Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-02-16

smut UOWu DldCk as inc PIT.
They talked little. Hazel was in the
grip of utter forlornness, moody, wish
full to cry. Roaring Bill bumped on his
side of the fire, staring thoughtfully
into the blaze After long period of
abstraction he glanced at his watch,
then arose and silently arranged her
bed. After that he spread his saddle
blankets and lay down.
Hazel crept into the covers and qui-
city sobbed herself to sleep. The huge
and silent land appalled, her.
AS on the previous night, she wax
ened often and glanced over to the fire.
Roaring Bill kept his accustomed posi-
ton, fiat in the glow. She had no fear
of him now.
Night passed, and dawn ushered in a
clearing sky. Ragged wisps of clouds
chased each other across the blue
when they set out again. Hazel walked
the stiffness out of her muscles before
she mounted. When she did get on
SILK, Roaring Bill increased his pace.
lie was long-leeged and light of foot,
apparently ttreless. She asked no Ques-
tons. What was the use? He would
eventually come out somewhere. She
was resigned to wait
After time she began to puzzle,
and the old uneasiness came back. The
last trailing banner Of cloud vanished,
and the sun rode clear In an opal sky.
smiling benlgnly down on the forested
the cardinal points of the compass.
Wherefore she took to gauging their
course by the shadows. And the result
was what set her TO thinking. Over
level and ridge and swampy hollow,
Roaring Bill drove straight north In
an undertaking line. She recollected
that the point from which she had lost
her way had lain northeast of Cariboo
Meadows Even if they had swung
in a circle, they could scarcely be
/ pointing for the town in that direction.
| For another hour Bill held to the
northern line as a needle holds to the
/ pole. A swift rush of misgiving seized
/ her.
"Mr. Wagstaff!" she called sharply.
Roaring BIZ stopped, and she rode
/ Silk up past the pack horses
where are you taking meY' she de-
! handed.
why, I'm taking you home-Or try
/ ing to-" he answered mildly.
But you're going north" she de-
/ clared. you've been going north all
morning. l was north of Cariboo
Meadows when 1 got lost. How can
we get back to Cariboo Meadows by
/ going still farther north?"
you're more of a woodsman than
imagined" BIZ remarked gently. He
smiled up at her, and drew out his
/ pipe and tobacco pouch.
/ She looked at him for minute.
! do you know where we are now?"
she asked quietly.
He met her keen gaze calmly. 81
/ do" he made laconic answer.
(Which way is Cariboo Meadows.
then, and how far is it?" she demand
! ed.
General direction, SOUTH" he re-
/ piled slowly. Fifty miles more or
/ less. Rather more than less"
/ And you've been leading me
! straight north y she cried. "Oh, what
am going to do?'
Keep right on going" Wagstaff an
swered.
II WON'T won't" she flashed. III
/ find my own way back. What devilsh
Impulse prompted you to do such
J thing?"
You'll have beautiful time of IT,"
he said dryly, completely ignoring her
last question. take you three days
TO walk there-if you knew every foot
of the way. And you don't know the
way. Travelling in timber Is confus-
/ ing, as you've discovered. You'll never
/ see Cariboo Meadows, or any other
! place, If you tackle II single-handed,
without grub or matches or bedding.
This is a whopping big country. A
! good many men have got lost In it
and other men have found their
+ bones"
4 He let this sink in while she sat
there or his horse choking back wild
! desire TO curse him by bell, book and
/ candle for what he had done, and hold
ing in check the fear Of what he might
( yet do. She could not escape the con
clusion that Roaring Bill Wagstaff was
/ something of law unto himself. Ca
; pable Of hewing to the line Of his own
! desires at any cost. She realized her
utt, helplessness. and the realization
/ left her without words. He had drawn
vivid picture, and the instinct Of self
I preservation asserted itself.
you misled me" She found her
voice at last. 'Whv?"
did l mlsIead your" he parted
Weren't you already lost when you
came to my camp? And have I mis-
treated You In any manner? Have /
refused you food shelter or help?"
my home IS in Cariboo Meadows.
she persisted. 81 asked you TO take me
there. You led me away from there
deliberately. believe now
"My trail doesn't happen to lead to
Cariboo Meadows that's all Roaring