Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-01-13
CHAPTER XIII.
The Red Bar on the Waters.

expensive bag Of real alligator and
made ready for departure.
Pm going TO Salem, partner" she
said. III Hampden gets anxious
enough to inquire openly, tell him I'm
after-clothes."
She smiled to herself, thinking OF
those millions of trees. For its own
sake, the pursuit of Hampdep was be-
ginning to enthrall her professional
instinct. but there was a flicker OF
passion under her lashes, q sleepy look
of anticipation, as she glanced side
wise at Sandry on the step beside
her.
81 may be away week-maybe
month. I'll drop you a line occa
sionally"
A yearning sense OF loss and loneli
ness gripped Sandry as he took her
hand at parting, lending to his clasp
an unwonted tightness. and to his
voice sense of huskiness. She was
home and the things thereof, this
woman who was an orchid among the
pines, and with her going went some
thing he had scarcely realized. yet
which he would sorely miss
The camp seemed more than usually
dreary in the days that followed The
fog ribbons twined and twisted con
tinually along the hills. the pines
brought their marching ranks closer
in upon the shrinking valley, and San
dry was taken with an acute attack OF
the blues.
"S'letz," he said abruptly as he met
the girl one noon at the pump, will
you ride with me tomorrow? It's Sun
| day and we can take lunch What
do you say?"
She did not meet his eyes, her own
somber ones glancing down the slough
Yes" she said quietly.
They were up betmes the following
morning. Ma Daily cooked an early
breakfast and Sandry sat down for the
| first time with the girl at table. Con
versation languished until a gentle
tread sounded on the floor and the
Preacher came in, his delicate face
aglow from the touch of icy water
John Daily. too numbered in at the
same moment.
sleep well, father?" he asked.
AS always, son The lowering OF
| Gods hand is like the sound of many
wings-hushing- ah, so hushing Isn't
| it so,-ah-ah-l have forgot"
The pathetic, childlike eyes searched
Sandry's face in straining inquiry.
What is it | would remember" he
asked plaintively.
Nothing. father II is all we'll"
Siletz had pushed back the bench fol-
him. Now she laid her slim hand low
ingly upon his and looked in his face
smile curving up the lips above thu
broken sign. AS the two hands LAY
upon the oilclOth Sandry noticed then
one white and fine veined and shape
ly, with the slender, pointed fingers o
dreamer-the other olive and shane
ly and with the same slim pointed fin
gers.
Alike" he unused, how very mucf
alike. Why, they are counterparts!
AS he led Black Bolt to the hammer
block for Siletz to mount he heard
snatches of song from the bunkhouse
Collins was outside, stretching fresh
deerhide against the panks
The owner turned in his saddle and
looked back at the camp-his camp
as they trotted away down the green
valley. 1t lay Struggled tight against
the pine-clad hills. primitive force In
primitive country, and he thrilled tc
its suggestion. AS they passed the
lower rolway he stopped and sur
veyed the brown slough, solid fooT
of logs as far as he could see even I'M
til it lost itself between its low. tule
edged banks.
At a natural clearing they refined in
to breathe the horses. and Sandry
turned to the girl.
"S'letz," he said, tell me how 1t is
that you have lived all your life sc
near the ocean and have never seen IT,
when you have wanted to so much?"
The rare smile lighted her face and
she turned to him.
Il was afraid" she said
What? Afraid! Afraid Of what?'
of how It might look in truth.
know how 1t looks in my own pictures
lit might notebook the same"
For a momen, the man was silent
before the subtle tineness OF the
thought. amazed to find 1t in this sim
pie child OF the logging country.
And why now" he asked curiousy
'"Why do you go now2y l......l.,
you 60" said Silet2 as simply al
Kolawme would speak In his govern
ment cabin at the reservation to thu
north, 4rl...
You're a great dreamer s1etz.'
said Sandry. U.F..,
She nodded.
The horses. having taken their re
ouired rest. started forward OF thei
own will after the manner OF hill-bret
horses. and silence prevailed. save To-
the swish and slip OF the iron shoe
hoofs. 1t took an hour TO reach TN
crest OF the range. e tAlli..i :
siletz had fallen a-dreaming, sway
J ing unconsciously to every motion o
DioaL poIt ona hand swinpinR uut