The Lamar register., 1918-04-24
Copyright by Little, Brown . co.,

suppose Ill II peTleCl fright, 100 Long
hair. whiskers. grimy, calloused hands,
and all the rest of it. A shave and II
hair cut, bath and new suit of
clothes will remedy that. But I'll be
the same personality in every essential
quality that / was when l sweated
over the Klappan with hundred
pounds on my back"
81 hope So" she retorted. 81 don't
require the shave. thank goodness, but
| certainly need bath-and clothes.
- wish had the gray suit that's prob
ably getting all moldy and moth-eaten
at the Pine River cabin. wonder II
| can get anything fit to wear here7"
women live here" Bill returned
quietly. land ! suppose the stores sup
ply 'em with duds. Unlimber that
bank roll of yours, and do some shop
ping"
She sat on the edge of the bed, re-
garding her reflection in the mirror
with extreme disfayor. Bill fingered
his thick stubble of beard for a
thoughtful minute. Then he sat down
beside her.
whats a mollah, hon?" he wheed-
led. "what makes you such a crosser
patch all at once7"
"Oh. l don't know" she answered
dolefully. I'm tired and hungry. and
look fright-and-oh, Just every
thing"
Tut. TUT" he demonstrated good
nnturedly. That's just mood again.
We're out of the woods. literally and
fguratively. If you're hungry. let's go
and see what we can make this hotel
produce In the way OF grub, before
We do anything else"
Il wouldn't go into their dining
room looking like this for the world"
she said decisively.
"All right: you go shopping. then"
he proposed. "while l take these furs
up to old Hacks place and turn them
into money. Then we'll dress. and
make this hotel feed us the best
they've got. Cheer up. Maybe It was
tough on you to slice year out Of
your life and leave it in a country
where there's nothing but woods and
eternal silence-but we've got around
twenty thousand dollars to show for
II, Hazel. And one can't get some
thing for nothing. There's a price
mark on 1t somewhere. always. Be
my good little pal-and see II you can't
make one of these stores dig up a
white waist and black skirt. like you
had on the first time / saw you"
He kissed her, and went quickly out.
And after a long time of sober staring
at her image in the glass Hazel shook
herself fmpatientiy.
I'm a silly. selfish. incompetent lit
tie beast," she whispered. "Bill ought
to thump me. instead of being kind.
1 can't do anything. and 1 don't know
much. and I'm a scarecrow for looks
right now. And l started out to be
real partner.v
She wiped an errant tear AWAY, and
made her way TO store. The stock
of ready-made clothing drove her to
despair. 1t seemed that what women
resided In Hazelton must invariably
dress In Mother Hubbard gowns of
cheap cotton print with other gar
ments to match. But eventually they
found for her undergarments of
sort, waist and skirt, and u comfort
able pair of shoes. Hats, as milllner
would understand the term. there were
none. And in default of such she
stuck to the gray felt sombrero she
had worn into the Klappan and out
again-which, in truth. became her
very well, when tilted at the proper
angle above her heavy black hair.
Then she went back to the hotel, and
sought a bathroom.
Returning from this she found Bill,
Bill all shaved and shorn, unloading
himself of sundry packages of new
attire.
AHA. everything is lovely,s he greet
ed. sold Hack Jumped at the pelts.
and paid "A fat price for the lot. Also
the ranch deal has gUne through. He's
prince, old Hack. Sent up u man
and had 1t surveyed and classified
and the deed waiting for me. And
oh, say. here's letter for you"
For me? Oh. yes" as she looked
at the handwriting and postmark. IL
wrote to Lorraine Marsh when we were
going north. Good heavens, look at
the date-its been here since last Sep
temberl"
"Hackaberry knew where we were.'
Bill explained. Sometimes In camps
like this they hold mail two or three
years for men that have gone into the
tnterinr-"