Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-03-08


to appear at the precise moment when
she was beset by Indians or robbers
or something and in dire need. The
blood he had shed in her behalf! At
that point Billy Louise startled her
self and the others by suddenly laugh
ing out loud at the memory Of one
time when Ward Warren had killed
enough Indians to fill deep washout
SO that he might carry her across to
the other side!
us there anything funny about Jase
Meilke dying, Billy LouiseY' her moth
er asked her In perfectly shocked
tone.
mo. I was thinking Of something
else" She glanced at the man eying
her so distrustfully from across the ia
Bile and gurgled again. 1t was terribly
silly, but she simply could not help
seeing Ward Warren calmly filing that
washout with dead Indians so that he
might carry her across it in his arms.
The more she tried to forget that the
funnier it became. She ended by leav-
ing the table and retiring precipitately
to her own tiny room in the lean-to
where she buried her face as deep as
it would go in puffy pillow Of wild
duck feathers.
He, poor devil, could not be expected
to know just what had amused her
so. He did know that it somehow con-
cerned himself, however. He took up
his position mentally behind the wall
of aloofness which stood between him.
self and an unfriendly world, and when
Billy Louise came out later to help
with the dishes he was sitting alb
sorbed in book.
The next morning the blizzard, ragged,
so that Warren stayed as a matter Of
course. Peter Howling Dog had not
returned, so Warren did the chores
and would not let Billy Louise help
with anything.
81 wish we could get him to stay
all winter instead of that Peter Howl
ing Dog" Mrs. Macdonald said anx-
iously after>he had gone out. 81 Just
know Peters off drinking. I don't
think he's a safe man to have around,
Billy Louise. / didn't when you hired
him. I haven't felt easy minute
with him on the place. wish you'd
hire Mr.. Warren, Billy Louise. He's
nice and quiet
'tAnd he's got a ranch of his own.
He doesn't strike me as man. who
wants a job milking two cows and
carrying slop to the pigs, mommie."
.sWell, I'd feel lot easier if we had
him instead Of that breed. Only we
amt even got the breed half the time.
This is the third time he's disappeared
in the two months we've had him. I
really think you ought to speak to Mr..
Warren, Billy Louise"
''Speak to him yourself. You're the
one that wants him." Billy Louise an
swered somewhat sharply. She adored
her mother, but if she had to run the
ranch she did wish her mother would
not interfere and give advice just at
the wrong time.
"Well, you needn't be cross about it,
You know yourself that Peter can't be
depended on minute. There he went
off yesterday and never fed the pigs
their noon slop, and I had to carry it
out myself And my lumbago has
bothered me ever since, just like it
was going to give me another spell.
You can't be here all the time, Billy
Louise - leastways you amt = and
Peter
"Oh, good gracious, mommie told
you to hire the man if you want him.
Only Ward Warren isn't
Ward Warren pushed open the door
and looked from one to the other, his
eyes two question marks. ''Isn't
what?" he asked and shut the door
behind him with the air Of one who is
ready for anything.
"Isn't the kind of man who wants to
hire out to do Chores" Billy Louise
finished and looked at him straight.
care you? Mommie wants to hire
you"
.'Oh, we'll, I was just. about to ask
for the job, anyway" He laughed,
and the distrust left his eyes CAS- a
matter of fact, I was going over to
Jim Larson's to bang out for the rest
of the winter and get away from the
lonesomeness of the hills. The old
Turks a pretty good friend Of mine.
But it looks to me as If you two need
ed something around that looks like a
a man a heap more than Jim does.
know Peter Howling Dog to a fare
you-well. You'll be all to the good if
he forgets TO come back. So if you'll
stake me to a meal now and then and
ap place to sleep I'll be glad to see you
through the winter or until you get
some white man to take my place"
He took up the two water pals and
waited. glancing from one to the other