The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-06

WHICH -IllamenCS OF blue smoke stole,
and deep in the forest mould, spread
ing like veins IN an autumn leaf, fire
ran underground, its almost invisible
vapor curling up through ichens and
the brown carpet of pine-needles.
At first, for it was so feeble fire,
scarcely alive, he strove to stamp it
out, then to smother it with damp
mould. But as he followed its worm
like course, always ahead he saw the
thing, blue signals rising through
living moss everywhere the atten-
uated spirals creeping from the ground
underfoot
q could summon every man in
this town if necessary" she said; Il
am empowered by law to do SO; but
I shall not-yet. Where could we
find a keeper-the nearest patroI?'
Please follow me-" he said, mount
ing his horse and wheeling eastward.
In a few moments they came to
foot-trail, and turned into it at
canter, skirting the Spirit Water,
which stretched away between two
mountains glittering in the sun.
How many men can you get?"
she called forward.
q don't know; there's a gang of
men terracing below the lodge"
Call them all; let every man bring
pick and shovel. There is a guard
nOwl"
BurlesOn pulled up short and shouted,
Murphyi"
The patrol turned around
Get the men who are terracing
the lodge. Bring picks, shovels, and .
axes, and meet me here. Run for
It'll"
The fire-warden's horse walked up
leisurely; the girl had relinquished
the bride and was guiding the mare
with the slightest pressure of knee
hnnH
cred, absently relying the ribbon on
the hair at her neck. When it was
adjusted to her satisfaction she passed
a hat-pin through her sombrero, touch
ed the bright thick hair above her
forehead, Strengthened out. stretching
her legs in the stirrups Then she drew
off her right gauntlet, and very dis
creetly stifled the daintiest of yawns.
You evidently don't believe there
Is much danger" said Burleson, with
a smile which seemed to relieve the
tension he had labored under.
Yes, there is danger" she said.
After a silence she added, Il think
l hear your men coming"
He listened in vain; he heard the
wind above filtering through the pines;
he heard the breathing of their horses,
and his own heart-beats, too. Then
very far away a sound broke out.
"What wonderful ears you havel'
he said-not thinking of their beauty
until his eye fell on heir lovely con-
tour. And as he gazed the little,
clean-cut ear next to him turned pink,
and its owner touched her mare for
ward-apparently in aimless caprice,
for she circled and came straight
back, meeting his gaze with her pure,
fearless gray eyes.
There must have been something
not only perfectly inoffensive, but also
well-bred, in Burleson's lean, bronzed
face, for her own face softened into
an amiable expression, and she wheeled
the mare up beside his mount, con-
fidently exposing the small ear again.
The men were coming; there could
be no mistake this time. And there
came Murphy, too, and Rolfe, with his
. great, swinging stride, gun on one
shoulder, bundle of axes on the
other.
This way" said Burleson, briefly;
but the fire-warden cut In ahead, can
tering forward up the trail, nonehal-
antly breaking off twig of aromatic
black birch, as she rode, to place be
tween her red lips.
Mummy arrIx-in0 in the lead scanned