The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-06

in common justice, laid aside her
resentment.
That's what we have to expect
when we travel in this country in
the winter" she replied. Slight
cen miles will take you long after
dark"
well, | was sort of figuring on
putting up at some ranch If it got
too bad. There's a ranch some
where ahead, on the Wolverine,
isn't there?"
Yes" Billy Louise bit her lip;
but hospitality is an unwritten
law in the West-a law not to be
lightly broken. That's where l
live. Well be glad to have you
stop there, of course
And so 1t came about that
when Billy Louise reached home
to find that Peter Howling Dog
the half-breed Indian who did
the chores-had unceremoniously
departed, the presence of the
strange man was not unwelcome.
He helped her with the milk
ing, and presently they fought
their way to the cabin through
the binding storm.
did you get everything
done? You must be half frozen
and starved into the bargain, "
the girls mother greeted them,
while she pulled pan of hot,
brown biscuits from the oven,
poured the tea, and turned crisp,
Drowned potatoes out of a frying
pan into deep, white bowl.
81 didn't quite catch your name
mister" Mrs. Macdonald said,
finally. But take another bis
cult, anyway"
Warren is my name," return
ed the man; Ward Warren. I've
got a claim over on Mill creek"
Billy Louise gave little gasp
and distractedly poured two
spoons of sugar in her tea, al
though she hated it sweetened.
Long ago, when Billy Louise
was IL or so, and lived largely in
dream world of her own, she
had one day CHANGED upon a para
graph in paper. 1t was about
Ward Warren. The name caught
her fancy, and the text of 1.-The
paragraph seized upon her mag
ination.
She sometimes pretended that
Ward Warren had abducted her
and led her intot strange places
where she tried to SILVER in hon
est dread. Often, however, Ward
Warren was fugitive who came
to her for help.
The meal ended presently, and
as Billy Louise washed the dishes
she went mentally over that par
agraph. She wished she did not
remember every single word of
it, but she did.
The next morning the blizzard
ragged. Peter Howling Dog had
not returned, so Warren did the
chores and would not let Billy
Louise help with anything.
He talked a little. and Billy
Louise discovered that he was
quick to see a joke, and that he
simply could not be caught nap
ping, but had always retort
ready for her. That was true I'M
til after dinner, when he picked
up a book. When that happened
he was dead to the world, and he
did not show any symptoms of
consciousness until he had reach
ed the last page, just when the
light was growing dim. He clos
ed the book with a long breath,
placed it accurately upon the
shelf where it had stood since
Billy Louise came home from
I school, and picked up his hat
and gloves. 1t was time to wade
out through the snow and feed
the stock and bring in more
wood.
Il wish we could get him to
stay all winter, instead of that
Peter Howling Dog" Mrs. Nc
Donald said, anxiously, after he
had gone out. Il just know Pet
er's off drinking. I wish you'd
hire Mr.. Warren, Billy Louise.
he nice and quiet"
And he's got a ranch of his
own. He doesn't strike me as a
man who wants a job milking two
COWS and carrying slop to the
pigs, mommie."
We'll, I'd feel lot easier If
we had him instead of that breed.
| really think you ought to speak
to Mr.. Warren, Billy Louise"
Speak to him yourself. Hire
the man if you want him. Only
Ward Warren isn't"
Ward Warren pushed open the
door and looked from one to the
other. "Isn't-what?" he asked,
and shut the door behind him
with the air of one who is ready
for anything.
THE kind of man who wants
to hire out to do chores" Billy
Louise finished, and looked at
him straight. Are you? Mon
mic wants to hire you.">
"Oh, well, | was just about to
ask for the job, anyway" He
laughed, and the distrust left his
eyes. "As a matter of fact, l was
going over to Jim Larson's to
hang out for the rest of the win
ter and get away from the lone
someness of the hills. But 1t
looks to me as II you two needed
something around that looks like
man a haan mora than Tim