The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-10

l oo She thought. But the short after- noon fled, and. warned by the low din Of the sun. she left her nook on the hillside to make her way home Though 1t was near sundown. she felt no particular concern. The long northern twilight gave her ample time to cover the distance.
 But once down on the rolling land, among the close-ranked trees, she be- gan to experience difficulty that had not hitherto troubled her. With the sun hanging low. she lost her absolute certainty of east and west, north and south.
 She blundered on, not admitting to herself the possibility of being unable to find Cariboo Meadows. AS best she could, and to the best of her belief, she held in a straight line for the town. But she walked far enough to have overrun 1t. aud was yet upon unfamil- far ground.
 The shadows deepened until she ripped over roots and stones, and snagged her hair and clothing on branches she could not see in time to Tend off. As last resort. she turned straight for the light patch still show Ing Tn the northwest hoping thus to cross the wagon road that ran from | Soda Creek to the Meadows-it lay west, and she had gone northeast from town. And as she hurried, a fear be- gan to tug at her that she had passed the Meadows unknowingly.
 Presently 1t was dark. and darkness in the woods is the darkness of the pit itself. She found a fallen tree and climbed on 1t to rest and think. After what seemed an age she fancied she saw gleam far distant in the timber. She watched the spot fixedly and thought she saw the faint reflection of n light. That heartened her. She ad. vanced toward 1t. hoping that it might be the gleam of ranch window. Her progress was slow. She blundered over the litter of forest floor. trip ping over unsees obstacles. But ten minutes established beyond peradven- ture the fact that 1t was indeed light.
 She kept on. The wavering gleam came from behind a thfcket-an open ire, she saw at length. Beyond the ire she heard u horse sneeze. Within a few yards of the thicket through which wavered the yellow gleam she halted, smitten with sudden panic. This endured but few seconds All that she knew or had been told of frontier men treasured her. She had found them to man courteous, awk- wardly considerate. And she could not wander about all night
 She moved cautiously, however. to the edge of the thicket, to a point where she could see the fire. A man sat bumped over the glowing embers whereon sizZled piece of meat. His head was bent forward, as if he were listening. Suddenly he looked up. and she gasped-for the firellght showed the features of Roaring Bill Wagstaff.
 She was afraid of him. Why. she did not know nor stop to reason. She turned to retreat. In the same instant Roaring Bill reached to his rifle and stood up.
 Hold on there" he said coolly. You're had a look at mel want a HUN ut yout plu IelitT. whoever you are. Come on-show yourself"
 He stepped sidewise out of the light as he spoke. Hazel started to run. The crack of branch underfoot be- trayed her. and he closed in before she took three steps. He caught her rude ly by the arm and yanked her bodily into the firelight
 "Well-for the-love of-Nfike"
 Wagstaff drawled the exclamation out in rising crescendo of astonish- ment. Then he laid his gun down across roll of bedding. and stood looking at her In speeches. wonder.
 "For the love of Mike !" Roaring Bill said again. What are you doing wan dering around in the woods at night ! Good Lord Your teeth are chattering. Sit down here and get warm. It is sort of chilly"