The Bossier banner., 1915-08-19

mesh from which honorable escape
was almost impossible. The rangers
cabin. SO far from being an end Of
their compromising intimacy, had add
ed and was still adding to the weight
Of evidence against them both. The
presence Of the ranger or the super
visor himself could not now save Berea
from the gossips
She brought his breakfast to him.
and sat beside him while he ate,
chatting the while of their good for
tune. 1T is glorious outside, and l am
sure daddy will get across today. and
Tony is certain to turn up before noon.
He probably went down to Coal City
to get his mail"
Il must get up at once" be said, In
q panic Of fear and shame. THE su-
pervisor must not find me laid out on
my back. Please leave me alone for
moment"
She went out, closing the door behind
her. and as he crawled from his bed
every muscle in his body seemed to
cry out against being moved. Never
theless he persisted and ut last sue.
ceeded In putting on his clothes. even
his shoes. though he found tying the
laces the hardest task Of all. and he
was at the wash basin bathing bis face
and hands when Berrie hurriedly re-
entered. Some tourists are coming"
she announced In an excited tone. "A
party of five or six people. q woman
among them. is just coming down the
slope. Now. who do you suppose it can
be: 1t would be Just our luck II It
should turn out to be some one from
the MILL
He OWNED ut once the reason for her
dismay The visit OF woman mt this
moment would not merely embarrass
them both. it would torture Berrie.
What Is to be done?" he asked, reused
to alertness.
Nothing; all we can do is to stand
pat and act as If we belonged here"
Very we'll" he replied. moving stiff
~ toward the door. Here's where l
can be of some service. am an ex-
cellent white liar
The beat Of hoofs upon the bridge
drew his attention to the cavalcade.
which the keen eyes of the girl had
detected us it came over the ridge to the
east. The party consisted Of two men
and two women and three pack horses
completely outfitted for the trail.
One of the women. squirting her
horse to the front. rode serenely up to
where Wayland stood and called out
Good morning! Are you the ranger?''
mo: I'm only the guard. The ranger
has gone down the trail"
He perceived at once that the speak.
er was an alien like himself. for she
wore tan colored riding boots. di.
vided skirt Of expensive cloth and u
jaunty. wide trimmed sombrero. She
looked indeed precisely like the hero
Inc Of the prevalent western drama
Her sleeves. rolled to the elbow. dis.
closed shapely brown arms. aud her
neck. bare to her bosom. was equally
sun smit. but she was so round cheek.
ed. so childishly charming. that the
most critical observer could find no
fault with her makeup.
One Of the men rode up Hello,
Norcross. What are you doing over
here?''
The youth smiled blandly. Good
morning. Mr. Belden. I'm serving my
apprenticeship. Pm in the service
| now"
'The mischief you areg' exclaimed
the other. where's Tony?'
"Gone for his mail. He'll return soon
What are you doing over here. may
| ask"
| I'm here as guide to Mr. Moore
| Mr.. Moore. this Is Norcross. one Of
McFarlane's men. Mr.. Moore is con
nected with the tie camp operations oi
the railway"
| Moore was tall. thin man with q
gray beard and keen blue eyes
where's McFarlane? We were Il
meet him here. Didn't he come ovel
with your
1--WE started together. but the horse,
got away. and he was obliged to &
back after them. He also is likely t.
turn up soon."
II am frightfully hungry" interrupt
ed the girl Cant you hand me out .
/ hunk of bread and meat? We've beer
riding since daylight"
Berrie suddenly appeared at the door
''Sure thing" she called out "Slid.
/ down and come in"
/ Moore removed his hat and bowed
Good morning. Miss McFarlane.
didn't know you were here. You know
my daughter Siona?'
/ Berrie nodded coldly. I've met her.
He Indicated the other woman. .An<
Mrs. Belden. Of course, you know"
Mrs. Belden, the fourth member o
the party. a middle aged, rather habb.
person. just being eased down from
her horse. turned on Berrie with bat
terry Of questions Good Lord. Ber
rie McFarlane. what are you doing owe
in this forsaken hole? Where's you
dad? And where is Tony? II Gilt
had known you was over here he,
have come too"
i Berrie retained her self possession
Come In and get some coffee. an
we'll straighten things out"
Apparently Mrs. Belden did no
know that Cliff and Berrie had quar-
relied. for she treated the girl with ma
ternal familiarity. She was q good na
tured. well intentioned old sloven. bu
most renowned tattier. and the gil
feared her more than she feared an
other woman in the valley. She ha
always avoided her. but she shove
. nothing of this dislike at the moment.
Wayland drew the younger woman
attention by saying. Its plain tbs
, yau. like myself. do not belong to thes
r,,rfs MiSS Monrs.1 :