Middletown transcript., 1918-06-08

shotgun and fishing rods. The center
OF the foor-itself, as she could see,
OF hand-sm0othed logs-was lightened
with great black and red and yellow
rug OF curious weave. Covering up
the bare surface surrounding it were
bearskins, black and brown. Her feet
rested in the fur of a monster silver
tip. fur thicker and softer than the
pile of any carpet ever fabricated by
man. All around the walls ran shelves
filed with books. A guitar stood in
one corner, mandolin In another.
Except for the dust that had gath
cred lightly In its owners absence, the
place was as neat and clean as If the
,housemaid had but gone over it. Hazel
shrugged her shoulders. Roaring Bill
Wagstaff became, If anything, more Of
an enigma than ever, in the light Of his
dwelling. She recollected that Cariboo
Meadows had regarded him askance,
and wondered why.
He came In while her gaze was still
rowing from one object to another, and
threw his wet outer clothing, boy
fashion, on the nearest chair.
"Well," he said. "we're here"
"Please don't forget, Mr.. Wagstaff,"
she replied coldly. that would much
prefer rot to be here"
He stood a moment regarding her
with his odd smile. Then he went into
the adjoining room. Out Of this he
presently emerged, dragging a small
steamer trunk. He opened it, got down
on his knees, and paved over the con-
tents. Hazel, looking over her shoul-
der, saw that the trunk was filled with
woman's garments. and sat amazed.
"Say. little person." Bill finally re-
marked, ut looks to me as IL you could
outfit yourself completely right here"
II don't know that l care to deck
myself in another w0man's finery,
thank you," she returned perversely.
'Now, see here" Roaring Bill turned
reproachfully; "see here"
He grinned to himself then, and went
again into the other room, returning
with small, square mirror. He plant
ed himself squarely in front Of her.
and held up the glass. Hazel took one
look at her reflection. and she could
have struck Roaring Bill for his au-
dacity. She had not realized what
an altogether disreputable appearance
normally good-looking young woman
could acquire in two weeks on the
trail, with no toilet accessories and
only the clothes on her back. She
tried to snatch the mirror from him,
but Bill eluded her reach, and laid the
glass on the table.
you'll feel a whole lot better able to
cope with the situation" he told her
smilingly, when you get some decent
clothes on and your hair fixed. That's
a woman. And you don't need to feel
squeamish about these things. This
trunks got history, let me tell you.
A bunch of simon-pure tenderfeet
strayed into the mountains west OF
here couple of summers ago. There
were two women in the bunch. The
youngest one, who was about your age
and size, must have had more than
her share Of vanity. 1 guess she fig
ured on charming the bear and the
moose. or the simple aborigines who
dwell in this neck Of the woods. Any
how, she had all kinds Of unnecessary
filings along. that trunkful Of STUFF
in the lot. You can imagine what q
nice time their guides had packing that
on horse, eh? They got into deuce
Of pickle finally. and had to abandon
lot of their stuff, among other things
the steamer trunk. lent them hand,
and they told me to help myself to the
stuff. So did after they were out
Of the country. That's how you come
to have a wardrobe all ready to your
hand. Now, you'd be awful foolish to
act like q mean and stifl-necked female
person. You're not going to, are you7"
he wheedled. Because 1 want to
make you comfortable. What's the
use of getting on your dignity over q
little thing like clothesY'
II don't intend to-" Hazel suddenly
changed front. "Ill make myself as
comfortable as can-particularly IL
It will put you to any trouble"
you're bound to scrap, eh?' he
grinned. But 1t takes two to build q
fight. and I positively refuse 70 fight
with you"
He dragged the trunk back into the
room, and came out carrying a great
armful of masculine belongings. Two
such trips he made. piling all his things
onto a chair.
There" he said at last. 'That end
of the house belongs to you. little per-
son. Now, get those wet things of be-
fore you catch d0ld. Oh, wait min.
uter"
He disappeared into the kitchen end
Of the house. and came back with a
wash-basin and a pail Of water.
"Your room IL now ready, madam.
an 1t please you" He bowed with