Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-03-13

and smoked while he repacked. Alto. gether, he did not consume more tbon forty minutes at the noon halt. Hazel now Woefully saddle sore, would foin have rested longer, and, in default of resting, tried to walk and lead Silk hoarlng Bill offered no objection to that. But he hit a faster gait. She could not keep up, and he did not siacken pace when she began to fall Dehlnd. So she mounted awkwardlv ana SILK Jolted and shook her with bis trottihg until he caught up with his mates. Bill grinned over his shoulder.
 You're learning fast" he called back. You'll be able to run q nacl, train by and by"
 The afternoon wore on without bringing them any nearer Cariboo Meadows so far as Hazel could seaf Travelling over country swathed timber and diversified in contour she could not tell whether Roaringf Bill swung in a circle or bore straight for some given point.
 She called halt at four o'clock.
 MT. Wagstaffl p
 Bill stopped his horses and came back to her.
 Aren't we ever going to get any where?" she asked soberly. "Pm afraid can't ride much longer. I could walk if you wouldn't go so fast. Aren't there any ranches in this coun- try at all?"
 He shook his head. They're few and far between" he said. 'Don't worry, though. It isn't life-and-death matter. If we were out here without grub or horses it might be tough. You're in no danger from exposure or hunger.''
 You don't seem to realize the posi- tion it puts me in,'' Hazel answered. A wave of despondency swept over her. and her eyes grew suddenly bright with the tears she strove to keep back. IT we wander around In the woods much longer, I'll simply be a sensation when l get back to Cariboo Meadows, won't have shred of reputation left. It will probably result in my losing the school. You're a man. and it's differ ent With you. You can't know what a girl has to contend with where no one knows her."
 Roaring Bill looked up at her im- passively. q know" he said. as if he had read her thought. "But what's the difference? Cariboo Meadows is only a fleabite. If you're right, and you know you're right, you can look the world in the eye and tell 1t col lectively to go to the devil. Besides, you've got perverted idea. People aren't so ready to give you the bad eve on somebody elses say-so. It would take lot more than a flash drum mer's word to convince me that you're a naughty little girl. Pshaw-forget ftp
 Hazel colored hotly, but for the lat ter part Of his speech she could have hugged him. Bill Wagstaff went a long way, In those brief sentences, toward demolishing her conviction that no man ever overlooked an opportunity of taking advantage of woman.
 Well, let's get somewhere" he said abruptly. 'If you're too saddle sore to ride, walk while. I'll go slower"
 She walked, and the exercise re- lieved the cramping ache in her limbs. Roaring Bill's slower pace was fast enough at that. She followed till her strength began to fall. And when in spite of her determination she Jagged behind. he stopped at the first water.
 "Well camp here," he said. You're about all in, and we can't get anywhere tonight. see plainly"
 Hazel accepted this dictum as best she could. She sat down on a messy rock while he stripped the horses ot their gear and staked them out. Then Bill started a fire and fixed the roll of bedding by 1t for her to sit on Dusk crept over the forest while he