The Benson signal., 1918-12-28

bumped tail to the driving wind, stOl-
idly enduring. She Shuddered with
something besides the cold. And then
Bill spoke absently, his eyes still on
the smoldering heap.
give feet of caked snow on top Of
every blade Of grass" she heard him
mutter. "They can't browse on trees,
like deer"
He had stuck his rifle butt first in
the snow. He walked over to it; Hazel
followed. When he stood, with the
rife slung in the crook Of his arm, she
tried again to break through this silent
aloOfness which cut her more deeply
than any harshness Of speech could
have done.
"Bill, I'm so sorry!" she pleaded.
"It's terrible, 1 know. What can we
do?"
do? Huhw he snorted. "If ever
have to die before my time, 1 hope it
will be with full belly and my head
in the air-and mercifully swift"
Even then she had no clear idea
Of his intention. She looked up at him
pleadingly, but he was staring at the
horses, his teeth biting nervously at
his under lip. Suddenly he blinked,
and she saw his eyes moisten. In the
same instant he threw up his rifle. At
! the thin, vicious crack of 1T, Silk col
lapsed.
She understood then. With her hand
pressed hard over her mouth to keep
back the hysterical scream that threat
ened, she fled to the house. Behind
| her the rifle spat forth it's staccato
message Of death. For a few seconds
the mountains flung whiplike echoes
back and forth in a volley. Then the
| sibilant voice of the wind alone broke
the stiffness.
Numbed with the cold, terrified at
the elemental ruthlessness of it all, she
threw herself on the bed,- denied even
the relief of tears. Dry-eyed and heavy
hearted, she waited for her husbands
coming, and dreaded it--for the first
time she had seen her Bill look on her
with cold, critical anger. For an in
terminable time she lay listening for
the click of the latch, every nerve
strung tight.
He came at last, and the thump Of
his rifle as he stood it against the wall
had no more than sounded before he
was bending over her. He sat down
on the edge of the bed, and putting
his arm across her shoulders, turned
her gently so that she faced him.
| sgN1oror wind Iit+1o YorcOn - % whit q.
pered. "It's done and over. I'm sorry
I slashed at you the way I did. That's
a fool mans way-if he's hurt and
sore he always has to jump on some
body else"
"D-don't, Bill I" she cried forlornly.
81 know It's my fault. I let the fire
almost 20 out, and then built 1t up
big without thinking. And know
being sorry. doesn't make any differ
ence. But please don't want to be
| miserable over 1t. I'll never be care
less again"
"All right; 1 won't talk about it.
hon." he said. 81 don't think you will
ever be careless about such things
again. The North won't let us get
| lLs
ger than we are, and It's merciless II
we make mistakes"
81 see that" She shuddered invol.
UNFAIRLY. "It's a grim country. Il
frightens me-"
"Don't let it." he said tenderly. $50
long as we have our health and
strength we can win out, and be
stronger for the experience"
"How can you prospect In the spring
without horses to pack the outfit" she
asked, after little. "How can we get
out Of here with all the stuff We'll
| have"
swell manage It," he assured light
". "We1l get out with our furs and
gold, all right, and we won't go hum
gry on the way, even If we have no
pack train. Leave 1t to me-"