Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-10-24

abruptly rising grounu. one coulu NOT
see the town, but she could mark the
low hills behind it. At any rate, she
knew where it lay, and the way back.
So she thought. But the short after
noon fled, and, warned by the low dip
of the sun, she left her nook on the
hillside to make her way home.
Though it was near shutdown, she felt
no particular concern. The long
northern twilight gave her ample time
to cover the distance.
But once down on the rolling land,
among the c~lose-ranked trees, she be-
gan to experience a difficulty that had
not hitherto troubled her. With the
sun hanging low, she lost her absolute
certainty of east and west, north and
south.
She Numbered on, not admitting to
herself the possibility Of being unable
to find Cariboo Meadows. AS best she
could, and to the best Of her belief,
she held in a straight line for the town.
But she walked far enough to have
overrun it, and was yet upon unfamil-
lar ground.
The shadows deepened until she
tripped over roots and stones, and
snagged her hair and clothing on
branches she could not see in time to
fend off. AS a last resort, she turned
straight for the light patch still show
ing in the northwest, hoping thus to
cross the wagon road that ran from
Soda Creek to the Meadows-it lay
west, and she had gone northeast from
town. And as she hurried, a fear be-
gan to tug at her that she had passed
the Meadows unknowingly.
Presently it was dark, and darkness
in the woods is the darkness Of the
pit itself. She found a fallen tree, and
climbed on it to rest and think. After
what seemed an age she fancied- she
saw a CLEAN far distant in the timber
She watched the spot f1xedly, and
thought she saw the faint reflection OF
a light. That heartened her. She ad
vanced toward it, hoping that it might
be the CLEAN of a ranch window. Hel
progress was slow. She b1undere(
over the litter of a forest floor, trip
ping over unseen obstacles. But ter
minutes established beyond peradven
ture the fact that it was indeed a light
She kept on. The wavering CLEAN
came from behind a thicket-an opel
fire, she saw at length. Beyond tn
fire she heard a horse sneeze. Within
q fny1- w I1S of fhn th;a1yo% +L,o,,o1
which wavered the yellow CLEAN sh'
halted, smitten with a sudden panic
This endured but a few seconds. AL
that she knew or had been told o
frontier men treasured her. She ha,
found them to a man courteous, awk
wardly considerable. And she could no
wander about all night.
She moved cautiously, however, t
the edge Of the thicket, to a poin
where she could see the fire. A ma.
sat bumped over the glowing embers
J whereon sizzled a piece of meat. Hi
head was bent forward, as if he wer
| listening. Suddenly he looked up, an
she gasped-for the freight shove
the features of Roaring Bill Wagstaf
She was afraid of him. Why, she di
not know nor stop to reason. Sh
turned to retreat. In the same instan
Roaring Bill reached to his rifle an
stood up.
r "Hold on there!" he said COOL.
you're had a look at mel want
y look at you, old Teller, whoever 80
are. Come on-show yourself"
e He stepped sidewise out of the ligl
| as he spoke. Hazel started to rul
= The crack of q branch underfoot b.
e trayed her. and he closed in before st
took three steps. He caught her rud
~ by the arm and yanked her bodil
into the freight.
i "Well-for the-love of-Mike!"
Wagstaff drawled the exclamatic
f out in q rising ere: cendo of a%stonis.
ment. Then he laid his gun dow
across a roll Of bedding, and stoe
d looking at her in speeches. wonder.
h "For the love of Mike" Roaring 81
r said again. "What are you doing wa
n dering around in the woods at nigh
Good Lord! Your teeth are chatterin