Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-01-13
II SY DODD MEAD AND cOMl0NNY

mands on Black Bolt" she said fur
Their. for I cannot navigate in your
deluged valleys. I'm poor mariner"
"Ss-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 q 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 climbed bay,
picked up at Toledo.
This is for you, Miss Ordway," he
told the novelist, so 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 mount at a
moments notice. Black Bolt is SO
him."
So 1t 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 swelled with
self-approval beneath her notice.
What delicate fattery she employed
only she herself knew. 1t was suffi-
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 foli-
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 it" 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 when
they had climbed high on a wooded
ridge and come upon tiny cabin, win
dowless and rooted with shakes. I've
seen several of them"
"Homesteader's cabin" he answered
"Ah-and where's the homestead?
For goodness sake. did any man ever
intend woman to live here?"
Well" he said reluctantly. you sec
that is.-no. They don't often come
here to live. This here's snap"
"Ah-yes"-there was note of
vague puzzlement in Poppy's golden
voice-"and what is that"
Why. a Teller comes up an takes
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 hand
around at the dreary clearing among
the lesser growth. THE man who
built this didn't intend to stay at the
beginning. And who was smart enough
enough to buy him off when he GOT
tired of staying. wonder?"
Il 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 about
that! | fancy you made pretty pile
or Without of such deal. Mr. Hamp.
den? Just think of the perfect oceans
and oceans of pretty clothes even a
dozen Of these great trees would buy!
Pardon think In clothes because
love them
The Difference of that pardon" did
for Hampden-and the subtle implca-
| ton pushed the advantage.
| His face was flushed and he sat
| straight on his horse, his khaki-and.
blue-f1annel clad figure making not
ungraceful picture against the back
ground of vivid green. He whipped at
his laced boots. wet from the ferns.
and presently spoke out of a full heart.
Eyes" he said carelessly. ct does take
brains. A man has got to think to
make money-an' it takes money to
buy the things of this life-pretty
clothes, womans clothes, Miss Ord
way.
He suddenly leaned over and laid
his roagh hand over hers on the pom
] mel
Every tree would buy a dozen
trunks full-an' | own millions oil
trees"
Her heart was pounding and the
sparkle was dancing In her eyes,
Millions? Why, that must cover
| q great deal of iandi Millions al