., 1915-09-16

SYNOPSIS

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SYNOPSIS
Wayland Norcross, an eastern youth
seeking health in Colorado, meets Ber-
ca McFarlane, called Berrie, typical
ranch girl, daughter of the supervis-
ing ranger of Bear Tooth forest.
Berrie is greeted by her lover, Cliff
Belden, a cowboy, supposed 10 be inter
ested in a saloon at Meekers Mill,
where Norcross is bound Berrle
guides Norcross to his destination.
A shower intercepts them and the girl
gives the youth her raincoat There is
rough element at Meeker's. and Norcross
chooses Landon. the ranger, as his com
panion. Landon loves Berrie
Cliff notices Berries interest in the ten
derfoot and warns him away. he also
takes his betrothed TO task. She resents
this and breaks their engagement
Mesh. the ranger at Bear Tooth. gives
Wayland points on forestry. Berries ia
ther offers him a place in the service
Berrie decides 10 go with them over the
trail.
They climb the high, rough trail and
only make camp when Wayland is on the
point Of collapse. Night in the open
charms Wayland.
wayland blunders repeatedly. The SUI
pervisor goes after the horses which have
wandered off. He is detained. Norcross
arranges to sleep outside and Berrie in
side a tent.
Continued from Last Week.
Within quarter of mile they found
their birds. and she killed four with
five shots. This is all we need" she
said. and don't believe in killing for
the sake OF killing. Rangers should set
good examples in way Of game preser
walton. They are deputy game war.
dens in most states. and good ones
too"
The night rose formidably from the
valley while they ate their supper
but Berrie remained tranquil. Those
horses probably went clean back to the
ranch. If they did daddy can't pos
sibly get back before o'clock. and he
may not get back till tomorrow"
Norcross. with his city training. was
acutely conscious OF the delicacy OF
the situation In his sisters circle
girl left alone in this way with a man
would have been very seriously EN-
barrasSed, but il was evident that Ber
rie took it all joyously. innocently
Their being together was something
which had happened in the natura
course of weather, q condition for
which they were in no way responsi
BILE. Therefore she permitted herself
to be frankly happy in the charm Of
their enforced intimacy
She had never known youth OF his
quality. He was so considerate, so re
fined, so quick Of understanding and
30 swift to serve. He filed her mind
TO the exclusion OF unimportant mat
ters like the snow, which was begin
ming again Indeed. her only anxiety
concerned his health, and as he toiled
amid the falling fakes. intent upon
heaping up wood enough TO last out
the night, she became solicitous.
You will be soaked" she warning
ly cried Don't stay out any more
Come to the fire. I'll bring in the
wood
Something primeval. some strength
be did not know he possessed sustain
ed him. and he toiled on. Suppose
this snow keeps fallingT" he retorted
The supervisor will not be able TO
get back tonight-perhaps not for a
couple of nights. We will need loi
Of fuel"
He did not voice the fear Of the
storm which filled his thought, but
the girl understood it. lit won't be
very cold" she calmly replied. 1T
never is during these early blizzards.
and, besides. all we need to do is to
drop down the trail ten miles. and
Wen be entirely out of It."
"I'll feel safer with plenty of wood"
he argued. but soon found 1t necessary
to rest from his labors Coming i'm TO
camp, he seated himself beside her
on a roll of blankets. and so together
they tended the fire and watched the
darkness roll over the lake till the
shining crystals seemed to drop from
a measureless black arch. soundless
and oppressive.
what time is it now?" she asked
abruptly.
He looked at his watch. Half aft
er s."
IF father isn't on this side OF the
divide now he won't try to cross. If
he's coming down the slope he'll be
here In an hour. although that trail is
a tolerably tough proposition this min.
ute. a patch of dead timber on a dark
night is sure a nuisance even to a good
man. He may not make it.
Couldn't | rig up a torch aud go TO
meet himT'
She put her hand on his arm. You
stay right herel- she commanded. You
couldn't follow that trail FIVE minutes"
you have a very poor opinion Of my
skill"
mo, haven't; but know how hard
II is TO keep direction on a night like
this. and ! don't want you wandering
around In the timber. Father can take
care Of himself He's probably sitting
under big tree smoking his pipe be
fore his hre--or else he's at home. He
knows we're all right. and We are
We have wood and grub and plenty OF
blankets and a roof over us You can
make your bed under this hy," she
said, looking up at the canvas. "It
beats the old basam as a roof. You