Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-01-31

dered into my camp. and ft wasn't con-
venient for me to turn back. There
fore circumstances--not my act, re-
member-made IL advisable for you to
accompany me. OF course I'll admit
that according to custom and usage,
you would expect me to do the polite
thing and res ore you to your own
stamping ground. But there's no law,
making 1t mandatory for a fellow to
pilot home a lady in distress. Isn't
that right7"
Anyhow" he went on, when she re-
manned silent, II didn't. And you'll
have to lay the blame on nature for
making you a wonderfully attractive
woman. / did honestly try to find the
way to Cariboo Meadows that first
night. 1t was only when found my
self thinking how fine II would be to
pike through these old woods and
mountains with partner like you that
l decided-as / did. I'm human-the
woman, she tempted me. And aren't
you better off? Do you know that you
look fifty per cent better for these few
days Of living In the open-the way
every normal being likes to liver
You're getting some color In your
cheeks, and you're losing that worried,
archangel look. Honest, IL / were a
physician, I'd have only one prescrip-
ton: Get out into the wild country,
and live off the country as your primi-
tive forefathers did. OF course, you
can't do that alone. I know because
I've tried 1t. We humans don't differ
so greatly from the other animals.
We're made to hunt In couples or
packs. There's a purpose, a law you
might say, behind that, too; only It's
terribly obscured by lot of other nom
essentials in this day and age"
But she would not take up the cud-
gels against him, would not seen to
countenance or condone his offense by
discussing it from any angle whatso-'
ever. And she was more determined
to allow no degree of friendliness, even
In conversation, because she recog-,
nized the masterful quality of the
man.
After a lapse Of time they dropped,
into another valley, and faced west
ward to a mountain range which Bill
told her was the Rockies. The next
day a snowstorm struck them. 1t was
not particularly cold. Bill wrapped
her in a heavy canvas coat, and plod-
ded on. Noon passed, and he made
no stop. If anything, he increased his
pace.
Suddenly, In the late afternoon, they
stepped out of the timber into a little
clearing, in which the blurred outline
of a cabin showed under the wide arms
Of leaf1ess tree.
The melting snow had soaked
through the coat; her feet were wet
with the clinging fakes, and the chill
of lowering temperature had set Ha-
eel shivering.
Roaring Bill halted at the door and
lifted her down from Silks back with
out the formality of asking her leave.
He pulled the latchstring, and led her
In. Beside the rude stone fireplace
wood and kindling were piled In readi-
ness for use. Bill kicked the door
shut, dropped on his knees and started
the fire. In five minutes a great blaze
leaped and cracked into the wide
throat of the chimney. Then he piled
on more wood, and turned to her.
'This is the house that Jack built"
be said, with a sober face and
twinkle In his gray eyes. "This is the.
man that lives In the house that Jack
built. And this"-he pointed mis-
chievously at her-'is the woman
who's going to love the man that lives
In the house that Jack built"
"That's a nel" she flashed stormily
through her chattering teeth.
"Well, Wen see," he answered cheer
fully. SECT up here close to the fire
and take Off those wet things while l.
put away the horses"
And with that he went out whistling.
ITO he continued