Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-19

For all that he felt there was a diff
ference somewhere. He carried back
with him fit of the blues which seem
ed to have attacked him without cause
or pretext, since he had not quarreled
with Billy Louise and had been warm
~ welcomed by ''mommie." Poor nom
mic was looking white and frail, and
her temples were too distinctly veined
with purple. Ward told himself that il
was no wonder his Wilhemina acted
strained and unnatural. He meant to
work harder than ever and get his
stake SO that he could 60 and make
her give him the right to take care OF
her.
He began to figure the cost of COM
muting his homestead right away, so
that he would not have to "hold 1t
down" for another three years. Maybe
she would not want to bring her moth
err so far off the main road. In that
case he would go down and put that
Wolverine place in shape He had no
sQueamishness about living on her
ranch instead of his own If she want
ed it that way. He meant to be bet
ter "hooked up" financially than she
was and have more cattle when he put
the gold ring on her finger. Then he
would do whatever she wanted him to
do, and he would not have to cruelty
his pride doing it.
You see, they could not have quar-
relied. since Ward carried castles as
well as the blues. In fact, their part
Ing had given Ward an uneven pulse
for a mile, for Billy Louise had gone
with him as usual as far as the corral
when he started home. And when
Ward had picked up his reins and turn
ed to put his toe In the stirrup Billy
Louise had come close-to his very
shoulder. Ward had turned bis face
toward her, and Billy Louise-Billy
Louise had impulstvely taken his head
between her two hands, had looked
deep into his eyes and then had kissed
him wistfully on the lips. Then she
had turned and fed up the path, wav-
Ing him away up the trail. And. though
Ward never guessed that to her that
kiss was a penitent vow Of loyalty to
their friendship end slap in the face
of the doubt devils that still pursued
her weaker mon ents, 1t set him plan
ming harder tn Il ever for that stake
he must win b :ore he dared urge her
further toward 1atrimony.
It's wonder that the kiss did not
wipe out complet ely the somber mood
that held him. That 1t did not, but
served merely to tangle his thoughts in
most hopeless manner, perhaps
proves how gree tly the inner life Of
Billy Louise had changed her in those
- wnnkS.
She changed still more in the next two
months, however. There was the strain
Of her mother precarious health.
which kept Billy Louise always on the
alert and always trying to hide her
fears. She must be quick to detect the
first symptoms of return attack OF
the illness, and she must not let her
mother suspect that there was danger
Of return. That much the doctor had
made plain to her.
Besides that, there was an undercur.
rent Of gossip and rumors Of cattle
stealing whenever man stopped at
the ranch. 1t worried Billy Louise in
spite of her rebuilt belief in Ward.
Doubt. would seize her sometimes in
spite Of herself, and she did not see
Ward often enough to let his PERSONAL
ty fight those doubts. She saw him
Just once in the next two months and
then only for an hour or so.
A man rode up one night and stayed
with them until morning, after the
open handed custom Of the range land.
Billy Louise did not talk with him very
much. He had shifty eyes and
coarse, loose Tipped mouth and thick
neck, and, girl-like, she took violent
dislike to him. But John Pringle told
her afterward that he was Buck Olney.
the new stock inspector, and that he
was prowling around to see If he could
find out anything.
Billy Louise worried a good deal aft
er that. Once she rode out early with
the intention Of going to Wards claim
to warn him. But three miles of saner
thought changed her purpose. She
dared not leave her mother all day, for
one thing, anu for another she could
warn Ward without letting
him see that she felt he needed warn
Ing, and even Billy Louise shrank from
what might follow.
The stock inspector stopped again on
bis way back to the railroad. Billy
Louise was so anxious that she smoth.
cred her dislike and treated him nice
~, which thawed the man to an alarm
ing amiability. She questioned him art.
Billy Louise for that-and
she decided that the stock inspector
was either a very poor detective or a
very good actor. He did not, for in.
mention any corral hidden in
blind canyon away back in the hills,
md Billy Louise did not mention 1t.
either. He had not found any worked
brands. he said. And he did not appear
% know anything further about Ward
than the mere fact Of his existence.
There's fellow holding down a
lain away over on Mill creek" he
had remarked. "Fll look him up when
come back, though seabeck says he's
III right"
Ward Is all right" asserted Billy
Louise rather unwise1y.
Haven't q doubt Of 1t. thought
maybe he might have seen something |
tcontinued ~ PAGE sevsa.D