Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-18
The Ranch
at the
Wolverine
b. B NJ! BOWER

6u u w. 0OV En- lII
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
so.,,nshs 3, Lt1e 1rovn snA Company,
z suppose sda Ward mumbled
doubdnsly, for . moment cycling hsrl
sidslonS.
= .And ny, bucl1roor Billy Louise
refined close. 70 that she could reach
out and pinch his arm q little bit.
"Soon % your leg 10 oil we'll. and YOU'RE
every speck over tho hookin'-c cough,
sWhy-you can be the bossl"
Can II"
n sHonest, you can. rve"-Billy Lou
iss had tho grace to blush q little
"Tvs always thought I'd love to have
somebody bully mo and boss me and
'buse me. And L" Her lips twitchedi
| Q little. II think you can qualify"
They came to the gate, and Billy
Louise freed her hand from his clasp
and dismounted, since 1t was q wire
gate and could not be opened on horse
hback. She closed It after him, looked
to her cinch, frightened It = little. pat
lted Rather on the neck, caught the
thorn With one hand and the stirrup
PIwtth the other. and went up quite like
kh man, while Ward watched her in
n tently.
.1n sooth, know not why you are
leo sa-ad,'" murmured Billy Louise,
whsn che swung alongside in the trail.
Y Ward caught her hand again and did
1net 1t 90; 70 they rode hand IN hand
down the narrow valley.
II WAS wonderfng- he hebitated,
\ drawing In = corner Of his lip, biting
II, and letting IL 20. "Wilhemina, II
old Lady Fortune takes q notion to
give me another kick or two, Just when
/ life looks 30 good to me-"
"Why, we'll kick back Just as hard
NJ she does" threatened Billy Louise
courageously. "Don't let happiness get
on your nerves, Ward" g,
III wasn't crippled, 1t wouldn't.
But when mans down and out, be
thinks lot The last three days, I've
lived whole lifetime, lady-girl. Every
thing seems to be coming my way, all
at once. And I'm afraid; what If
can't make good1 If can't make you
happy"-he squeezed hef fingers 80
that Billy Louise had to grit her teeth
to keep from interrupting him-"or II
\ anything should happen to you-Lordl"
you've got nerves, buckaroo, You've
been shut up there alone so long you
see things all distorted. We're going
to be happy, because we'll be together,
and we've 50 much to do and 90 much
Ito think Of. You must realize, Ward,
1 that we've got three places to take care
OF, and You and me and poor old Mar.
lthy. She hasn't anybody. Ward, but
! sus. And she's changed so-got 20 old
,N-just in tho last few days. I never
KNEW person could change 50 much
In such little while. She's.just let 60
rall holds and kind of sagged down,
{mentally and physically. Well have to
flake care Of her. Ward, as long az she
olives. That's why I'm taking you there
$50 we can look after her. She won't
1leave the Cove. II was hoping" she
added shyly, shat We could sit In
front Of our own fireplace, Ward, and
lnave nice coy evenings; but-well,
There always seems to be something
! }for me to do for somebody, Ward"
aOh, You Wilhemina r. Ward slipped
4hIs arm around her, to the disgust OF
Rather and Blue, and made shift to
kiss her twice. 'Long as you live,
You'll always be doing something for
tgomebody; that's the way you're made.
1And nobody's been io;ns things e:
1ou; but II the Lord lets me live, that's
koing to b my Job from now on"
81 He said Q great deal more, Of
Course. They had nearly fifteen miles
10 20. and they rode at q walk; and q
nan and maid can say good deal
kt such time. But II don't think they
would Ike to have 1t all repeated,
(tCheir thoughts ranged far back over.
Ihe past and far into the future. and
hung close to the miracle Of love that
bad brought them together. There Ia
bns thing which Billy Louise, even in
( Her most self.revealing mood. did not
3ell Ward, and that IL her doubts OF
him. Never once did he dream that
He had inspected him and wrung her
heart because Of her suspicious
i that think she was wise and kind
N They found Seabeck and Floyd Car.
4 IN and another cowboy at the Cove.
nj preparing to leave. Marthy, II
y lfaueplred, had sent for them because
r - wanted to make her Will, 90 that
81 nv Iouise would have the Cove when
Re 2fSS ~ go done with II. Billy lh,Nise