The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-08


| here9" she asked irrelevaniiy. Just
as Ward WINS hastily choosing how
he would answer her without saying
too much.
why did You come. anyway
ITO nee you" Billy Louise lost
her nerve when she saw the light
leap into his eyes. ITO see
whether you were dead or not,
sho revised hastily. so mommie
would stop worrying about you.
Mommio has pestered the life out
II me for the last month, thinking
you might be alex or hurt or some
thing. Sol was riding no this
way. anyway. and"
Il see I'll have 10 ride down and
prove 20 mommis that I'm very
much alive. I'm sure glad 10 know
that somebody takes an interest In
meas II were n real human"
Wards eyes watched furtively her
face. but Biliy louise refused even
to nibhie at the bait.
why didn't you como before.
them You know mommie likes to
have You"
How about mommie's ehiidT"
Wards look was dangerous 10 HIS
good resolutions.
Listen here, Ward" Bully
Louise took refuge behind her ter.
ribie frankneas. "if you make love,
I won't like you half as well.
Il don't want Va to be anything
but pals: not for long while. It's
10 good. Just being friends. And
once we get away from that point.
We can't go back 20 u again. ever ="
"It's going TO bs quito con.
tract. Wilheimina" Ward stiil
looked ut her with bis heart in bis
eyes.
"Oh. no, IL won't, You've had
lots Of practice" Billy Louise as
sured him confidently and began
putting tho few dishes in neat
little pile. so tho next thing on
the program is TO bring bucket
of water. Did you notice anything
different about your cabinf Why.
you hadn't swept tho floor. even.
since goodness knows when. And
I've made 40 bundle OF your dirty
shirts and thlnga that found under
the bed. and fm Folog W take them
home and LET Phoebe wash them.
She can do them this evening and
have them ready for Won TO bring
back tomorrow. Don't you feel like
coming down to tho ranch and
getting n square moalT~
Ward rode homo with niEly
Louise and brought his laundry
back with him the next morning.
according TO tho lady's schedule.
but he left behind him rather
out OF sorts and worried Wilhelmina-
mine. which was his latest name for
her, and all the love making he
dared permit himself after her re
buff at the cabin,
After ward bad ridden Away
Biliy Louise rode gu; ON the range
10 watch her cattle. Her eyes had
been open 20 tho improvements q;
WARTS claim tho day before. and
when she Questioned him he told
her about finding the wolf den and
that his extra funds came from the
sale Of the psi,a Nov Billy Louise
ala not believs tho wolf story and
when she met Charlie rox and he
sald that several rsnchers. among
them seAbeck. had been losing
more cattle. she felt = fear clutch
her heart. Where had Ward gotten
that money! Surely he would no;
lie 10 her. but, Suppose the
rus,lers should help themselves to
her cattle nert' What would be.
come OF her and mommis them
sh. rode up tho long ridge which
KAvs her 4 wide view OF tho sur.
rounding hills. and stopped Blue.
Fnr over 20 tho eastward = black
10, moved up a green slope and
slit out Of sight beyond. That
Nigh, be Ward. taking a shortcut
across the hill to his claim. Billy
Louise ssghed<with a vague dis.
quiet and turned to look away to
the north.
Here cams two other dots. larger
and moro clearly defined IN horse
men lHfy must uhFe seen HfE
sitting attn upon her horse in the
midst Of tina, high. sunny plateau.
for they turned and rode up the
slope toward her.
Billy Louise waited. too depressed
20 wonder greatly who they were.
sesbech ridera. probably. and so
they proved. At least ono OF them
was a Seabeck man-F1oyd Carson.
The other man was stranger
whom Floyd introduced as Mr..
nirkcn.
They had been proving
around" according TO Floyd. try
ing to ace n they couldn't pick up
tho trail OF the rustiers. II was
not until he had talked for ten
minutes or 30 that Billy Louise be
came more than mildly interested
IN the conversation.
Say. Miss Macdonald" Floyd
asked. how about that fellow over
on MN Creek He worked for
You folks a year or so ago. didn't
he7 What does he dof"
"He has ranch" said Billy
Louise with careful calm. Hes