The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-03-14
SYNOPSIS.

nature, with her shiftless husband Jase,
quincy over 1eseLt IRAN; uIIving -FOUR
wagon first fords the Wolverine stream.
Jase Is ready to stop at the first green
another full days journey. That night.
through natural instinct, two of the oxen
stray into a narrow gorge and feast on
the rich grasses of the Cove, where they
are found by Marthy who recognizes the
little, hidden Eden as the place of her
dreams and the pioneers at once take pos
session. Later they are Joined by an
other couple who are impressed with the
Wolverine and also establish a home. To
them is born a daughter, christened Billy
Louise.
CHAPTER n-After a visit to Marthy,
Billy Louise on her horse Blue reaches
home late, In a snow storm, having met
q stranger riding over the same trail. He
Is invited to stop for the night and is well
coined by Billy Louise's mother. Intro
duces himself as Ward Warren who has
q claim on Mill Creek.
CHAPTER IIr-Marthy is Mortified to
find that Jase has died during the night.
Digging a grave In a level place above
the main ditch. she wheels Jase's body
on the homemade wneelbarrow and
buries her dead. Charlie Fox. her nephew
arrives.
CHAPTER Iv-Fox rides to Billy
Louise's ranch TO inquire If she has seen
anything of four of their calves which
e~ssappeared; theft is discussed. am ouly
LoulSe bldFtS III bcdfNh.
CHAPTER v-spring has conn., Gut
Billy Louise is not affected by the beau
ties OF Wolverine canyon, for she Is brood
ing over her discouragements and Is on
the brink of nervous breakdown when
she finds one of her finest cows deao,
and she has a machinery note due. Two
men approach on horses looking about Tor
missing stock. She rides to Wards cabin,
but he is not there.
CHAPTER Winding along a fiat-bot-
toned canyon she sees a horseman resem-
bling Ward disappear in the hills and later
dIscovers a hidden corral such as she re-
members being told about by her father.
She is late in arriving home and finds
her mother Ill. and a physician Is called.
CHAPTER vII-Bmy Louise does not
hold changeless her broken faith In ward,
although she has learned to love him;
Ward NETS her on the trail and II is puzzled
at her apparent GOODNESS toward him.
Ward writes her Offering any assistance
he can give.
VIII-Riding over the hills
looking for cattle branded Ys Ward dis
covers a hidden corral and sees three men,
one of whom he believes 70 be Buck Oh
ney. Upon their leaving he investigates
and finds stock on which the brands nave
been changed to his own mark.
CHAPTER Ix.-After obliterating the
brands Ward deduces that Buck Olney
viii become suspicious Of him as knowing
about the plant. He cautiously keeps out
OF the way until his patience frazzles out
under the strain. He discovers Buck Oh
ney hiding behind rock and takes him
prisoner.
CHAPTER x-with Buck bound to a
chair. Ward cooks a mess OF prunes.
sweeps the floor. shaves himself. keeping
close watch on his prisoner through a
mirror. Buck is convoye to a cotton
wood tree where Ward fashions a hang
mans moose. pins the prisoners written
pedigree TO his shoulders; the work done
NNnrA r4daa auynU having sill ina rope SO
1t would not hold any weight
CHAPTER xI-Returning. riding down
a steep slope near his cabin. his horse
Rather steps into a pile OF rock, throw
ing Ward In such a manner as to frac-
ture his leg. Riding TO his cabin he splints
and bandages the broken leg, realiz-
ing he will be helpless for some time and
repares for any emergency; Buck Olney
discovers he was not to be hanged.
CHAPTER xII-Bnly Louise writes
THE Brave Buckaroo" a CHEEKY chris,,
mas letter. also telling OF "Mommie's'
illness, not expecting an answer before
New Years, but ii was not delivered;
Another letter also undeiyered TOTO Oh
CHAPTER xIII.-Bily mounts Blue and
rides to the bottom in search of cattle
which she finds. learning for herself the
shameful story OF theft. and driving them
20 the Cove corral, facing those she ae-
cuses of theft. later Offering apologies and
riding away.
CHAPTER xIv-Having seen Ward
ride away from the corral in the dusk of
evening her doubts are renewed; she rides
toward Wards cabin making a discovery
that causes her knees to tremnIs tps
cabin. he was found TO be demented
from fever. and had forgotten her.
CHAPTER xv-she assures Ward of
her good Intentions and strokes Brave
Buckaroo's' head, his eyes clearing TO
sanity under her touch, when she pro-
ceeds to nurse him and prepare food, as
he explains his predicament. he IS IN
formed of "Mommie's" death. Confesses
her love for him. and kisses him.
Blind. u~nreasoning terror filed Billy
Louise. She struck Blue again AID
plunged into the Icy creek crossing
near the stable. She stopped there
lust long enough to see how empty
and desolate IL was, and how the
horses and cattle had huddled against
Its sheltering wall out of the biting
winds: and how the door was shut
and fastened so that they could not
get in. She opened II and looked in.
and shut 1t again. Then h turned
and ran. white-faced, to the cabin.
Where was Ward5 What had hap
pened to Ward? Thief or honest man,
t~reacherous or true-what had hap
pened TO him?
Billy Louise saw the doorstep banked
over with old, crusted snow. Her
heart gave a jump and stopped still.
She felt her knees shake under her.
Her face seemed to pinch together, the
flesh clinging close TO the bones. Her
whole being seemed to contract with
the deadly fear that gripped her. II
was like that chill morning when she
had crept out of hs cot and gone over
to mommie's bed and had lifted NOM
mics hand that was hanging down. . /.
She came to herself; she was n
ming up the creek, away from the
cabin. Running and stumbling over
rocks. and getting trtpped with her