American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-29
toopynsht By Little, Brown and Company
CHAPTER n.


DLuE led the way straight 70 the
ID low. dirt rooted stable OF logs and
stopped with bis nose against the
closed door. Bily Louise herself was
deceived by the whirl Of snow and
would have missed the stable entirely
n the leadership had been hers. She
patted Blue gratefully on the shoulder
when she unsaddled him. She CROPPED
with her fingers for the wooden peg In
the wan where the saddle should hang.
failed 10 ind II and 80 laid the saddle
down against the logs and covered II
with the blanket.
Just turn your horse IN loose" she
directed the man shortly. blue won't
fight. and think the rest OF the horses
are IN the other part. And come ON TO
the house."
II pleased her a little 10 see that he
obeyed her without protest. but she
was not so pleased at his silence. and
she led the way rather Indignantly to-
ward the winking eye which was the
cabins window.
AT the sound OF their feet on the
wide doorstep her mother pulled open
the door and stood fair ia the light.
looking out with an anxious look.
rs that you. Billy Louise7 Oh. amt
Peter Howllng Dog with your What
makes you 80 terrible late, Billy
Loulse7 Come right in. stranger /
don't know your name. but | don't
need 10 know Il. A storm like this IL
all the Introduction a fellow needs. 1
guess"
"what about Peterr' Billy Louise
asked. Isn't he here7"
"No. and he amt been since an hour
or 80 after you left. lie saddled up
and rode on down the river. 10 the res
eryation, l reckon"
Then the chores aren't done. l sup
pose" billy Louise went over and
took a lantern down from It's nail.
turning up the wick 80 that she could
light II with the candle. "GO up TO
the fire and thaw out" she invited the
man. Wen have supper in a few
minutes"
Instead he reached out and took the
lantern from her as soon AS she had
lighted Il. You 40 20 the fire your
SELF" he said. I'm do what's neces.
sary outside"
Why Billy louise, her fingers
,still cllnging 20 the lantern, looked up
at him. He was staring down at her
with that intent look she had objected
60 on the trail. but she saw his mouth
and the iittle smile that hid Just back
OF his lips. She smiled back without
knowing II. 'rn have to go along.
anyway. There are cows TO milk. and
you couldn't very well find the COW
stable alone"
Think notl"
Together they went out again into
the storm they had left 80 eagerly.
Hilly Louise showed him where was
tho pitchtork and the hay and then
did the milking while he piled fun tho
managers. After that they went to-
gether and turned the shiyering work
horses into the stable from the corral
where they huddled. rumps 20 tho
storm, aud the man lifted great fork.
uis u hay and carried Il into their
stalls, while Billy Louise held the Ian.
tern high over her head like "A western
Liberty. They did not talk much. ex.
cept when there was need for speech,
but they were beginning 10 feel a ut.
tie glow OF companionship by the time
they were ready 90 fight their way
against the blizzard 20 the house. Bily
Louise going before with the lantern.
while the man followed close behind,
carrying the two pals Of milk that
was already freezing in little crystals
20 the tin
u didn't quite catch your name. mis-.
ter Mrs Macdonald said after they
had begun the meal but take a
other biscuit. anyway"
Warren Is my name" returned the
man, with that hidden smile because
she had never before given him any
opportunity 90 tell it-"Ward Warren
I've got a claim over on Mn creek"
BILLY Louise gave a little gasp and
.distractedly poured two ~spoonfuls Of
sugar In her tea. although she hated Il
'sweetened.
I've got % tell you why even at the
price ~ depression. Long ago. when
Billy Louise was twelve or SO and
lived largely IN a dream world OF he,
own. she had one day CHANGED upon 4
paragraph an a paper that had come,
from town wrapped around a package,
of matches. Il was all about Wart
Warren. The name caught her fancy
and the text q the paragraph seized
upon her imagination. Until schoo
filled her mind with other things sd,
had built adventures without end n
which Ward Warren was the eentra
figure. Sometimes, when she o d n
the hills, Ward Warren abducted he
and led her into strange places, wher