The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-06-21

the wilderness huU uot Cnly ioH iu1
glamor. but had become a thing 70
flee from. She bestowed glad pres
sure on her husbands arm as tney
walked up the street, Bill carrying the
sack of gold perched carelessly on one
shoulder.
"Say, their enterprise has gone the
length of establishing branch bank
here, ! see."
He called her attention to square
footed edifice, Its new-boarded walls
as yet guiltless Of paint. except where
a row of black letters set forth that
it was the Bank Of British North
America.
That's q good place to stow this
bullion" he remarked. II want TO ger
1t Off my hands"
So to the bank they bent their steps.
A solemn, horse-faced Englishman
weighed the gold, and issued Bill re-
ceipt, expressing polite regret that
lack Of facility to determine Its nne-
ness prevented him from converting IL
into cash.
"That means o trip to Vancouver"
Bill remarked outside. swell, we can
stand that"
From the bank they went to the
hotel, registered. and were shown tc
q room. For the first time since the
summit of the Klappan Range, where
her tiny hand glass had suffered dis
aster, Hazel was permitted clear
view Of herself In a mirror.
"Tm a perfect fright" she mourned
"Huhr' Bill grunted. "You're ali
right. Look at me-"
The trail had dealt hardly with both
In the matter of their personal appear
ance. Tanned to an abiding brown
they were. and Hazels one-tims
smooth face was spotted with fly bites
and marked with certain scratches
suffered In the brush as they skirtec
the Kispiox. Her hair had lost its
sleek, glossy smoothness Of arrange
ment. Her hands were Redeemed anc
rough. But chiefly she was concerned
with the sad state Of her apparel. Shs
had come q matter Of four hundred
miles In the clothes on her back-and
they bore unequivocal evidence Of the
journey.
I'm q perfect fright" she repeated
pettishly. "One's manners, morals,
clothing, and complexion all suffer
from too close contact with your be-
loved North. BILL"
Thanks he returned shortly. ~
suppose I'm a perfect fright, too. Long
hair, whiskers, grimy, calloused hands,
and all the rest of 1t. A shave and a
hair cut, bath and a new suit Of
clothes will remedy that. But I'll be
the same personality in every essential
quality that l was when I sweated
over the Klappan with q hundred
pounds on my back"
II hope so," she retorted. II donH
require the shave, thank goodness, but
certainly need q bath-and clothes.
I wish I had the gray suit that's prob
ably getting all moldy and moth-eaten
at the Pine River cabin. I wonder II
I can get anything fit to wear hereY"
women live here" Bill returned
quietly, "and I suppose the stores sup.
ply 'em with duds. Unlimber that
bank roll Of yours, and do some shop.
ping"
She sat on the edge Of the bed, re-
garding her reflection in the mirror
with extreme disfavor. Bill fingered
his thick stubble of q beard for .
thoughtful minute. Then he sat down
beside her.
Whats a mollah, hon9" he wheed.
led. what makes you such crosset
patch all at once2"
"Oh, don't know" she answered
dolefully. I'm tired and hungry, and
I look fright--and-oh, just every.
thing"
"Tut, rut!" he demonstrated good
naturedly. 'That's just mood again
We're out Of the woods, literally and
hguratively. If you're hungry. let's 20
and see what we can make this hotel
produce In the way of grub, before
we do anything else"
II wouldn't 60 into their dining.
room looking like this for the world =
she said decisively.
"All right; you 60 shopping, then.s
he proposed. "while I take these furs
up to old Hacks place and turn them
into money. Then wen dress, and
make this hotel feed us the best
they've got. Cheer up. Maybe It was
tough on you to slice year out of
your life and leave It in a country
where there's nothing but woods and
eternal silence-but we've got around
twenty thousand dollars to show for
1t. Hazel. And one can't get some.
thing for nothing. There's a price
mark on It somewhere. always. B>
my good little pal-and see II you can't
make one Of these stores dig up q
white waist and black skirt, like You
had on the nrst time I saw you"
He kissed her, and went quickly ont.
And after long time Of sober staring
at her Image In the glass Hazel shook
herself impatiently.
I'm q silly, selfish, incompetent lie.
tie beast" she whispered. "Bill ought
to thump me. instead Of being kind.
l can't do anything. and I don't know
M Ytv~n