Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-02-15

hesitation was not by any means
mental habit with Billy Louise.
Il mean just what i said" Char
lies manner was becoming more nat
ural. more confident. "Tve been rid
ing through the hills a good deal. and
I've seen a few things. And I've an
idea the fellow got a little uneasy
BE saw her vince little at the word
fellow" and he went on, with IA
impulsive burst of confidence: Miss
Louise. have you ever, in your riding
around up above Jones canyon, in all
those deep little guiches. have you ever
seen anything of a--corral, up there?"
Billy Louise held herself rigidly
from starting at this She bit her lips
so that Ii hurt. whereabouts is it?n
she asked, without looking at him.
And then: II thought you would go to
any length before you would accuse
anybGdy"
Il would. But when they deliberate
" try to hand me the blame--and I'm
not accusing anybody anybody In
particular, am /? The corral is at the
head of steep little canyon or gulch.
back In the hills where all these bigger
canyons head. Some time when you're
riding up that way, you keep an eye
out for 1t. That" he added grimly,
is where Peter and I ran ecross
these cattle; right near that corral"
The heart of Billy Louise went heasHv
in her chest. Was It possible? Doubts
are harder to kill than cats or snakes.
You think they're done for. and here
they come again, crowding close so
that one can see nothing else.
Have you any idea at all. who
1t isl" She forced the words cut eff
her dry throat. She lifted her head de-
family and looked at him full, trying
to read the truth from his eyes and
his mouth
Charlie Fox met her look and In his
eyes she read pity--yes, pity for her.
IF / have" he said, with an air OF
gently deliberate evasion, "rll wait till
l am dead before name the man. I'm
not at all sure I'd do 1t even then, Miss
Louise; not unless was forced to do
It in self-defense. That's one reason
why l brought the cattle down here.
/ didn't want to be placed in posi-
ton where l should be compelled to
fight back"
Baffled and angry and hurt to the
very soul of her, Billy Louise opened
the gate and went out. ''If you know
anything to tell. for heavens sake don't
hold back on my accounts It's nothing
to me, one way or the other. I'm no
rustler. and no friend of rustlers. III
that's what you're limiting at" She
left them with a proud lift to her chin
and very straight back, went TO RluD
and mounted him mechanically. Billy
Louise was seeing red" just then. She
rode back past the gate, the three were
still standing there close together,
talking.
Billy Louise had ridden but a short
distance when, with a sudden impulse
born Of Ter stern instincts of justice,
she jerke I Blue around and galloped
back. Charlie had disappeared, and
Peter Howlmg Dog was walking sui
lenly toward the corraled cattle. Mar
thy was going slowly up the path to
the cabin. looking old and bent and
| brolzen-spirited because of her bowed
shoulders and stiff, rheumatic gar, but
harsh and unyielding as to her face.
Billy Louise stopped by the fence and
called 70 her. Marthy turned, stared
at her sourly, and stood where she
was.
"Wall, what d'yuh want nowfr she
asked uncompromisingly
Billy Louise fought back an answer
| ing antagonism. She must be just;
she could not blame Marthy for feel
ing hard toward her She had insalted
them horribly and killed Mafthy's dog.
II want to tell you I'm sorry I was
so mean, Marthy," she said bravely.
81 haven't any excuse to make for It;
only you must see yourself what a
shock II would be to person to ind
those cattle down here. But / know
you're honest and so is Charlie. And
l know you'll do what's right. I'm
sorry shot your dog, Marthy."
Apologies did not come easily TO
Billy Louise. She wheeled then and
rode away at furious gallop, before
Marthy could do more than open her
grim lips for reply.
| ITO BE CONTINJED1