Connecticut western news., 1918-02-07

glass on the table.
you'll feel whole lot better able to
cope with the situation" he told her
smilingly, "when you get some decent
clothes on and your hair fixed. That's
a woman. And you don't need to feel
squeamish about these things. This
trunks got history, let me tell you.
A bunch of simon-pure tenderfeet
strayed into the mountains west or
here a couple of summers ago. There
were two women in the bunch. The
youngest one, who was about your age
and size, must have had more than
her share of vanity. I guess she fig
ured on charming the bear and the
moose, or the simple aborigines who
dwell in this neck of the woods. Any
how, she had all kinds of unnecessary
fixings along, that trunkful of stuff
In the lot. You can imagine what a
nice time their guides had packing that
on horse, eh? They got into deuce
of a pickle finally, and had to abandon
lot of their stuff, among other things
the steamer trunk. lent them hand,
and they told me to help myself to the
stuff. So did after they were out
of the country. That's how you come
to have a wardrobe all ready to your
hand. Now, you'd be awful foolish to
act like mean and stiff-necked female
person. You're not going to, are you"
he wheedled. because I want to
make you comfortable. What's the
use of getting on your dignity over
little thing like clothes?"
fr4o 10
I changed front. "Pll make myself as
comfortable as I can-particularly if
it will put you to any trouble"
'You're bound to scrap, eh?' he
grinned. "But it takes two to build a
fight, and positively refuse to fight
with you"
He dragged the trunk back into the
room, and came out carrying a great
armful of masculine belongings. Two
such trips he made, piling all his things
onto chair.
'There! ~ he said at last. "That end
Of the house belongs to you, little per-
son. Now, get those wet things off be-
fore you catch cold. Oh, wait min
utel"
He disappeared into the kitchen end
of the house, and came back with a
Wash-basin and pail of water.
"Your room is now ready, madam
an it please you" He bowed with
mock dignity, and went back into the
kitchen.
/ Hazel heard him rafting pots and
dishes, whistling cheerfully the while
She closed the door, and busted herself
with an inventory of the tenderfoot
lady's trunk. In 1t she found every
thing needful for complete change, and
variety of garments to boot. Folded
in the bottom of the trunk was a gray
cloth skirt and short blue silk
kimono. There was a coat and skirt,
too, of brown corduroy. But the femi-
nine instinct asserted itself, and she
laid out the gray skirt and the kimono.
For dresser Roaring Bill had fash
toned wide shelf, and on it she found
a toilet set complete-hand mirror,
military brushes, and sundry articles,
backed with silver and engraved with
his initials. Perhaps with a spice of
malice, she put on few extra touches.
There would be some small satisfac-
ton In tantilizing Bill Wagstaff-even
Ii she could not help feeling that 1t
might be dangerous game. And, thus
arrayed in the weapons of her sex, she
slipped on the kimono, and went into
the living room to the cheerful glow Of
the fire.
Bill remained busy in the kitcf en-.
Dusk fell. The CLEAN of light showed
through a crack in the door. In the
big room only the fire gave battle to
the shadows, throwing a rudy glow
into the far corners. Presently Bill
came in with a pair of candles which
he set on the mantel above the fire.
place.
! SPY Jove!" he said, looking down at
her. "You look good enough to eat!
I'm not a cannibal, however" he con-
tinued hastily, when Hazel flushed.
She was not used to such plain speak
ing. sand supper's ready. Come on ]"
The table was set. Moreover, to her
surprise-and yet not so greatly to her
surprise, for she was beginning to ex-
pect almost anything from this para
doxical young man-it was spread with
linen, and the cutlery was silver, the
dishes china, in contradistinction to
the tinware of his camp outfit.
AS a cook Roaring Bill Wagsiaif had
no cause to be ashamed of himself. and
Hazel enjoyed the T cal, part rularly
since she had eaten nothing since six
in the morning. After time. n her
appetite was partially sat#4 T. she
took to glancing over his hen.
There seemed to be some aG' Of a
kitchen missing. A fire b." m a
hearth similar to the one III ing
room. Pots stood about the of
the fire. But there was no # a
stove.
Bill finished eating, ald to
cigarette mater. ' instead %.
"Well. little person." he -