The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-11

treated you in any manner? Have refused you food. shelter or helpw
 My home Is in Cariboo Meadows" she persisted. "I asked you to take me there. You led me away from there deliberately, believe now"
 My trail doesn't happen to lead to Cariboo Meadows, that's all," Roaring Bill coolly told her. If you must go back there, shan't restrain you in any way whatever. But I'm for home myself And that,"-he came close and smiled frankly up at her-'is better place than Cariboo Meadows. I've got little house back in the woods There's grub there, and meat in the forest, and fish in the streams. It's home for me. Why should I go back to Cariboo Meadowsf Or your
 'Why should I go with you?" she demanded scOrnfully.
 Because I want you to-" he mur- mured.
 They matched glances for a second, Wagstaff smiling. she half mortified.
 "Are you clean mad?" she asked an grily. "I was beginning to think you a gentleman"
 Bill threw back his head and laughed. Then on the instant he so- bered. Not gentleman" he said. 'I'm plain man. And lonesome some times for mate. as nature has or dained to be the way of flesh"
  "I've heard that such people as you do that"
 Not me-" he returned, unrufied. "I want a woman of my own kind."
 Heaven save me from that classifi- cationl" she observed. with emphasis on the pronoun.
 "Yes" he drawled. "Well, there's no profit in arguing the point. Let's be getting on."
 He reached for the lead rope of the nearest pack horse.
 Hazel urged Silk up step. "Mr. Wagstaff," she cried. T must go back"
 "You can't go back without me-" he said. And Pm not travelling that way, thank you"
 "Please-oh, please w she begged for lornly.
 Roaring Bill's face hardened. "I will not" he said fiatly. I'm going to play the game my way. And I'll play fair. That's the only promise I will make"
 She took look at the encompassing woods, and her heart sank at facing those shadowy stretches alone and un- guided. The truth of his statement that she would never reach Cariboo Meadows forced itself home. There was but the one way out, and her wom- ans wit would have to save her.
 "Go on, then" she gritted, in a swift surge of anger. "I am afraid to face this country alone. I admit my help- lessness. But. so help me heaven. Fiji make you pay for this dirty trickl You're not man! You're a cur-a miserable, contemptlble scoundrel w
 "Whew!" Roaring Bill laughed. '"Those are pretty names. Just the same, I admire your grit. We'll. here we go"
 He took up the lead rope, and went on without even looking to see if she followed. If he had made the slightest attempt to force her to come, if he had betrayed the least uncertainty as to whether she would come, Hazel would have swung down from the saddle and set her face stubbornly southward in sheer defiance of him. But such is the peculiar complexity of woman that she took one longing glance backward. and then fell in behind the packs. She was weighted down with dread of the unknown, boiling over with rage at the man who swung llght-footed in the lead; but nevertheless she followed him.
 All the rest of the day they bore steadily northward. Hazel had no idea of Bill Wagstaff's destination. She was too bitter against him to ask, after admitting that she could not face the wilderness alone. She knew nothing of the North. but she thought there must be some mode of communication or transportation. If she could once get in touch with other people-well, she would show Roaring Bill. Of course, getting back to Cariboo Mead ows meant new start in the world, for she had no hope, nor any desire, to teach school there after this epi- sode. She found herself facing that prospect unmoved. however. The i'm portant thing was getting out of her present predicament.
 Roaring Bill made his camp that night as if no change in their attitude had taken place. To all his efforts at conversation she turnad n doaS aar .cd