Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-25

quit, YOU know. There's no one sitting on
iyour back. I've come To stay"
And he stayed. Billie stood il till the
spring breakup. and when navigation
opened, Bill went down the river blithely
and with much relief, and bought 4 ticket
hack home.
IL can be OF more assistance there than
here. Kip" he had said. ''You see. I've
made a mistake, and I've got a biz enough
view point to see it and 10 say 80. I'm not
a lumberman nor 4 good settler. I'm 4
hustler. and | want 10 get where Ill meet
THE higher issues
"Certainly." agreed Kip e%ravely. "And
the sooner YOU beat il back to the higher is
sues, Bill, the better il will be NIL around"
Il can wire father 10 send money enough
for your fare. too. Kip, il you feel that
way"
Thanks. I'll stick, | guess. ] like the
climate" grinned back Kip.
"Well. I'll send You back money to start
things right. and DO my part that way. and
when things are going along. ! can run ont
and manage the business end Of ii for Won,
Kip"
..Certainly, Bill said Kip again cheer
fully; for he knew Billie-or thought he
did.
At first Billie did not write. Kip grew
worried and wrote 10 Ruth. and Billie an
swered. After that he wrote regularly.
Billie was doing wen. for he had m Of
flee position with the county treasurer,
and was studying law. He dabbled in local
politics a little. In one letter Billie en-
closed not only his best wishes. but also 4
money order for a hundred dollars 10 help
out on the partnership.
Kip whiStled softly ~ he read that type
written letter down in the little po~toffice
AT Queed, the nearest town, thirty miles
from his place. lie cashed the money
order and took a fresh start. both in bus
ine~~ and in hi opinion Of Billie.
That was the beginning. Atterward the
money orders zane regularly, some more.
some les. but they came. which was the
main thing. And Kip worked like Il beaver.
clearing land, pulling >tumps and plant
ing. lie picked M two Frenchmen from
Winnipeg who could sling axes ~ 4 fine
art and knew the lumber game.
The second year Kip began 10 dream.
He wrote 10 Billie about il. and asked hi
advice-asked ii he thought Ruth would
follow the trail Of love to the wilderness
with 4 certain partly named Kip Glenn
mons.
Bill allowed she would: but then. Bill
was ever optimistic, and Kip used salt on
the statement iu~diciou>ly. Vet he dream
ed, and M odd times he improved the one
room log shack, and made II three rooms.
Al>o he put M q rough hunk house for the
workmen farther up in the forest.
And through il All hiS heart warmed to-
ward Billie. faithful old Bill. who had
worked NJ the other end and supplied Tho
sinews Of war. The reward waS there.
waiting, when he cared to show up and
claim IL. The timber had put thousands in
the Portland bank. and steadily the land
down ia the valley was being cleared.
Another two years would find them with
more money that even Billie had hoped for.
OF that Kip was positive. lie would III
ont in front of the shack warm summer
nights, his chair tilted against the log wall.
and look out over the moonlight drenched
valley and the great line of mountains thar
help II in their arms, and il j. fair 10 say
that Kip saw visions.
One ~fayorite was old Bills face when
he came up. and they settled accounts.
The other was the look IN Ruth'~ ewes the
first time he kissed her. They were both
pleasant 20 linger over.
Sometimes the short hrler pipe would
slip from Hips fingers and he would fall
asleep, smiling over them. III All went well.
by spring, he could send for her. If she
refused 10 come. he would 20 down after
her, but he would win her. kip's teeth
set hard on the stem Of the brierwood when
he came 10 that point IN his dreaming. le
would win her.
The log jam IN the river broke up early.
about the time Kip started in marking hi
calendar. In April he would write To her,
he said. when the wood began ID Till with
spring flowers. and the ferns uncurled
their frond~ in every thicket.
In March they dragged Kip out Of the
river above the rapids. crushed and batter
ed from hi> fight with the great Logs. lie
had slipped backward from one that turn
cd a. she stepped to il.
'Ncver mind. boys, he told his men.
when hi~ senses returned. 'My partner
will come mp and finish what I've started.
Just get 4 wire from Queed down to Billie
Moran. Dayville, Indiana. and watch re-
suits
They sent the telegram ~ and waited,