The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1918-03-07

Blue was climbing steadily out Of
the gorge, twitching IN ear backward
with nattering attention whenever his
lady spoke. The horse went on, calm
ly stepping over this rock and around
that a. II It were the simplest thing In
tho world to ind sure footing and car
~ his lady smoothly up that tran. He
threw up his head % suddenly that
Billy Louise was startled out Of her
aimless dreamings and pointed nose
and ears toward the little creek bot
tom above, where Marthy had lighted
her campfire long and long ago.
A few steps farther and Blue stop
ped short In the trail to look and lis
ten. Billy Louise could go the nerv.
Gus twitchings Of his muscles under
tho skin Of neck and shoulders, and shs
smiled to herself. Nothing could ever
come upon her unaware when she rode
alone 70 long ~ she rode Blue. A
hunting dog was not moro keenly alive
to his surroundings.
"Go on, Blue" she commanded after
Q minute. III It's bear or anything
like that you can make . run for It;
II its wolf III shoot 1t. You needn't
stand here al night, anyway"
Blue went On, out from behind the
willow growth that hid the open. He
returned to his calm, picking q smooth
trail through the scattered rocks and
tiny washouts. It was the girls turn
to stare and speculate. She did not
know this horseman who sat negligent
ly in the saddle and looked up at the
cedar grown blun beyond while his
horse stood knee deep. in the little
stream. She did not know him, and
there were not % many travellers In
the land that strangers were . matter
Of indifference.
Blue welcomed the horse with q dem.
ocratic nicker and went forward brisk
~. And the rider turned his head,
eyed the girl sharply a. she came up
and nodded q cursory greeting. His
horse lifted its head to look. decided
that It wanted another swallow or two
and lowered it, muscle again to the
water.
Billy Louise could not form any cpin.
ion Of the mans age o. personality, for
he was encased IN Q wolfskin coat
which covered him completely from
hat brim to ankles. She got an impres-
sion Of q thin, dark face and q sharp
glance from eyes that seemed dark
also. There was Q thin, high NOSE, and
beyond that Bully Louise did not look
II she had the mouth must certainly
have reassured her somewhat.
Blue stepped nonchalantly down into
and went across without stopping 10
drink. The strange horse moved On
also, - Il that were the natural thing
to 0o-Which Il Wa, sinee chance esnt
tAe0 travelling The same trail BUY
| Louise see ~ tootA togethoe With tho
queer nttIe vicious click that had a.
ways been h9 hah1t Whan sho felt
thwaFtsd and eoasefaiAed b yield b
circumstances and 0l1aagh1o0o1 hoeoolf
IN The eaddlA
"Looks ME . seoea." IL fur eoated
one Observed, With Q perfectly trans.
pareat stts0pt % hgAtsa H. aWk.
WardDaaa
Rnly Leuiss t1ltsd hsr chin upward
and sassd at tie gay sweep q Clouds
moving oullsoly toward Tie mountains
ct hse baek. She glanced at tho man
and caught hin locking intsatly at hss
faeA
Hs "a not look away Immediately,
a. - shou0 have 0ooa, and BUY Lou.
10 tslt Q little hsat Wavo a ombaf-
rsssmsak smphasase1 b. ssseatmsnt
"Ars you going farf' - Qussisd IN
The sane tons b he'd smployed bsfoes.
''eix miles" - answered shortly.
thoush she trisd b b dscsotly civil.
i've about siShtsen." hs said.
"Lsoks lie ven both ct caught out
in . blilsard."
Certainly b. had Q pleasant snoush
volcs, and, after all, Il was not hid
fault that - happened to b at the
crossing when she rode out Of the
soegs Billy Louise, IN common jus.
tica. laid aside hse resentment and
looked at him with hint Of Q smile
at The corners OF her lips.
that's what We have TO expect when
We travel IN this country In the win
ter" she fsplisd. "Eightesa miles Will
take you long after dark"
"Well. I was sort Of figuring q pat.
ting Up ct some ranch II II Got too bed,
There's Q ranch somewhere ahead On
the Wolverine. isn't thsesr'
yes" Billy Louise bit hsr lip, bat
hospitality 70 IN unwritten law Of The
West. Q law not to be lightly broken.
That's where I live. Wen b glad b
have you stop there Of course"
The stranger must have felt and ID.
mired the unconscious dignity Of her
tone and words, for b. thanked her
simply and RETAINED from looking too
intently at her faee.
Fine siftings Of snow. like meal dung
down from gigantic sisvs, swept into
their faces - they rode on. The man
turned his face toward her after long
silence. She was riding with bowed
head and face half turned from him