Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-04-05

often and often, however, Ward War.
rem was 4 fugitive who came to her
for help Then she would take him 10
q cave and hide him, perhaps, or she
would mount her horse and lead him
BY devious ways to safety. and upoa
some hilltop from which she could
point out the route he must follow she
would bid him a touching adieu and
beseech him In the impossible Ian
guage Of some old rOmancer to 70 and
lead blameless life
"Jase has got all gone feelings nov,
mOmmie." Billy Louise remarked irrel-
evantly during brief pause and 70
lapsed into silence again. She knew
that was good for at least five minutes
Of straight mOnOlogue with her mother
In that talking mood. She finished her
supper while Warren listened abstract
edly to a complete biography Of the
Meflkes and earned all about MARTINS
energy and Jase's shiftlessness.
Ward Warrenr' Billy Louise was
saying to herself. Ward Warren,
There couldn't possibly be two Ward
Warrens: it's such an odd name.
Wen"
Then she went mentally over thai
paragraph She wished she did not
remember every single word Of 1t, but
she did. And she was afraid to look
at him after that, and she wanted to
dreadfully. She felt as though he b.
longed to her. Why. he was her old
playmate! And she had aved his life
hundreds Of times at immense risk 10
hers. and he had always been her de-
voted slave afterward and never failed
to appear at the precise moment when
she was beset by Indians or robbees
or something and In dire need. The.
blood he had shed in her behalfr At
that point Billy Louise startled her
self and the others by suddenly laugh
ing out loud at the memory of one
time when Ward Warren had killed
enough Indians to all q deep washout
SO that he might carry her across to,
the other side!
rs there anything funny about Jase-
Meilke dying, Billy Louisef" her moth
er asked her In perfectly shocked:
tone.
mo. I was thinking Of something
else" She glanced at the man eying.
her 30 distrustfully from across the IA
BILE and gurgled again. It was terribly
silly, but she simply could not help .
seeing Ward Warren calmly filing that
washout with dead Indians 80 that he ,
might carry her ACROSS It In bis arms.
The more she tried to forget that the
funnfer It became She ended by leav-
ing the table and retiring precipitately
to her own tiny room In the lean-to
where she buried her tsce rs deep az
It would go m . puffy pillow Of wild
duck feathers.
He, poor devil, could not be expected
to know just what had amused her
30. He did know that IL somehow con-
cerned himself, however. He took uD
his position mentally behind the wall
Of alOOfness which stood, between him
self and an unfriendly world. and when
Billy Louise came out later to help
with the dishes he was sitting alb
sOrbed In q book.
The next morning the blizzard ragged,
20 that Warren stayed As q matter Of
course. Peter Howling Dog had not
returned. SO Warren did the chores
and would not let Billy Louise help
with anything.
II wish We could get him to stay
an winter instead Of that Peter Howl
ing Dog" Mrs.. Macdonald said anx-
iOusly after he had gone out. II just
know Peters on drinking. don't
think he's safe man to have around.
Billy Louise. didn't when you hired
him. haven't felt easy 4 minute
with him on the place. I wish you'd
hire Mr.. Warren. Billy Louise. Hes
nice and quiet
And he's got 4 raRch Of his own.
He doesn't strike me a. . man who
wants q job milking two cows and
carrying slOp to the pigs. mommie."
".Well, I'd feel lot easier II we had
him instead Of that breed. Only We
amt even got the breed half the time
This Is the third time he's disappeared
In the two months we've had him.
really think you ought to speak to Mr..
Warren. Billy Louise"
Speak to him yourself. You're the
one that wants him." Billy Louise an
swered somewhat sharply She adored
her mother. but II she had to run tho
ranch she did wish her mother would
not interfere and give advice just at
the wrong time.
"Well, you needn't be cross about It.
You know yourself that Peter can't -
depended on q minute. There he went
on yesterday and never fed the pisx =
their noon slop, and had to carry Il
out myself. And ny lumbago haA
bothered me ever since. just like 1t
was going to give me another spell
You can't be here all the time, Billy
Louise = leastways you amt = aaAa
Peter
''Oh, good gracious. mommie told;
you to hire the man II you want hin.
Only Ward Warren isn't"-
Ward Warren pushed open the door
and looked from one to the other. hia.
eyes two question marks. isn't
whatw he asked and shut the door
behind him with the air Of one who ~
ready for anything.
Isn't the kind Of man who wants tn
hire ont tO do chOrQn" RIily I.nmiassi