The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-02-01
CHAPTER ll-centInusd.

-
Then the chores aren't done, sup
pose" Billy Louise went over and
took a lantern down from its nall,
turning up the wick 10 that she could
lixht 1t with the candle. 20 up to
the IRE and thaw out" she invited the
man. wen have supper tn . few
minutes"
Instead he reached out and took the
lantern from her ~ soon ~ she had
lighted it. You 70 to the IRE your
self" he said. I'm do what's neces-
sary outside
"Why-y"- Billy Louise, her fingers
still clinging to the lantern, looked up
at him. He was staring down at her
with that intent look she had objected
to on the trail, but she saw his mouth
and the little smile that hid just back
OF his lips. She smiled back without
knowing it. "Pn have to go along,
anyway. There are cows to milk, and
YOU couldn't very well ind the COW
stable alone"
Think not?"
Together they went out again into
the storm they had left 30 eagerly.
Billy Louise showed him where was
the pitchfork and the hay and then
did the milking while he piled full the
managers. After that they went to-
gether and turned the shivering work
horses into the stable from the corral
where they huddled, rumps to the
storm. and the man lifted great fork
fuls Of hay and carried 1t into their
stalls. while Billy Louise held the Ian
tern high over her head ike western
Liberty. They did not talk much, ex-
cspt when there was need for speech,
but they were beginning to feel lit
tie glow Of companionship by the time
they were ready to nght their way
against the blizzard to the house, Bully
Louise going before with the lantern
while the man followed close behind
carrying the two pals Of milk that
was already freezing in little crystah
to the tin.
Il didn't quite catch your name, mis-
ter" Mrs. Macdonald said after they
had begun the meal. But take an
other biscuit, anyway"
Warren il my NAME" returned thu
man, with that hidden smile because
she had never before given him any
opportunity to tell it-"Ward Warren
I've got a claim over On Nil creek"
Billy Louise gave little gasp and
distractedly poured two spoonfuls OF
sugar in her tea, although abe hated Il
sweetened
I've got to tell you why even At thu
price of digression. Long ago, wher
Billy Louise was twelve Or 70 and
lived largely in a dream world OF he
own, she had one day CHANGED upon I
paragraph In a paper that had come
from town wrapped around . packag'
of matches 1t was all about War
Warren. The name caught her fancy
and the text Of the paragraph seize<
upon her imagination. Until schoo
filed her mind with other things sh'
had built adventures without end I,
which Ward Warren was the centra
figure. Sometimes, when she rode II
the hills, Ward Warren abducted he
and led her into strange places, wher
she tried to shiver in honest dread
often and often, however, Ward War
rem was a fugitive who came to he
for help. Then she would take him t
cave and hide him, perhaps, or sh
would mount her horse and lead hin
by devious ways to safety, and upol
some hilltop from which she couI
point out the route he must follow sh
would bid him a touching adieu an
beseech him In the impossible Ian
guage Of some old romancer to 60 an
lead a blameless life.
'Jase has got all gone feelings now
mommie," Billy Louise remarked ire
evantly during brief pause and n
lapsed into silence again. She knew
that was good for at least five minute
of straight monologue with her mothe
in that talking mood. She finished he
supper while Warren listened abstract
eddy to a complete biography Of tn
Mcilkes and earned all about Narthy'
energy and Eases shiftlessness.
Ward Warrenr' Billy Louise wa
saying to herself. Ward Warren
There couldn't possibly be two War
Warrens; it's such an odd name
Weir
Then she went mentally over this
paragraph. She wished she did nc
remember every single word Of It, bu
she did And she was afraid to loo
.ut him after that, and she wanted t
dreadfully. She felt as though he bt
longed to her. Why, he was her oil
playmatel And she had saved his III
hundreds Of times at immense risk
,ners, and be had always been her d.