Western Kansas world., 1918-05-30
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

~
She wiped an errant tear away, and
made her way to a 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, a waist and skirt, and comfort
able pair of shoes. Hats, as milliner
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 bathroom.
Returning from this she found Bill,
a Bill all shaved and shorn, unloading
himself of sundry packages of new
attire.
AHA, everything is lovely" he greet
ed. "Old Hack jumped at the pelts.
and paid fat price for the lot. Also
the ranch deal has gone through. He's
prince, old Hack. Sent up man
and had 1t surveyed and classified
and the deed waiting for me. And
oh, say, here's a letter for you.H
For me? oh, yes" as she looked
at the handwriting and postmark- 81
wrote to Lorraine Marsh when we were
going north. Good heavens, look at
the date-it's been here since last Sep
semberr'
"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
interior"
She put aside the letter, and dressed
while Bill had his bath. Then, with
the smoke and CRIME of a hard trail
Obllterated, and with decent clothes
upon them, they sought the dining
room. There, while they waited to be
served, Hazel read Lorraine Marsh's
letter, and passed 1t to Bill with a
self-conscious little laugh.
There's an invitation there we
might accept" she said casually.
He returned the letter as the wait
ress brought their food.
wouldn't 1t be nice to take a trip
homer" Hazel suggested thoughtfully.
I'D love to-"
1--WE are going home," Bill reminded
gently.
"Oh, of course" she smiled ''But
mean to Granville. I'd like to go
back there with you for a while, just
to-just to"
ITO show 'em," he supplied lacon-
fcally.
"Oh, Bill I" she pouted.
Nevertheless, she could not deny
that there was a measure of truth in
hria orx ia
-'show 'em."
She looked across the table at her
husband, and thought to herself with
proud satisfaction that she had done
well. Viewed from any angle whatso-
ever Bill Wagstaff stood head and
shoulders above all the men she had
ever known. Big, physically and men,
tally, olean-minded and capable-in-
dubitably she had captured a lion,
and, though she might have denied
stoutly the imputation. she wanted
Granville to see her lion and hear him
roar.
~Stin thinking Granville?" Bill
queried, when they had finished an
uncommonly silent meal.
Hazel flushed slightly. She was
and momentarily she felt that she
should have been thinking of their lit
tie nest up by Pine River Pass instead
She knew that Bill was homing to the
cabin. She herself regarded it with
affection, but of a different degree from
his. Her mind was more occupied
with another, more palpitating circle
of life than was possible at the cabin
much as she appreciated its green and
peaceful beauty. The sack of gold
lying in the bank had somehow opened
up far-flung possibilities She skipped
the interval of affairs which she knew
must be attended to, and betook her
self and Bill to Granville, thence tC
the bigger, older cities, where money
shouted in sae voice of command
where all things were possible to those
who had the price.
But she was beginning to know
this husband of hers too well to pro
pose anything of the sort abruptly
Behind his tenderness and patienct
she had sometimes glimpsed some
thing in1exible. unyielding as the will
derness he loved. So she merely an
swered:
In a way, yes
Lets go outside where can smok,
a decent cigar ON top of this fairl.
decent meal" he suggested. ''Thel
well figure on the next move. thinl
about twenty-four hours in Ha=e,toI
will do me. There's a steamer goe:
down-river tomorrow"