The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-03-08

Journey nOrthward. the truth of that
statement grew more patent with each
passing day.
So trailing north with old Limping
George, his fat klootch, and two half
grown Siwash youths, Hazel bore
steadily across country, driving as
straight as the rolling land allowed,
for the cabin that snugglcd In woodsy
basin close up to the peaks that guard
Pine River pass.
There came day when brief uncer-
tainty became sure knowledge at sight
OF a L-shaped body Of water glimmer-
ing through the fire-thinned spruce.
Her heart fluttered for minute. Like
homlng bird, by grace of the rude
map and Limping George. she had
come to the lake where the Indians
could have gone bllndfolded from the
lake to Roaring Bills cabin.
She urged her pony through the
! light timber growth and across the
| little meadows where the rank grass
and strange varicolOrcd flowers were
/
warm spring sun. Twenty minutes
brought her to the clearing. Silk and
! Satin and Niger, lOaiinc at the sunny
| end of the stable, pricked up their ears
at her approach, and she knew that
! Roaring Bill was home again. She tied
her horse to sapling and drew nearer.
| The cabin door stood wide.
A brief panic seized her. She felt a
| sudden shrinking wild desire for
headlong flight But 1t passed She
| knew that for good or i'll she would
never turn back.
| on the soft turf her footsteps gave
| forth no sound. She gained the door
way ~ silently as shadow. Roaring
Bill faced the end of the long room, but
| he did not see her. for he was slumped
| in the big chair before the fireplace.
| his chin sunk on his breast, staring
| straight ahead with absent eyes.
In all the days she had been with
| him she had never seen him look like
that. That weary, hopeless expression,
the wry twist of his lips, wrung her
heart and drew from her a yearning
little whisper.
"Bill!"
He came out Of his chair like a pan
ther. And when his eyes beheld her
in the doorway he stiffened in his
tracks, staring, seeing, yet reluctant to
! believe the evidence of his vision. His
brows wrinkled. He put up one hand
| and abSently ran il over his check.
II wonder If I've got to the point OF
seeing things" he said slowly. Say,
little person, is it your astral body, or
is it really your
"Of course it's me-" she cried tremu-
! lously, and with fine disregard for
her habitual preciseness of speech.
He came up close TO her ana pinched
her arm with gentle pressure, as If
he had TO feel the material substance
OF her before he could believe. And
then he put his hands on her shoul-
ders, as he had done on the steamer
that day at Bella Coola, and looked
long and earnestly at her-looked till
a crimson wave rose from her neck to
the roots of her dark. glossy hair. And
with that Roaring Bill took her in his
arms. cuddled her up close TO him, and
kissed her, not once but many times
'You really and truly came back
little person." he murmured. Lord
Lord-and yet they say the day OF
miracles is past"
"You didn't think would, did your
she asked, with her blushing face. snug
gled against his sturdy breast "Still
you gave me map so that coult
find the place"
THAT was just taking a desperate
chance. No, never expected to sei
you again, unless by accident" he sai(
honestly. "And I've been crying th'
hurt of 1t to the stars all the way bacl
from the coast. l only got here yes
terday. l pretty near passed up com
ing back at all. l didn't see how
could stay, with everything to reInint
me Of you. Say, but 1t looked like {
lonesome hole. I used to love thi
place-but I didn't love IT last night
1t seemed about the most cherries
and depressing spot 1 could hav
pithVu. tiihh L NhhV'
up by touching match to the who'll
business and hitting the trail to som
new country. 1 don't know. I'm no
weak. But I don't think l could hav
stayed here long"
They stood silent in the doorway TO
long interval, Bill holding her clos
to him, and she blissfully contented
careless and unthlnking of the future
so filled was she with JOY Of the pres
, ent.
"Do you love me much, little pei
r SOM" Bill asked, after n little.
She nodded vigorous assent.
"Why?" he desired to know.
i "Oh, just because-because you're
man. suppose" she returned mischi'
l vously.
+ "The worlds chuck-full Of men
Bill observed.
;, "Surely," she looked up at him. "B,
they're not like you. Maybe it's ba
policy to start in flnttering you. b,
there aren't many men Of your typ
Billy-boy; big and strong and capabl
II ca NJ tba cop,a time hind and no ri O.,