Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-02-09

dentally rested on hers. you're ike
ice. l didn't think about you getting
cold riding Get down and put on a
coat, and III nave fire In a minute"
y suppose if I must, | must; but l
can get off without any help, thank
you" Hazel answered ungraciously.
Roaring Bill made no reply. hut
stood back, and when her feet touched
solid earth he threw over her shoulders
the coat he had worn himself. Then
he turned away, and Hazel saw him
stooplng here and there, anL heard
the crack of dry sticks broken over
ms knee, In no time he was hack to
the horses with an armful OF dry stuff,
AID had Il small blaze licking up
through dry grass and twigs. As 1t
grew he piled on larger sticks till the
bright flame waved two feet high,
| lighting up the nearby woods and
shedding bright glow on the three
horses standing patiently at hand. He
paid no attention to Hazel until she
came timidly up TO the fire. Then he
looked up at her with his whimsical
smile.
That's right" he said; come on
and get warm. No use worrying-or
| getting cross, l suppose from your
| civilized, conventional point of view
it's terrible thing to be out In the
woods all night alone with a strI1ge
man. But I'm not bear-i wor't eat
you"
I'm sorry If seemed rude" Hazel
said penitently; ~ can't help thinking
of the disagreeable side of It, People
talk so. suppose I'll be a nine days.
wonder In Cariboo Meadows"
Bill laughed softly.
Let them take 1t out in wondering"
he advised. "Cariboo Meadows is
very small and insignificant portion of
the world, anyway"
He went to one of the packs. and
came back with a canvas cover. which
he spread on the ground.
"Sit on that" he said. "The earth's
always damp in the woods"
Then he stripped the horses of their
burdens and tied them out of sight
among the trees. That task finished.
he took on AK and rustled pile OF
wood, dragging dead poles up to the
fire and chopping them into short
lengths. When finally he laid aside
his TX, he busted himself with gather
ing grass and leaves and pine needles
until he had several armfuls collected
and spread in an even pile to serve as
mattress. Upon this he laid his bed.
ding, two thick quilts, two or three
pairs of WOODEN blankets, pillow, the
whole inclosed with long canvas
sheet, the bed tarpaulin of the cattle
ranges
"There," he said "you can turn I'm
whenever you feel like IT,"
For himself he took the saddle bIan-
kets and laid them close by the fire
within reaching distance Of the w,ad-
pile, taking for cover pack canvas.
He stretched himself full length. filled
his pipe, lit IT, and fell to staring into
the fire while he smoked.
Half an hour later he raised HIS
head and looked across the fire at
Hazel.
"vhy don't you go to bed7" he
asked.
I'm not sleepy" she declared. which
was palpable fa!sehood. for her eve
lids were even then dropping.
MAYBE not but YOU need rest" Bin
said quietly. Quit thinking things.
I'm be all the same a hundred wears
from now. Go on to bed. Youli be-
more comfortable"
Thus peremptorilv commanded. Ha-
2cl found herself granting instant obe-
dience She rot into the blankets lust
rs she stood, even to her shoes. and
drew the canvas sheet up 50 that II
hid her face-~but did not prevent her
from seeing.
In spite Of herself she slept fltfully.
Now and then she would wake with d
start TO n half-frichteneG realization
OF her surroundings and plight. and
whenever she ala wake and look past
IN" fire II was 10 see Roaring BIN Wng-
STAFF stretched out In the red glow. his
brown head plllowed on one folded
arm.
Then all at once she Weakened out Of
sound slumbcr with violent start.
Roaring BIZ was shaking the tarpau-
lin over her ard laughing.
arise, Miss Sleeping Beoutyr he
said boylshly. "Breakfasts ready"
He went back to the FIRE Hazel sat
up, pattIng her tousled hair into some
semblance Of order. OF In the east
a reddish streak spread skyward into
somber gray. In the west, black night
gave ground slowly
well, IT'S another day she whis-
pcred, as she had whispered 10 herself
once before. II wonder If there will
ever be any more like itf'