The Lamar register., 1918-03-27

with that Roaring BIZ took her in his
arms, cuddled her up close to him, and
kissed her, not once but many times.
"You really and truly came back.
little person." he murmured. Lord,
Lord-and Yet they say the day of
miracles is past"
''You didn't think I would, did you?"
she asked. with her blushing face snug
gled against his sturdy breast. "Sdn,
you gave me a map so that ! could
find the place"
THAT was just taking a desperate
chance. No, 1 never expected to see
you again. unless by accident" he said
honestly "And I've been crying the
hurt of it to the stars all the way back
from the coast. | only got here YES
terday. I pretty near passed up COM
Ing back at all. ! didn't soc how 1
could stay, with everything 10 remind
me of you. Say. but 1t looked like
lonesome hole. I used to love this
place-but l didn't love 1t last night.
1t seemed about the most checrless
and depressing spot l could have
picked. l think I SHOULD hnve ended
up by touching a match to the whole
business and hitting the trail TO some
new country. l don't know. I'm not
weak But don't think could have
stayed here long"
They stood silent in the doorway for
n long interval. Bill holding her close
to him, and she bllssfully contented,
careless and unthlnking of the future,
so filed was she with JOY of the pres
ent.
"Do you love me much, little per-
SOM" Bill asked. after little.
She nodded vigorous assent.
"Why?" he desired TO know.
"0h, Just because-because you're a
man, suppose" she returned mischie-
vously.
"The worlds chuck-full of men,"
Bill observed.
surely" she looked up at him. But
they're not like you. Maybe it's bad
policy to start In hattering you, but
there aren't many men of your type,
Billy-boy; big and strong and capable,
and ut the same time kind and patient
and able to understand things. things
n woman can't always put into words
Last fall you hurt my pride and nearly
scared me to death by carrying me OF
in that lawless. headlong fashion of
yours. But you seemed to know Just
how / felt about 1t. and you played
fairer than any man ever knew
would have done under the same cir
cumstanees. / didn't realize II until /
got back into the civilized world. And
then all at once found myself longing
for you-and for these old forests and
the mountains and all. So ! came
back"
"wise girl" he kissed her. you'll
never be sorry, hope. II took some
nerve. too. It's a long trail from here
to the outside. But this north coun-
try-it gets In your blood-lf your
blood's red-nnd l don't think there's
any water In your veins. little person.
Lord I'm afraid to let go OF you for
fear you'll vanish into nothing, like
Hindu fakir stunt"
mo fear" Hazel laughed. 'Tve got
pony tied to a tree out there, and
four Siwashes and a camp outfit over
by Crooked lake. II / should vanish
I'd leave a plain trnil for you to fol-
low"
Well" Bill said. after a short ST.
lence, ats hundred and forty miles
to Hudson's Bay post where there's
a mission and preacher. Let's be on
our way and get married. Then wen
come back here and spend our honey
moon, ehf"
She nodded assent.
"Are you game TO start in half an
hourf" he asked, holding her OF at
arms length admiringly.
"Tm game for anything, or wouldn't
be here" she retorted.
"All right. You Just watch an ex-
hibItion of speedy packing" Bill de-
clared-and straightway fell to work.
Hazel followed him about, helping TO
get the kyaks packed with food. They
caught the three horses, and Bill
stripped the pony Of Hazers riding
gear and placed II pack on him. Then
he put her saddle on SILK.
Hes your private mount hence
forth" Bill told her laughingly. you'll
ride him with more pleasure than you
did the first time. won't youT'
Presently they were ready to start.
planning to ride past Limping Georges
camp and tell him whittier they were
bound. Hazel was already mounted.
Roaring Bill paused. with his toe in