The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-18

itself by sundry yawns on their part, they went to bed.
 With breakfast over, Bill put com pass in his pocket, after having ground his ax blade to a keen edge.
 Come on," said he, then; I'm going to transact some important business"
 "What is itr' she promptly demand ed with much curiosity.
 "This domicile of ours, girl" he told her. while he led the way through the surrounding timber. 'fs ours only by grace of the wilderness. It's built on government land land that I have no more legal claim to than any passing trapper. But I'm going to remedy that. I'm going to formally stake a hundred and sixty acres of this and apply for It's pur- chase. Then we'll have . cinch on our home. Wen always have refuge to ny to. no matter where we go."
 She nodded appreciation of this. Tho cabin in the clearing stood for some of those moments that always loom largo and unforgettable in every wom- ans experience. She had come there once in hot. shamed anger, and she had come again as bride. It was the of . man she loved with . passion that sometimes startled her by its intensity. Just the mere pos. nbility of that place being given over to others reused in her . pang of re- sentiment. It was theirs. hers and Bill's. and. being . woman, she viewed its possession jealously.
 So she watched with keen interest what he did. Which. in truth. was simple enough. He worked his way to . point southeast of the clearing till they gained a little rise whence through the treetops they could look back and see the cabin roof. There Bill cut of an eight-inch jack pine. leaving the stump approximately four feet high. This he hewed square, the four hat sides of the post facing re spectively the cardinal points of the compass. On one smoothed surface Bill set to work with his pocketknife.
  busied himself at this. And when he had finished she read. in deep-carved letters:
 W. MAGISTRATES s. E. CORNER.
 Then he penned on a sheet of let ter paper a brief notice to the effect that he, William Wagstaff. intended to apply for the purchase of the land em- braced in an area half mile square. of which the post was the southeast corner mark. This notice he fastened to the stump with few tacks. and sat down to rest from his labors.
 "How long do you suppose that will stay there, and who Is there to read 1t if 1t doesT Hazel observed.
 "Search me. The moose and the deer and the timber wolves. I guesa." Bill grinned. "The chances are the paper won't last long. with winds and rains. But # doesn't matter. It's sim ply form prescribed by the land act of British Columbia. and. so long as l go through the legal motions. that lets me out. Matter of form, you know"
 "Then what else do you have to do?'
 Nothing but furnish the money when the land department gets around to accept my application" he said. "I can get an agent to attend to all the details. We'll. let's take look at our estate from another corner"
 This. roughly ascertained by sight Ing line with the compass and step- ping of 880 yards, brought them up on knoll that commanded the small basin of which the clearing was prac- tically in the center.
 "Aha" Bill exclaimed. Look at our ranch, would you; our widespread acres basking in the sun. A quarter section is quite chunk. Do you know I never thought much about 1t before, but there's piece of the finest land that lies outdoors. If this coun- try should get railroad and settle up. that quarter section might produce all the Income we'd need. Just out of hay and potatoes. How'd you like to be a farmers wife, huh?"
 Fine" she smiled. Look at the isn't gorgeous. It's-its sim ply peaceful and quiet and soothing. hate to leave it."
 Better be sorry to leave place than glad to get away" he answered lightly. Come on, let's pike home and get things in order for the long trail, woman O mine. I'll teach you how to be woodland vagabond."