The Benson signal. [volume] (Benson, Cochise County, Ariz.) 1915-1921, 1918-11-23


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 snuggled 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 futtered for a minute. Like
a homing bird, by grace Of the rude
map and Limping George, she had
come to the lake where the Indians
had camped in the winter, and she
could have gone blindfolded 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 varicolored flowers were
springing up under the urge Of the
warm spring sun. Twenty minutes
brought her to the clearing. Silk and
Satin and Niger, loafng 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
sudden shrinking, wild desire for
headlong fight. But it 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 aS 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 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 it over his cheek.
81 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-
lousy, and with fine disregard for
her habitual preciseness Of speech.
He came up close to her and 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 shout
derS as he had done on the steamer
that day at Bella Coola, and looked
long and earnestly at her-looked till
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,
find the place."
'That was just taking desperate
chance. No, I never expected to see
you again, unless by accident" he said
honestly. Sand I've been crying the
hurt of it to the stars all the way back
from the coast. only got here yes
terday. I pretty near passed up COM
ing back at all. didn't see how I
could stay, with everything to remind
me Of you. Say, but it looked like a
lonesome hole. I used to love this
place-but I didn't love it last night.
It seemed about the most cheerless
and depressing spot could have
picked. I think I should have ended
up by touching a match to the whole
business and hitting the trail to some
new country. ! don't know. I'm not
weak. But I don't think I could have
stayed here long"
They stood silent in the doorway for
long interval, Bill holding her close
to him, and she blissfully contented,
careless and unthinking of the future,
so filled was she with Joy of the pres
ent.
''Do you love me much, little per-
SOM? Bill asked, after a little.
She nodded vigorous assent.
"Why?" he desired to know.
ooh, just because-because you're a
man, suppose" she returned mischie-
vously.
"The worlds chuck-full Of men,"
Bill observed.
Surely" she looked up at him. But
they're not like you. Maybe it's bad
policy to start in f1attering you, but
Al, 30