The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1918-02-27
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northern twilight gave her ample time
to cover the distance.
But once down on the rolling land,
among the close-ranked trees, she be-
gan to experience a difficulty that had
not hitherto troubled her. With the
sun hanging low. she lost her absolute
certainty Of east and west, north and
south.
She Numbered on, not admitting to
herself the possibility OF being unable
&c find Cariboo Meadows. As best she
could. and to the best of her belief,
she held In straight line for the town.
But she walked far enough to have
overrun II, and was yet upon unfamil-
lar ground.
The shadows deepened until she
tripped over roots and stones. and
snagged her hair and clothing on
branches she could not see in time to
fend OF. As a last resort, she turned
straight for the light patch still show
ing In the northwest. hoping thus to
cross the wagon road that ran from
Soda Creek to the Meadows-it lay
west. and she had gone northeast from
town. And as she hurried, fear be-
gan to tug at her that she had passed
the Meadows unknowingly.
Presently It was dark, and darkness
In the woods Is the darkness of the
pit itself. She found fallen tree, and
climbed on 1t to rest and think. After
what seemed an age she fancied she
saw q CLEAN far distant In the timber.
She watched the spot fixedly, and
thought she saw the faint reflection Of
q light. That heartened her. She ad.
vanced toward It. hoping that 1t might
be the CLEAN Of q ranch window. Her
progress was slow. She Numbered
over the litter Of a forest floor. trip
ping over unseen obstacles. But ten
minutes established beyond peradven-
ture the fact that 1t was indeed light.
She kept on. The wavering CLEAN
came from behind a thicket-an open
IRE. she saw at length. Beyond the
dre abe heard a horse sneexe. Within
q few yards of the thicket through
which wavered the yellow CLEAN she
halted. smitten with q sudden panic.
This endured but q few seconds. All
that she knew or had been told of
frontier men treasured her. She had
found them to a man courteous, awk-
wander about all night.
She moved cautiously. however. to
the edge Of the thicket. to a point
where she could see the fire. A man
sat bumped over the glowing emDrrs
whereon sizzled a piece Of meat. His
head was bent forward. as II 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 did
not know nor stop to reason. She
turned to retreat. In the same instant
Roaring Bill reached to his rife and
stood up.
Hold on therer" he said coolly.
you're had a look at mel want a
look at you. old Teller. whoever you
are. Come on-show yourself"
He stepped sidewise out Of the light
as he spoke. Hazel started to run.
The crack Of q branch underfoot be-
trayed her. and he closed In before she
took three steps. He caught her rude
iy BY the arm and yanked her bodily
into the freight.
"Well-for the-love of-Mikef"
Wagstan drawled the exclamation
out in a rising crescendo of astonish-
ment. Then he laid his gun down
across q roll of bedding. and stood
looking at her In speeches. wonder.
.For the love of Mike II Roaring Bill
said again. "What are you doing wan
dering around In the woods at nightr
Good Lord Your teeth are chattering.
Sit down here and get warm. 1t Is sort
Of chilly"
Even In her fear, born OF the night.
the circumstances, and partly Of the
man. Hazel noticed that his speech was
Of q different order from that to which
she had been listening the past ten
days. His enunciation was perfect.
He dropped no word endings. nor
slurred his syllables. And cast in 80
odd q mold Is the mind Of civilized
woman that the. small matter Of little
refinement Of speech put Hazel Weir
more at her ease than a volume Of
explanation or protest on his part
would have done.
Il rot lost" she explained, growing
suddenly calm. II was out walking.
and lost my way"
Easy thing to do when you don't
know timber" Bill remarked. "And in