The Arizona copper camp., 1918-03-30

Out anu p1ncn MS arm nICe OIL
"Soon as your leg is all well, and you're
every speck over the hookin'-cough,
Why-yOu can be the boss !"
"Can II"
"Honest, you can. pve"-Billy Lou
Use had the grace. to blush a little
give always thought I'd love to have |
somebody bully me and boss me and |
'buse me. And L" Her lips twitched |
a little. 81 think you can qualify"
They came to the gate, and Billy
Louise freed her hand from his clasp
and dismounted, since it was wire
gate and could not be opened on horse
back. She closed it after him, looked
to her cinch, frightened it little, pat
ted Rather on the neck, caught the
horn with one hand and the stirrup
with the other, and went up quite like
a man, while Ward watched her in
tently.
"'In sooth, know not why you are
so sa-ad,'" murmured Billy Louise,
when she swung alongside in the trail.
Ward caught her hand again and did
not let go; so they rode hand in hand
down the narrow valley.
~ was wondering" he hesitated,
drawing in corner of his lip, biting
it, and letting it go. "Wilhemina, If
old Lady Fortune takes a notion to
give me another kick or two, just when
life looks so good to me"
"Why, We'll kick back just as hard
as she does" threatened Billy Louise
courageously. "Don't let happiness get
on your nerves, Ward"
eff I wasn't crippled, it wouldn't.
But when a mans down and out, he
thinks lot. The last three days, I've
lived whole lifetime, lady-girl. Every
thing seems to be coming my way, all
at once. And I'm afraid; what if I
can't make good? If can't make you
happy"-he squeezed her fingers so
that Billy Louise had to grit her teeth
to keep from interrupting him-"or if
anything should happen to you-Lord !"
"You've got nerves, buckaroo You've
been shut up there alone so long you
see things all distorted. We're going
to be happy, because We'll be together,
and we've so much to do and so much
to think of. You must realize, Ward,
that we've got three places to take care
of, and you and me and poor old Mar
thy. She hasn't anybody, Ward, but
us. And she's changed so-got so old
just in the last few days. 1 never
knew a person could change so much
in such little while. She's just let go
~ TrS - n
mentally and physically. Well have to
take care of her, Ward, as long as she
lives. That's why I'm taking you there
so we can look after her. She won't
leave the Cove. II was hoping" she
added shyly, "that we could sit in
front Of our own fireplace, Ward, and
nave nice coy evenings; but-well,
there always seems to be something
for me to do for somebody, Ward"
"Oh, you Wilhemina !" Ward slipped
his arm around her, to the disgust of
Rather and Blue, and made shift to
kiss her twice, "Long as you live,
you'll always be doing something for
somebody; that's the way you're made.
And nobody's been doing things for
you but If the Lord let's me live, that's
going to be my job from now on
He said a great deal more, of
course. They had nearly fifteen miles
to go, and they rode at walk; and
man and maid can say good deal
at such time. But don't think they
would like to have it all repeated
Their thoughts ranged far back over
the past and far into the future, and
chung close to the miracle of love that
had brought them together. There is
one thing which Billy Louise, even in
her most self-revealing mood, did not
tell Ward, and that is her doubts of
him. Never once did he dream that
she had suspected him and wrung her
heart because of her suspicions-and
in that I think she was wise and kind.
They found Seabeck and Floyd Car
son and another cowboy at the Cove,
Just preparing to leave. Marthy, it
| TRANSFERRED, had sent for them because
she wanted to make her will, so that
Billy Louise would have the Cove when
Marthy was done with it. Billy Louise
cried little and argued a good deal,
but Marthy had not lost all her stub
bornness, and the will stood I'M
changed.
Billy Louise and Ward were married
just as soon as Ward was able to make
the trip to the county-seat, which was
just as soon as he could walk comfort
ably with a cane.
They stayed the winter in the Cove,
and part of the spring. Then they
buried grim, gray old Marthy up on the
side hill near Jase, where she had
asked them to lay her work-worn body
when she was gone.
They were very busy and very happy
and pretty prosperous with their three
ranches. They never heard of Charlie.
Fox again, or of Buck Olney-and they
never wanted to.
If you should some time ride through
a certain portion of Idaho, you may
find the tiny valley of the Wolverine.
and the decaying cabins which prove
I how ;ooDOcesih1a ~ ic for q oO11pIo +o