The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-06

into the stream beside the strange
horse and went across without stop
ping 20 drink. The strange horse
moved on also. hA II that were the
natural thing TO do-which II was.
Looks like a storm" the fur.coat.
ed ono observed. with perfectly
transparent attempt TO tighten the
awkwnrdneHs,
Billy Louise glanced Mt the man
and caught him looking intently al
her face
lie did not look away immediate
iy, as no nhouid have done. and
Billy Louise felt n little heat-waye
OF resentment
Are you going far'" he aueried
In the same tone no had employed
before.
six miles" she answered short
ly.
rive about eighteen" he said.
Looks like we'll both get caught
out IN blizzard" :
Certainly. he had pleasant
enough yoice--and Billy Louise, In
common justice. laid aside her re-
sentiment.
That's what va have to expect
when we travel IN this country In
the winter" she replied. Eighteen
miles viii take you long after
dark"
We'll. I was sort OF figuring on
putting up ~ some ranch n IL got
too bad. There's ranch some
where ahead. on the Wolverine.
isn't there"
Yes" niily Louise bit her lip:
but hospitality II nm unwritten law
OF the West--n law not TO Do light.
~ broken. That's where 1.-Two,
Wen be rhd 20 have you stop
there. OF course"
And 80 II came about tina, when
Billy Louise reached homo 10 find
that Peter iIowiins Dog the half.
breed Indian who did the chores
had uncrrcmoniously departed. the
presence OF tho strange man WAS
mot unwelcomo.
Ito helped her with the milking
and presently thcy Fought their
way 10 the cabin thru the binding
storm.
did you get everything done'
You must be half froEe-and niarv.
cd into the bargain the giris
mother greeted them. while she
pulled a pan OF hot. brown biscuits
from the oven. poured the tea. and
turned crisp. Drowned potatoes out
Of a frying pan into a deep. white
bowl.
Il didn't quite catch your name.
mister" Mira. Macdonald said. final.
p. "Dp, take another biscuit. any
way
Warren :. my name" returned
the man: Ward Warren I've rot
claim over on MN creek"
billy Louis. gave n little gasp and
distractedly poured two spoons OF
sugar In her tea. aliho she hated II
swc~tened.
Long ago, whom Billy Louise was
II % 90. and lived largely in =
dream world OF her own. she had
one day chanoed upon . para
graph IN Q papeY. II vas about
Ward Warren. The name caught
her fancy. and the teri Of the para
graph seised upon her Imagination
She sometimea pretended that
Ward Warren had abducted her and
led her into strange pianes There
she tried 20 shiver In honest dread.
Oft@n. however. Ward Warren was
a fugitive who caun~ TO her help.
Tho meal ended presently. and as
nniy Louise washed tho dishes sha
went mentally over that paragraph.
She wished she did not remember
every single word % II. but she did.
Tho next morning tho blizzard
RACED. Peter Howlinx Dog had not
returned. 30 Warren did the chores
and would not let Billy Louise help
with anything.
He talked a little. and Billy
10 see a Joke. and that he simply
could no, be caught mapping. but
had always a retort ready for her
That was true until after dinner.
whom he picked up q book. when
that happened he was dead TO the
world. and he did not show any
symptoms OF consciousness until he
had reached tho last page. Just
whom tho llght was growing dim.
He closed tho book with a long
breath. placed II accurately upon
the shelf where II had stood since
Billy Louise onmc homo from
school. and picked up his hat and
gloves. IL was time 10 wade out
thru tho snow and feed the stock
and bring In moro wood.
Il wish we could get him 20 stay
all winter. instead Of tina. Peter
lHowiing Dog" Mrs. Macdonald said.
anxiously. after he had gone out Il
Just know Peters off drinking
wish you'd hire Mr.. Warren. Billy
Louise. He's nice and quiet"
And he's got n ranch OF HIS own.
He doesn't strike me M n man who