Meade County news., 1918-02-28

muting his homestead right away, so
that he would not have to "hold 1t
down" for another three years. Maybe
she would not want to bring her moth
er so far of the main road. In that
case he would go down and put that
Wolverine place in shape. He had no
squeamishness about living on her
ranch instead Of his own II she want
ed It that way. He meant to be bet
ter "hooked up" financially than she
was and have more cattle when he put
the gold ring on her finger. Then he
would do whatever she wanted him to
do, and he would not have to cruelty
his pride doing 1t.
You see, they could not have quar-
relied, since Ward carried castles as
well as the blues. In fact, their part
ing had given Ward an uneven pulse
for a mile, for Billy Louise had gone
with him as usual as far as the corral
when he started home. And when
Ward had picked up his reins and turn
ed to put his toe in the stlrrup Billy
Louise had come close-to his very
shoulder Ward had turned his face
toward her, and Billy Louise-Billy
Louise had impulsively taken his head
between her two hands, had looked
deep into his eyes and then had kissed
him wistfully on the lips. Then she
had turned and fled up the path, wav-
ing him away up the trail. And, though
Ward never guessed that to her that
kiss was a penitent vow of loyalty to
their friendship and slap in the face
of the doubt devils that still pursued
her weaker moments, 1t set him plan
ming harder than ever for that stake
he must win before he dared urge her
further toward matrimony.
It's a wonder that the kiss did not
wipe out completely the somber mood
that held him. That It did not, but
served merely to tangle his thoughts in
a most hopeless manner, perhaps
proves how greatly the inner life of
Billy Louise had changed her In those
two weeks.
She changed still more in the next two
months, however. There was the strain
Of her mothers precarious health
which kept Billy Louise always on the
alert and always trying to hide her
fears. She must be quick to detect the
first symptoms Of a return attack OF
the illness, and she must not let her
mother suspect that there was danger
of a return. That much the doctor had
made plain to her.
Besides that, there was an undercur-
rent Of gossip and rumors Of cattle
stealing whenever q man stopped at
the ranch. 1t worried Billy Louise In
spite of her rebuilt belief In Ward.
Doubt would seize her sometimes in
spite Of herself, and she did not see
Ward often enough to let his PERSONAL
ty fight those doubts. She saw him
just once In the next two months and
then only for an hour or so.
A man rode up one night and stayed
with them until morning, after the
open handed custom Of the range land.
Billy Louise did not talk with him very
much. He had shifty eyes and a
coarse, loose Tipped mouth and a thick
neck, and, girl-like, she took violent
dislike to him. But John Pringle told
her afterward that he was Buck Olney,
the new stock inspector, and that he
was prowling around to see If he could
find out anything.
Billy Louise worried good deal aft
er that. Once she rode out early with
the intention Of going to Wards claim
to warn him. But three miles of saner
thought changed her purpose. She
dared not leave her mother all day, for
one thing, and for another she could
scarcely warn Ward without letting
him see that she felt he needed warn
ing, and even Billy Louise shrank from
what might follow.
The stock inspector stopped again on
his way back to the railroad. Billy
Louise was so anxious that she smoth-
cred her dislike and treated him nice
ly, which thawed the man to- AN alarm
ing amiability. She questioned him art
fully-trust Billy Louise for that-and
she decided that the stock inspector
was either very poor detective or a
very good actor He did not, for In
stance, mention any corral hidden in a
blind canyon away back in the hills,
and Billy Louise did not mention 1t,
either. He had not found any worked
brands, he said And he did not appear
TO know anything further about Ward
than the mere fact Of his existence.
There's a fellow holding down a
claim away over on Mill creek" he
had remarked. "I'll look him up when
1 come back, though Seabeck says he's
all right"
Ward Is all right" asserted Billy
Louise rather unwisely.
Haven't q doubt OF II. l thought
maybe he might have seen something
that might give us a clew." Perhaps
the stock inspector was wiser than she
gave him credit for being. He did not
at any rate pursue the subject any fur
ther until he found an opportunity to
talk to Mrs. Macdonald herself Then
he artfully mentioned the fellow on
Mil creek, and because she did not
know any reason for caution he got all
the information he wanted and more,
for mommie was In one Of her gar