Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-01-04

scrub, and Bill pulled UP In small
opening. From case swinging at bis
:. belt he took out pair of field glasses,
and leisurely surveyed the country.
"Well?" Hazel Intercepted.
"Nothing In sight, is there?" Bill said
/ tboughtfully. IF the sun was out,
now. Funny / can't spot that Soda
Creek trail"
Don't you know this country at
aIi?" she said gloomily.
II thought I did," he replied. "But
/ can't seem to get my bearings to
work out correctly. I'm awfully sorry
to keep you in such pickle. But it
can't be helped"
De took up the lead rope and moved
on. They dropped over the ridge
crest ana once more into the woods.
Roaring Bill made his next halt beside
spring. and fell to unIashing the
packs.
"What are you going TO dor Hazel
asked.
Cook q bite, and let the horses
craze" he told her. "Do you realize
that we've been going since daylight?
1 IT'S near noon. Horses have to eat and
iarest once in while, just the same as
human beings
The logic Of this Hazel could not
| wen deny, since she herself was tired
! and ravenousIy hungry. BY her watch
it was Just noon.
Bill hobblcd out his horses on the
grass below the spring, made a fire.
3ansl set TO work cooking He worked
silently at the meal getting, fried
steaks of yenison, and boiled pot of
Leofree. They ate. He Allied his pipe.
ara smoked while he repacked. Alto
ge1her, he did not consume more than
| forty minutes at the noon halt. Hazel
now woefully saddle sore, would fain
/ have rested longer, and, in default of
| resting, tried to walk and lead Silk
! Roaring BIZ offered no objection to
| that. But he hit Il faster gait. She
| could not keep up, and he did not
behind. SO she mounted awkwardly
and silk ioIted and shook her with his
trotting until he caught up with his
mates. Bill grinned over his shoulder
/ you're learning FAST" he called
back. ''You'll be able to run pack
train by and by"
The afternoon wore on without
bringing Them any nearer Cariboo
| Meadows so far as Hazel could see
Travelling over country swathed III
| timber and diversified in contour, sh,
| could not tell whether Roaring Bill
swung in d circle or bore straight for
some given point.
She called a halt at four o'clock.
s'Sfr. Wagstaff!"
| Bin stopped his horses and came
back to her.
aren't we ever going to get any
where:' she asked soberly. "pi.
| afraid | can't ride much longer. \
could walk II you wouldn't go so fast
| Aren't there any ranches in this coun
! try at all?r
lie shook his head. They're fey
/ and fnr between" he said. "Don't
worry. though. 1t isn'tNa life-and-death
| matter. II we were out here without
grub or horses It might be toug'l
You're in no danger from exposure or
hunger
"You don't seem to realize the posi-
| tion it puts me in" Hazel answered. A
wave of dependency swept over her,
and her eyes grew suddenly bright
! with the tears she strove to keep back
| III we wander around in the woods
much longer I'll simply be d sensation
when get back to Cariboo Meadows.
| won't have shred of reputation left.
| 1t win probably Result in my losing the
school. You're a man. and it's differ
| mt with you. You can't know whit a
| girl has to contend with where no one
knows her."
/ Roaring Bill looked up at her I'M
loassively. II know" he said, as if
~ lad read her thought. "But what's
/ HE difference? Carlboo Meadows is
only a tleabite. II you're right, and
you know you're right you can look
the world in the eye and tell it col
lcctively to so to the devil. Besides.
you've got a perverted idea. People
aren't so ready to give You the bad eye
on somebody else's say-so. 1t would
| take lot more than flash drum
ner's word to convince me that you're
a naughty little girl. Pshaw--forget
4 ltlo
Hazel colored hotly. but for the lat
ter part OF his speech she could have
Rugged him. Bill Wagstaff went a