The Benson signal. [volume] (Benson, Cochise County, Ariz.) 1915-1921, 1918-11-09

probably pay for tin way you
wouldn't understand If you lived a
thousand years. Well, set your mind
at rest. I'll take you out. Ye gods and
little fishes. but 1 have sure been a
foolw
He sat down on the edge of the table,
and Hazel blinked at him, half scared,
and full of wonder. She had grown
so used to seeing him calm, imperturb-
able, smiling cheerfully no matter what
she said or did, that his passionate out
break amazed her. She could only sit
and look at him.
He got out his cigarette materials.
But his fingers trembled, splitting the
tobacco. And when he tore the paper
In his efforts to roll 1t, he dashed pa
per and all into the fireplace with
something that sounded like an oath,
and walked out Of the house. Nor did
he return till the sun was we'll down
toward the tree-rimmed horizon. When
he came back he brought in an arm
full Of wood and kind1ing, and began to
build a fire. Hazel came out of her
room. Bill greeted her serenely.
swell, little person." he said, II
hope you'll perk up now"
"T'll try" she returned. "Are you
really going to take me out?"
Bill paused with a match blazing in
his fingers.
I'm not in the habit of saying things
I don't mean," he answered dryly.
"We1l start In the morning."
The dark closed In ON them, and
they cooked and ate supper in silence.
Bill remained thoughtful and abstract
ed. Then from some place among his
books he unearthed map, and, spread
ing 1t on the table, studied 1t while.
After that he dragged in his kayaks
from outside, and busted himself pack
ing them with supplies for journey
tea and coffee and -four and such
things done up in small canvas sacks.
And when these preparations were
complete he got sheet Of paper and
pencil. and fell to copying something
from the map. He was still at that,
sketching and marking. when Hazel
went to bed.
BY all the signs and tokens, Roaring
Bill Wagstaff slept none that night.
Hazel herself tossed wakefully, and
during her wakeful moments she could
hear him stir ia the outer room. And a
full hour before daylight he called her
to breakfast.
. -
'sThis time last gSr1ng," Bill said to
her, II was piking away north Of those
mountains, bound for the head Of the
Mas to prospect for gold"
They were camped in notch on the
tiptop of long divide, Thousand feet
above the general level. A wide valley
rolled below, and from the height they
overlooked two great, sinuous lakes
and a multitude Of smaller ones.
1--WE been wondering" Hazel said.
'"This country somehow seems differ
ent. You're not going back to Cariboo
Meadows, are your"
Bill bestowed q look Of surprise on
her.
II should say not ~ he drawled. "Not
that 1t would make any difference to
me. But I'm very sure you don't want
to turn up there in my company"
That's true" she observed. "But
all the clothes and oil the money ]
have in the world are there"
Don't let money worry you," he said
briefly. II have got plenty to see you
through. And you can easily buy
clothes"
They were now ten days on the road.
Steadily they climbed. reaching up
through gloomy canyons where foam
ing cataracts spilled themselves over
sheer walls Of granite, where the dim
and narrow pack trail was crossed and
recrossed with the footprints Of bear
and deer and the snowy-coated noun
tain goat.
Roaring Bill lighted his evening fire
at last at the apex Of the pass. He had
Travelled long after shutdown, seeking
camp ground where his horses could
Craze. The fire lit up huge frs. and
high above the fir tops the sky was
studded with stars, brilliant in the thin
atmosphere. They ate, and, being
weary, lay down to sleep. At sunrise
AAe'ACA sat uP IOOhcO dUOuL ItcI Ill
silent, wondering appreciation. All the
world spread east and west below.
She adjusted the binoculars and
peered westward from the great height
where the camp sat. Distantly, and
far below, the green Of the forest broke
down to a hazy line of steel-blue that
ran In turn to huge fog bank, snow
white In the rising sun.
There's a lake." she said.
"No. Salt water-a long arm Of the
Pacific" he replied. THAT'S where
you and part company-to your very
great relief, dare say. But look off
in the other direction. Lord, you can
see two hundred miles! II 1t weren't
for the Babine range sticking up you
could look clear to where my cabin
stands. What an outlook!
II told you. I think, about prospect
ing on the head Of the Mas last spring.
I fell in with another fellow up there,
and we worked together, and early in
the season made nice little cleanup
on a gravel bar. have another place