The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-19

hor fror, .t -, VI inlttenS to fona ner ua rom 1 the lance-toothed frost, Hsss 1eaa raa to the stable. She could ',, hasel horses out' perhaps, before tS ss' tne walls became their crematorv a,e log coming in from his traps reoop nut blll, staoie nrst, and there was noth,eu u the her to do but stand and watch ns r Tor sickening self-reproach. Ha % "m and clubbed the reluctant hor,a unted slde. Already the stable ena out the nay was shooting up tong"a" anst flame. As the blaze lapped sues s".,..I or over the roof and ate into tbo 'mHuy " the horses struggled through tho "a's, drirt. lunging desperately to co,n ueep yarGs, then turned to stand with a .sw pricked up at the strange s,gh. .a "a" ering In the bitter northwest w,us win, 'aV. assailed their bare unprotected u ha ulat
 Bill himself drew bac, fron, ,oules ana stared at 1t fixedly. He kan. a u.s ' renee until Hazel timidly put her l' hoss % on his arm. ' "e' nanc
 You watched that fire all ,... didn't you?" he said then snt
 "bill, Bill" she cried. pr, |. merely shrugged his shoulders .as Kept his gaze fixed on the hurn,.s stable. ''uns
 To Hazel. shivering with tho oo,a even close as she was to the ,n,or.. heat, 1t seemed an incredibly sho.s time till glowing mound below M. snow level was all that remained. black-edged pit that belched smol. and sparks. That and five hor,.. bumped tail to the driving wind eto, idly. enduring. She shuddered win something besides the cold. And th., Bill spoke absently, his eyes still .. the smoldering heap.
 Five feet of caked snow on inn if every blade of grass" she heard hin mutter. "They can't browse on free. like deer"
 He had stuck his rife butt first 1, the snow. He walked over to 1t: Ha,eI followed. When he stood, with th. rife slung in the crook of his arm. she tried again to break through this silent aiOofness which cut her more deeplv than any harshness 5f speech could have done.
 "Bill. I'm so sorryl" she pleaded "It's terrible. know. What can ve dor
 "Dof Huh!" he snorted. If ever have to die before my time, hope t 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 tho horses. his teeth biting nervously as his under lip. Suddenly he blinked. and she saw his eyes moisten. In the same Instant he threw up his rife. 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 rife spat forth its staccato message of death. For few seconds the mountains flung whiplike echoes back and forth In volley.
 Numbed with the cold, terrified I the elemental ruthlessness of 1t all, sne threw herself on the bed, denied even the relief of tears. Dry-eyed and heavy hearted, she waited for her husoands coming, and dreaded it-for the nf" time she had seen her Bill look on nef with cold, critical anger. For an n terminable time she lay listening i@ the click of the latch, every nefe strung tight.
 He came at last. and the thump % his rife as he stood 1t against the WI" had no more than sounded belore !" was bending over her.
 "Never mind. little person. ne wn's pered. "It's done and over. I'm sons " I slashed at you the way did' Ina. fool mans way-if he's nu'' a.s sore he always has to jump on Son' body else" ,,,
 "D-don't, Billr' she cried fo,lo'".. % "I know It's my fault. l let tns ., '. almost 20 out. and then built w big without thinking. And l KY heinz sorry doesn't make any @Ass s. ence. But please-I dopt "ah. ~ s.,.. miserable over 1t. I'll never De '''e less again." ..,. if
 "An right; I won't talk aoou' . ..,i hon." he said. 'I don't think you .s,r,, ever be careless about sucn a - sst again. The North won't ie' us ,s h,s. away with it. The wilderness .,,sss Ia if ger than we are, and its mere"e' we make mistakes" .s ,rvot.
 CT see that" She shuddereu n untarily. "Tts a grim co"h''" frightens me-" ,,.,v sSc
 Don't let it." he said tender,y' ,.S md I'd lonr as we have our he"' s',a be u.roootb wa can win out