Connecticut western news., 1918-04-04
CHAPTER XVIII.
Home Again.


 Twelve months works many a change on a changing frontier. Hazel found this so. When she came to plan her route she found the c. T. P. bridg- ing the last gap ia a transcOntinental system, its trains westbound already within striking distance of Fort George. She could board a sleeping car at Granville and detrain within a hundred miles of the ancient trading post-with a fast river boat to carry her the remaining distance.
 Fort George loomed up a jumbled area of houses and tents, log buildings, frame structures yellow in their new ness, strangers to paint as yet. On every hand others stood in varying stages of erection. Folks hurried about the sturdy beginning of a fu- ture greatness. And as she left the boat and followed a new-laid walk of blanks. toward a hotel, Jake Lauer stepped out of a store, squarely into her path.
 His round face lit up with smile of recognition. And Hazel. fresh from
 
 equally glad to set eyes on familiar, a genuinely friendly face.
 q am pleased to welcome you back to Gott's country, Mrs. Vagstaff," he said. "Und let me carry dot suid case alretty."
 They walked two blocks to the Kings hotel, where Lauer's family was housed. He was in for supplies, he told her, and, of course, his wife and children accompanied him.
 Not dat Gredda iss afraid. She fss so goot a man as on der ranch ven am gone," he explained. ~But for dem it iss a change. Und bring by der town a vaigonloat off bobadoes. By cosh, dem bObadoes iss sell high"
 It flashed into HazePs mind that here was a heaven-sent opportunity to reach the cabin without facing that hundred miles in the company of chance-hire6 strangers. But she did not brOach the subject at once. h. stead she asked eagerly of Bill. Lauer told her that Bill had tarried a few days at the cabin, and then struck out alone for the mines. And he had not said when he would be back.
 Mrs. Lauer, unchanged from year earlier, welcomed cher with pleased friendliness. And Jake left the two of them and the chubby kiddies in the Kings office while he betook himself about his business. Hazel haled his wife and the children to her room as soon as one was assigned to her. And there, almost before she knew it, she was murmuring brokenly her story in- to an ear that listened with sympathy and understanding. Only a woman can grasp some of woman's needs Gretta Lauer patted Hazel's shoulder cheer up. VI
 "Home's the place for you, dear" she said, smilingly. "You just come right along with us. Your man will come quick enough when he gets word. And we'll take good care of you in the meantime. La, I'm all excited over it. It's the finest thing could hap pen for you both. Take it from me, dearie,. I know. We've had our trou- bles, Jake and I. And, seeing I'm only six months short of being a graduate nurse, you needn't fear. Well, we'll ]"
 "Tll need to have food hauled in," Hazel reflected. And some things brought with me. I wish Bill were here. I'm afraid I'll be lot of both CT. Won't you be heavily loaded, as 1t is?"
 She recalled swiftly the odd, make shift team that Lauer depended on the mule, lop-eared and solemn, "und Gretchen, der cow" She had cash and drafts for over three thousand dol lars on her person. She wondered if 1t would offend the sturdy independ- ence of these simple, kindly neighbors, if she offered to supply a four-horse team and wagon for their mutual use? ! v sne nau been rorestalIed there, she learned in the next breath.
 "Oh, bother nothing," Mrs. Lauer de clared. "Why, we'd be ashamed if we couldn't help a little. And far's the load goes, you ought to see the four beautiful horses your husband let Jake have. You don't know how much Jake appreciates it, nor what a fine ma he thinks Jour husband it wa