The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-28

Noteu slave alCerWaTQ anu never ldlIe
to appear at the precise moment whe
she was beset by Indians or robber
or something and in dire need. TIL
blood he had shed in her behalfi A
that point Billy Louise startled heI
self and the others by suddenly laugh
ing out loud at the memory of on
time when Ward Warren had kille'
enough Indians to fill deep washou
so that be might carry her across t.
the other side!
rs there anything funny about JAS
Meilke dying, Billy Louise?' her moth
er asked her in a perfectly shocked
tone.
mo. I was thinking of something
else" She glanced at the man eying
her so distrustfully from across the Ia
BILE and gurgled again. 1t was terribly
silly, but she simply could not help
seeing Ward Warren calmly filling that
washout with dead Indians so that he
might carry her across it in his arms.
The more she tried to forget that the
funnier it became. She ended by leav-
ing the table and retiring precipitately
to her own tiny room in the lean-to
where she buried her face as deep as
it would go in puffy pillow of wild
duck feathers.
He, poor devil, could not be expected
to know just what had amused her
so. He did know that it somehow con-
cerned himself, however. He took up
his position mentally behind the wall
of aloofness which stood between him
self and an unfriendly world, and when
Billy Louise came out later to help
with the dishes he was sitting alb
sorbed in a book.
The next morning the blizzard ragged,
so that Warren stayed as a matter of
course. Peter Howling Dog had not
returned, so Warren did the chores
and would not let Billy Louise help
with anything.
Il wish we could get him to stay
all winter instead of that Peter Howl
ing Dog" Mrs. Macdonald said anx-
iously after he had gone out. Il just
know Peters off drinking. 1 don't
think he's a safe man to have around,
bAty LOulSt. nu6h 5Ou
him. / haven't felt easy a minute
with him on the place. 1 wish you'd
hire Mr.. Warren, Billy Louise. He's
nice and quiet
"And he's got a ranch Of his own |
He doesn't strike me as a man who |
wants a job milking two cows and
slop to the pigs. mommie."
'sWell, I'd feel lot easier if we had
him instead of that breed. Only we
lint even got the breed half the time.
This Is the third time he's disappeared
n the two months we've had him. 1
'eally think you ought to speak to Mr.
Warren, Billy Louise"
Speak to him yourself. You're the
me that wants him." Billy Louise an
wered somewhat sharply. She adored
Ter mother, but if she had to run the
anch she did wish her mother would
lot interfere and give advice just at
he wrong time.
well, you needn't be cross about it.
you know yourself that Peter can't be
expended on a minute. There he went
IF yesterday and never fed the pigs
heir noon slop, and 1 had to carry it
ut myself. And my lumbago has
offered me ever since, just like it
7as going to give me another spell.
'ou can't be here all the time, Billy
.ouise - leastways you amt and
'eter"-
"Oh, good gracious, mommie told
GU to hire the man il you want him.
nly Ward Warren isn't
Ward Warren pushed open the door
nd Booked from one to the other, his
yes two question marks. isn't |
yhatY he asked and shut the door |
ehind him with the air of one who is
eady for anything. II
'Tsn't the kind Of man who wants to
ire out to do chores" Billy Louise
nished and looked at him straight.
Are you? Mommie wants to hire
ou."
"Oh, well, 1 was just about to ask /
II the job, anyway" He laughed,
nd the distrust left his eyes. "As a
after of fact, / was going over to
m Larson's to hang out for the rest
; the winter and get away from the
nesomeness of. the hills. The old =
urk's pretty good friend OF mine.
ut it looks to me as il you two need
| something around that looks like a a
man a heap more than Jim does. d
low Peter Howling Dog to a fare b
,u-well. You'll be all to the good If 2
forgets 70 come back. So IL you'll
axe me to a meal now and then and Il
place to sleep I'll be glad to see you n
rough the winter or until you get Il
me white man to take my place" N
e took up the two water pals and
aited, glancing from one to the other