The Monticellonian., 1918-03-15


 Her satisfaction lasted while she rode to the next ridge Then the little devils of doubt came a-swarming and a-whispering She had said she knew all about Ward Well, she did to a greater extent than others knew. But she wondered if she did not know too much or if she knew enough. There were some things
 She headed Blue down the slope and as straight for the Big Hill as she could go There was no trail that way. and the ridges were steep and the can 1 yons circuitous But Blue was good horse, with plenty of stamina and mVch experience. He carried his lady safely, and he carried her willingly. Even her impatience could find no fault with the manner Tn which he climbed steep pitches, slid down slopes as steep. jumped narrow washouts and 1 picked his way through thiekets of quaking aspens or over wide stretches of shale rock and lava beds He was vet to his ears when finally he shuf- l fled into Wards trail up the creek bot tom. but he breathed evenly, and he carried his head high and perked his ears knowingly forward when the cor ral and haystack came into view around sharp bend. He splashed i both front feet into the creek just be- fore the cabin and stopped to drink, while Billy Louise stared at the silent place.
 By the tracks along the creek trail she knew that Ward had come home. and she urged Blue across the ford and up the bank to the cabin. She slid off and went in boldly to hide her inward embarrassment-an she found nothing 1 but emptiness there.
 i Billy Louise did not take long to in- yestigate. The coffee pot was still warm on the stove when she laid her palm against it, and she immediately poured herself cup of coffee. A plate and a cup on the table indicated that Ward had eaten a hurried meal and had not taken time to clear away the litter Billy Louise ate what was left. and mechanically she washed the dishes and made everything neat be- fore she went down to look for Hattler. i She had thought that Ward was out somewhere about the place and would return very soon probably. Blue she i had left standing in plain sight before the cabin so that Ward could see him and know she was there, fact which she regretted.
 While she was washing dishes and sweeping she had been trying to think of some excuse for her presence there. It was going to be awkward, her com l ing there on his heels, one might say
 Billy Louise began to wish. she had not come. She began to feel quite cer- tain that Ward would be surprised and disgusted when he found her there and would look at her with that faint curl oE the lip and that fainter lift of the nGstril above it. which made her go hot all over with the scorn in them. She had seen him look that way once or twice, and in spite of herself she be- gan to picture his face with that ex- pression.
 Billy Louise was on the point of rid ing away q good deal more hastily than she had come in the hope that Ward would not discover her there. Then her own stubbornness came up- permost, and she told herself that she had a perfect right to ride wherever she pleased and that if Ward didn't i like it he could do the other thing.
 She went to the door and stood look ing out for a minute, wondering where he was
 There was little window behind the bunk and beside that a shelf filled with books aud smoking material and matches. She knew by the very ar engagement of that shelf and window that Ward liked to lie there on the bunk and read while the light lasted.
 At the head of the bed hung q four sack half full of some hard lumpy stuff which Billy Louise had not no- ticed before. She felt the bag tenta- lively, could not guess its contents and finally took it down and united it. Within were irregular scraps and strips of stuff hard as bone, a puzzle still to one unfamiliar with the from tier. Billy Louise pulled out a little piece, nibbled corner and pronounced: "M-mm. Jerky! I'm going to swipe some of that which she proceeded to do to the extent of filling her pocket, for tc those who have learned to like it jerled yenison Is quite as desirable as milk chocolate or any other nibbly tidbit.
 The opposite wall had sacks of flour stacked against it and boxes of staple canned goods, such as corn and toma- toes and milk and peaches. A box of canned peaches stood at the head of the bed and upon that case of toma- toes. Ward used them for table and set the lantern there when he wanted to read in bed. Hes got pretty good supply of grub was the verdict of Billy Louise, sizing up the assortment while she nibbled at the piece of jerky. T wonder where he is anyway And q moment later: He oughtnt to hang his best clothes up like that. They'll be all wrinkled when he wants to put them on"
 She went over ard disposed of the best clothes to her liking and shook out the dust. She had to own to herself that for bachelor Ward was very or derly. though he did let his trousers hang down over the four sacks in way to whiten their hems. She hung them in a different place.
 Huf whore was Ward9 RilIv ouieo