The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-22
Nrxr Wssk-.rHa LIrTLE FoRrUNE"
By Bertrand w. Sim

over her head. and fumblcd in her
purse for another handkerchief
Her fingers drew forth. with the
bit OF linen, n folded sheet OF paper
which seemed 10 hypnotize her. no
fiIedly did she remain looking nj
IL. A sheet Of plain white paper
marked with dots and names and
crooked lines that stood for rivers
with shaded patches that mean,
mountain ranges she had seen
Bin Wagataffs map.
She stared Mt II LONG time
Then ahe found her time table. and
ran along the interminable atrinR
OF station names TIL abe found
Ashcroft. from whence northward
ran tho Appian Way OF British Co
lumbia. tho cariboo Road. over
which she had journeycd by stage
She noted the distance. and the
L!mited's hour OF arrival. and
looked mt her watch. Then q fever
ish activity took hold OF her. She
dressed. got her suit case from Tin,
der tho berth. and stuffed articles
into II. regardless OF order. Her
hat was In n paper bag suspended
from a hook above the upper berth
Wherefore. she tied q silk scarf
over her head.
That done. she sot her suit case
In the aisle. and curlcd herself In
tho berth. with her face pressed
close against the window. A within.
steal smile played about her mouth.
and her fingers tap.tappod steadily
on the purse, wherein was folded
Bill Wagstaffs map.
And then out OF the dark ahead
n cluster OF lights winkcd briefly.
the shrek Of tho flmited's whistle
echoed up and down ths wide
reaches and tho coaches came to Z
stop. Hazel took one look TO make
sure. Then she got softly into the
aisle. took up her suit case and
left the car. Al the steps she
turned 10 give the car porter a
message. +.
Tell Mrs. Marsh--ths lady IA
lower five" she said. with . dollar
20 quicken his faculties. that Miss
Weir had TO 20 back. Say that
Will write soon and explain"
She stood back In the shadow OF
the station for a few seconds. The
/ Limlted's stop vas brief. When
the red lights wen, drumming down
the track. shc took up her suit case
and walked uptown 10 the hotel
where she had tarricd overnight
once before.
The clerk showed her 10 q room
She threw her suit case on the bed
and turned the key IN the lock.
Then she went over. and throwing
up the window TO It's greatest
height. sat down and looked stead.
lily toward the north. smiling to
herself.
Il can find him." she suddenly
said aloud. 'of course ! can find
him"
And with that she blew q kiss
from her fingertips out toward the
dark and silent North. pulled down
tho shade. and vent quietly 10 bed.
CHAPTER XIV.
An Ending and . Beginning
Upconsciously. by natural a.
s'milation. % to speak. Hazel Weir
had absorbed more woodcraft than
she realized In her overwinter
stay In the high ATTITUDES. Bill
Waxstaf had once told her that
few people know just what they
can do until they are compelled TO
try. and upon this. her second
journey northward. the truth of
that statement grew moro patent
with each passing day.
so trailing north with old Limp
ing George. his fat klootch. and
two halfgrown siwash youths.
Hazel bore steadily across coun.
try, driving as straight as the roll
Ing land allowed for the cabin that
snuggied In q woodsy basin close
up TO tho peaks that guard Pine
River Pass. just north OF Section So.
There came a day when brief
uncertainty became sure knowledge
at sight OF an L~shaped body Of
water glimmerinE thru the fire
thinned spruce. Her heart fiut-
tered for a minute. Like a homing
bird. by grace OF tho rude map and
Limping George. she had come TO
the lake where the indians had
cantpcd in tho winter.
On the lake shore. where the
spruce ran out to birch and cotton.
wood. she called n halt.
Make camp" she instructed
Cabin over there" she waved her
hand. Il 20. Byemby come back. :"
Then shc urged her pony thru
the light timber growth and across
tho little meadows. Twenty min.
utes brought her TO the clearing.
silk and Satin and Niger loafing
at tho sunny end OF the stable,
prickcd up their ears at her ap.
proach. and she knew that Roaring
Bill was home again. She tied her
horse to sapling and drew
nearer. The cabin door stood wide.
A brief panic seized her. But Il
passed. She knew that for good or
III she would never turn backward.
so. with her heart humping tire.
mendously and tentative smile
curving her lips, che ran lightly
across to the open door.
On the soft turf her footsteps
gave forth no SOUND. She gained
the doorway as silently as a
shadow. Roaring Bill faced the end
OF the long room. but he did not
see her, for he was slumpcd In the
big chair before tho fireplace, his
chin sunk on his breast. staring
straight ahead with absent eyes.
In all tho days she had been with
him she had never seen him look
Ike that. That weary. hopeless
expression, the wry twist of his
lips, wruhg her heart and drew
from her a yearning little whisper:
"Bill!"
He came out OF his chair like
Daufher And whnn bia ave-. ho