Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-16

oNA'CAhb Ft 6Vl - ALym TIE u1dSl
zines. Sometimes wish / had puIIel
out for town when was about -four
teen; but, you see. didn't feel Iik
leaving mother, and she didn't feel lik
letting me go, and so Just got wha
| could at Bear Tooth" She spran,
up. There's a patch Of blue sky
Let's go see II we can't get a grouse.
Together they strOlled along the edg,
Of the willows. ~The grouse com,
down TO feed about this time" sh,
said Wen put up a covey soon"
Within quarter OF mile they found
their birds. and she killed four witt
i've shots. @ThIs Is all we need" she
said, "and don't believe In killing fol
the sake OF killing. Rangers should sci
good examples In way OF game preser
vation. 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. II they did. daddy can't pos
sibly get back before 8 o'clock, and be
may not get back till tomorrow"
Norcross, with his city training, was
acutely conscious Of the delicacy OF
the situation. In his sisters circle a
girl left alone in this way with a man
would have been very seriously EN-.
barrassed, but It was evident that Ber.
ne took 1t all Joyously, innocently.
Their being together was something
which had happened in the natural
course Of weather, a condition for
which they were In no way response
BILE. Therefore she permitted herself
to be frankly happy In the charm Of
their enforced intimacy.
She had never known a youth Of his
quality. He was so conslderate, so re-
fined, so quick Of understanding and
so 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 be toiled
amid the falling flakes, 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. Ill bring in the
wood"
Something primeVal, some strength
he did not know he possessed sustain.
ed him, aud he toiled on. Suppose
this snow keeps falllngr he retorted.
"The supervisor viii not be able to
get back tonight-perhaps not for
couple Of nights. We will need lot
OF fuel"
He did not voice the fear OF the
storm which filled his thought, but
the girl understood 1t. 1T won't be
very cold" she calmly replied. at
never is during these early billiards,
and, besides, all we need to do is TO
drop down the trail ten miles, and
well be entirely out OF H."
"Ill feel safer with plenty of wood"
he argued, but soon found It necessary
to rest from his labors. Coming in to
camp, he seated himself beside her
on roll Of blankets, and so together
they tended the Gre 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 nowp' she asked
abruptly.
He looked at his watch. Half aft.
er g."
III father Isn't on this side OF the
divide now he won't try to cross. II
he's coming down the slope he'll be
here In an hour. although that tran 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 torch and 20 to
meet himT
She put her hand on his arm. you
stay right hereV' she commanded. "YOu
couldn't follow that trail liye minutes"
"fou have a very poor opinion OF my
skill"
mo, haven't; but know how hard
Il Is TO keep direction on night ike
this, and | don't want you wandering
around IN the timber Father can take
care OF himself He's probably sitting
under a big tree smoking bis pipe be
fore his llre-or else he's at home, He
knows we're all right. aud We are.
We have wood aud grub and plenty OF
blankets aud a roof over us You can
make your bed under this dy," she
said, looking up at the canvas. ut
beats the old balsam as a roof You
mustn't sleep cold again"
~ think ia better sit up and keep
the lire going" be replied herolcally.
There's a big log out there that I'm
going TO bring In to roll up on the
wlndward side
"Itll be cold and wet early IN the
morning. and ! don't like 20 hunt Kin
ding Ia the snow" she said Il al
ways get everything ready the night
before. ! wish you bad better bed
IL seems selfish OF me 10 have the tent
while you are cold"
CHAPTER VII.
Tho Walk ln the Rain.