Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-01-13

deluged valleys. I'm a poor mariner"
"S-s-h-h!" warned Sandry, you don't
want to speak about this climate that
way. Why, haven't you noticed that
the Oregon mist doesn't wet through"
They laughed together after the
fashion of youth and health. though at
the last turn of words he felt a vague
uneasiness. He remembered Siletz
dark face between her braids and the
tears falling on her cheeks.
Poor little grill" he said to him
self. And on Thursday of that week
another horse made its appearance at
the camp, wiry, long-limbed bay,
picked up at Toledo,
This is for you, Miss Ordway," he
told the novelist, 80 you may come
and go at will. No one will have him
when you wish to ride. You can al
ways put your hand on a mount at
moments notice. Black Bolt is SO
frequently gone when you might need
him."
So it came about that the young
woman from the East went after
Hampden," and the sharp, crude man
Of the hills was to be no match for
her. By another week she could not
fare forth upon the road to the Siletz,
ride into Toledo, where she was a
matter Of wonder in her beauty and
her smart clothes, or take the least
canter on the rangy bay but what
Hampden met her-by the merest
chance. She was revelation to him.
In his crude way he was soon at the
| point where he would have laid down
/ his world for her little finger, and in
his loose-fibered soul he sweled with
self-approval beneath her notice.
What delicate fattery she employed
I only she herself knew. 1t was sutti-
cient at least, for he unwound to her
his somewhat eventful and picturesque
life with the simplicity of a child
They rode and talked, traversing the
lonely ways, piercing the mist, thread
ing trails where Hampden had to ride
close at her side to keep the wet foil
age out of her face, and she saw the
passion growing in him to the point
of idolatry--which filled her soul with
rioting laughter.
"I'll get It'll get i'll" she told her
self. and there was no place in the uni
verse so interesting as this rain
soaked country, this land Of mysteri
Gus operations.
What are these little. deserted
huts?" she asked him one day wher
they had climbed high on a wooded
ridge and come upon tiny cabin, win
dowless and rooted with shakes. 1--WE
seen several of them"
"Homesteader's cabin" he answered
"Ah-and where's the homestead
For goodness sake. did any man evel
intend woman to live here?"
We'll" he said reluctantly. you Sc,
that is.-no. They don't often com,
here to live. This here's a snap"
"Ah-yes"-there was a note o
vague puzzlement in Poppy's colder
voice-"and what is that?"
why, a Teller comes up an take:
claim-proves up on it, you know
gets his patent-an' then sells out
Relinquishes his right to the buyer
"Oh-and this is only a temporary
arrangement" She waved a hanC
around at the dreary clearing among
the lesser growth. THE man whit
built this didn't intend to stay at tn,
beginning. And who was smart enough
enough to buy him off when he go
tired of staying, wonder?"
81 did" said Hampden promptly
flushing at the imputation of brains
Easy" said Miss Ordway to her
self. Aloud she said wonderingly:
We'll what do you know abou
that! fancy you made pretty pile
or Without of such a deal Mr.. Hamp
den? Just think of the perfect ocean,
and oceans of pretty clothes even
dozen of these great trees would buy
Pardon-l think in clothes because
love them"
The Difference of that pardon" dit
for Hampden-and the subtle implica
tion pushed the advantage
His face was flushed and he sa
straight on his horse. his khaki-and
blue-flannel clad figure making a no
ungraceful picture against the back
ground of vivid green. He whipped a
his laced boots. wet from the ferns
and presently spoke out of full heart
Yes" he said carelessly. 1T does TAX
brains. A man has got to think t,
make money-an' it takes money Il
buy the things of this life-prett
clothes, woman clothes. Miss Ord
way.
He suddenly leaned over and lai
his rough hand over hers on the pom
mel.
Every tree would buy a dozel
} trunks full-an' own millions o
trees"
Her heart was pounding and tn
sparkle was dancing in her eyes.
Millions? Why, that must cove
great deal of land! Millions @
: trees"
"Yes-billions." promised Hampde
rashly. He rose in his saddle an
looked through a natural opening 4
: the forest down over the droppin