Connecticut western news., 1918-02-07
CHAPTER vi.
A Little Personal History.

Hazel discarded the wet coat, and,
drawing chair up to the fire, took
off her sopping footgear and toasted
her bare feet at the blaze. Her cloth
Ing was also wet, and she wondered
petffshly how in the world she was
going to manage with only the gar
ments on her back-and those dirty
and torn from hacking through the
bruSh for a matter of two weeks. Ac-
cording to her standards, that was
n0ughing it with a vengeance. But
presently she gave over thinking of her
plight The fire warmed her, and, with
the chill gone from her body, she be-
slowed a curious glance on her sur
xoundings.
There was furniture of a sort I'M
known to her, tables and chairs fash
a0aed by hand with infinite labor and
rude skill, massive in structure, uphol-
stored with the skins of wild beasts
common to the region. Upon the walls
hung pictures, dainty black-and-white
prints, and water color or two. And
between the pictures were nailed heads
Gf mountain sheep and goat, the ant
fireplace spread the huge shovel horns
Of a moose, bearing across the prongs
q shotgun and fishing rods. The center
of the foor-itself, as she could see,
of hand-smoothed logs-was lightened
with great black and red and yellow
rug Of curious weave. Covering up
the bare surface surrounding it were
Aearskins, black and brown. Her feet
rested In the fur of monster silver
tips fur thicker and softer than the
pile of any carpet ever fabricated by
man. All around the walls ran shelves
filed with books. A guitar stood in
enc corner, mandolin in another.
Except for the dust that had gath
cred lightly in it's owners absence, the
place was as neat and clean as if the
housemaid had but gone over it. Hazel
shrugged her shoulders. Roaring Bill
Wagstaff became, if anything, more Of
an enigma than ever, in the light of his
dwelling. She recollected that Cariboo
Meadows had regarded him askance,
and wondered why.
He came in while her gaze was still
rowing from one object to another, and
threw his wet outer clothing, boy
fashion, on the nearest chair.
SWELL" he said, "we're here"
'please don't forget, Mr.. Wagstaff,"
she replied coldly, 'that would much
prefer not to be here"
He stood a moment regarding her
with his odd smile. Then he went into
the adjoining room. Out of this he
presently emerged, dragging a small
steamer trunk. He opened it, got down
en- his knees, and paved over the con-
tents. Hazel, looking over her Shout
der, saw that the trunk was filed with
woman's garments, and sat amazed.
@Say, little person." Bill finally re-
marked, cit looks to me as if you could
sutft yourself completely right here"
81 don't know that I care to deck
myself In another woman's finery,
thank you," she returned perversely.
Now, see here" Roaring Bill turned
seproachfully "see here"
He grinned to himself then, and went
again into the other room, returning
with small, square mirror. He plant
I'D himself squarely in from of her,
and held up the glass. Hazel took one
hook at her reflection, and she could
Rave struck Roaring Bill for his au-
aacity. She had not realized what
"A altogether disreputable appearance
d normally good-loolling young woman
could acquire In two weeks on the
trail with no toilet accessories and