The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-10
BY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
by Little, Brown & Co.

And she knew what lay behind
him. Was his version of the past,
after all, the correct one?
At the ford, when Blue would
have crossed and taken the trail
home, Billy Louise refined him i'm
pulsively the other way. Until that
instant she had not intended to
seek Ward, but once her fingers
had twitched the reins against
Blues neck, she did not hesitate.
The two mares fed dispiritedly
at the lowest corner of the field,
their ribs showing. A few head
of cows and calves wandered aim
lessly among the thinnest fringe
of willows along the creek; they
showed more ribs than did the
mares.
Father along came Rather,
thin-flanked and rough-coated,
trotting down a shallow gully to
meet Blue. Billy Louise rode
with puckered eyebrows. Ward
might neglect his stock, but he
would never neglect Rather like
this. And he must be at home,
since there was his horse. Or
else
She struck Blue suddenly with
her rein ends and went Gathering
up the trail where the snow lay in
shaded, crusty patches trimmed
with dirt. The trail was untracked
save by the loose stock. Where
was Ward?
Billy Louise saw the doorstep
banked over with old, crusted
snow. Her heart gave a jump
and stopped still. Her whole
being seemed to contract with the
deadly fear that gripped her.
1t took courage to open that
door, but Billy Louise had cour-
age enough to open it, and to
step inside and close the door
after her.
Throw up your hands," came
hoarsely from the bunk. Billy
Louise gasped and pulled her gun,
and dropped crouching to the
floor.
From her crouching position
she looked into Wards fever-wild
eyes. He was sitting up In the
bunk. and he was pointing his big
AS at her relentlessly. Get up
from there!" he ordered sternly
Don't try any game like that on
me, Buck Olney. Get up and go
over and sit in that chair. I've
got few things to say to YOU"
Billy Louise somehow grasped
the truth, up to a certain point.
Ward was sick; so sick he didn't
know her. She thought she. would
better humor him. She got up
and went and sat In the chair as
he directed.
Ward, keeping the gun point
ing her way, sneered at her in a
way that made the soul Of Billy
Louise crimple. His voice was
hoarse, and he coughed with a
hard, croupy resonance while he
poured out accusations against
Buck Olney and Charlie Fox.
Finally he stopped and lay quiet,
except for his rasping breath, and
watched.
Billy Louise saw his attention
waver, saw his eyes wander aim
lessly about the room. She saw
Wards fingers loosen on the re-
volver, saw his head turn YEARLY
on the pillow.
Billy Louise got UP quietly,
went close to the bed, and laid
her hand on his forehead. His
head was hot, and the veins were
swollen and throbbing on his
temples.
Ward closed his eyes, opened
them, and looked up into her face.
One hand came up uncertainty
and caught her fingers closely.
"Wilhelmina-mine?" he said, in
his hoarse voice. His eyes cleared
to sanity under her touch.
Billy Louise drew a small sigh
of relief and reached unobtrusive-
ly with her free hand for the gun.
Ward did not say anything. He
seemed altogether occupied with
the amazing reality of her pres
ence. He chung to her fingers and
looked at her with that intent
stare of his, as If he were trying
to hold her there by the sheer
power of his will.
well, how am l going to doc
tor you and feed you and make
you all comfy with one hand?".
asked Billy Louise with quavering
kiss mel"
"Ah-might catch the hoopin'
cough" bantered Billy Louise,
leaning bit closer.
kiss mel"
ooh, we'll, 1 s'pose sick folks
have to be humored." Billy
Louise leaned closer still. mighty
few kissy places left" she OBJ
served, with the same shaky flip
pancy, minute later.
For the next two hours Billy
Louise was very busy. She started