Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-02-01

progress was slow. She blundered
over the litter of forest floor, trip
ping over unseen obstacles. But ten
minutes established beyond peradven-
ture the fact that it was indeed light.
She kept on. The wavering CLEAN
came from behind thicket-an open
fire, she saw at length. Beyond the
tire she heard a horse sneeze. Within
few yards of the thicket through
which wavered the yellow gleam she
halted. smitten with a sudden panic.
This endured but few seconds. All
that she knew or had been told of
frontier men reassured her. She had
found them to a man courteous, awk-
wardly considerate. And she could not
wander about all night.
She moved cautiously, however. to
the edge of the thlcket, to a point
where she could see the fire. A man
sat bumped over the glowing embers
whereon slzzled q piece of. meat His
head was bent forward, as if he were
listening. Suddenly he looked up, and
she gasped-for the freight showed
the features of Roaring Bill Wagstaff
She was afraid of him. Why, she die
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 I" he said coolly
you're had a look at mel want 8
look at you, old feller, whoever yoU
are. Come on-show yourself"
He stepped sidewise out of the light
as he spoke. Hazel started to run
The crack Of a branch underfoot be
trayed her, and he closed in before shC
took three steps. He caught her rude
ly by the arm and yanked her bodily
into the freight.
"Well-for the-love of-Miker ~
Wagstaff drawled the exclamation
out In a rising crescendo of astonish
ment. Then he laid his gun dowr
across a roll of bedding, and stood
looking at her in speechless wonder.
"For the love of Mixer Roaring Bill
said again. what are you doing wan
dering around in the woods at night
Good Lord Your teeth are chatterinc
Sit down here and get warm. 1t is sor
of chilly"
Even in her fear. born of the night
the circumstances. and partly of tn
man, Hazel noticed that his speech wa
Of different order from that to whicl
she had been listening the past te
days. His enunciation was perfect
He dropped no word endings, no
slurred his syllables. And cast in 8
odd a mold is the mind of civilize
woman that the small matter of a littl
refinement of speech put Hazel Wei
more at her ease than a volume G
explanation or protest on his pal
would have done.
81 got lost" she explained, CROWN
suddenly calm. II was out walking
and lost my way"
easy thing to do when you don
know timber" Bill remarked "And j
: consequence you haven't had any SUI
, per; you've been scared almost I
death-and probably all of Caribc
Meadows is out looking for you. Wei
you've had an adventure. That's wort
something. Better eat bite, an
you'll feel better"
He turned over the piece of meat c
the Goals while he spoke. Hazel sa
. that 1t lay on two green sticks, like
: steak on a gridiron. 1t was qui
simple, but she would never ha'
thought of that. The meat exhalC
savory odors. Also. the warmth of Il
fire seemed good. But
: I'D rather be home" she confesse
!, Sure! guess you would-nat
: rally. I'll see that you get thel
: though it won't be easy. It's no sni