The Dolores star., 1918-11-29

manifested itself by sundry yawns on
their part, they went to bed.
With breakfast over. Bill put COM
pass in his pocket, after having ground
his az blade to keen edge.
"Come on" said he, then; "rm going
to transact some important business"
What is TT" she promptly demand
ed with much curiosity.
This dmnicile of ours, GIRL" he told
her, while he led the way through the
surrounding timber, '1s ours only by
grace Of the wilderness. It's built on
unsurveyed government land-land
that I have no more legal claim to
than any passing trapper. But I'm
going to remedy that. I'm going to
formally stake a hundred and sixty
acres Of this and apply for its pur-
chase. Then Wen have a cinch on our
home. Well always have q refuge to
fly to, no matter where We 60"
She nodded appreciation of this. The
cabin in the clearing stood for some
Of those moments that always loom
large and unforgettable IN every wons
ans experience. She had come there
once In hot, shamed anger. and she
had come again as bride. II was the
handlwork Of man she loved with a
passion that sometimes startled her
sibility Of that place being given over
to others reused In her a pang Of re-
sentiment. 1t was theirs, hers and
Bill's, and, being a woman, she Viewed
its possession jealousy.
So she watched with keen interest
what he did. Which. in truth, was
simple enough. He worked his way
to point southeast of the clearing
till they gained little rise whence
through the treetops they could look
back and see the cabin roof. There
Bill cut of an eiGht-incL jack pine,
leaving the stump approximately four
feet high. This he hewed square, the
four fiat sides Of the post facing re-
spectively the cardinal points Of the
compass. On one smoothed surface
Bill set to work with his pocketknife.
Hazel sat down and watched while he
busted himself at this. And when he
had finished she read, in deep-carved
letters:
". WAGSTAFF'S s. e. CORNER.
Then he penned on a sheet Of let
ter paper brief notice to the effect
that he, William Wagstafr, intended to
apply for the purchase Of the land en-
braced In an area q half mile square,
Of which the post was the southeast
corner mark. This notice he fastened
to the stump with few tacks, and sat
down to rest from his labors.
'How long do you suppose that will
stay there. and who Is there to read 1t
II 1t does7" Hazel observed.
search me. The moose and the
deer and the timber wolves, I guess"
Bill grinned. "The chances are the
paper won't last long. with winds and
rains. But 1t doesn't matter. It's sim
ply form prescribed by the land act
Of British Columbia. and, SO long as
go through the legal motions, that lets
me out. Matter Of form, you know"
''Then what else do you have to do7"
Nothing but furnish the money
when the land department gets around
to accept my application" he said. II
can get an agent to attend to all the
details. Well, let's take look at our
estate from another corner"
This, roughly ascertained by sight
ing a line with the compass and step
ping off $50 yards, brought them up
on a knoll that commanded the small
basin Of which the clearing was prac-
tically in the center.
"Aha" Bill exclaimed. "Look at
our ranch, would you; our widespread
acres basking in the sun. A quarter
section is quite a chunk. Do you
know I never thought much about 1t
before, but there's piece of the finest
land that lies outdoors. If this coun-
try should get railroad and settle up,
that quarter section might produce all
the income we'd need. Just out Of hay
and potatoes. How'd you like to be a
farmers wife, huh"
"Fine," she smiled. 'Look at the
vfew-it isn't gorgeous. lists SIM
ply peaceful and quiet and soothing.
I hate to leave It,"
'Better be sorry to leave a place
than glad to get away" he answered
lightly. "Come on, let's pike home md
get things in order for the long trail,
woman O. mine. I'll teach you how to
be a woodland vagabond."