The Benson signal. [volume] (Benson, Cochise County, Ariz.) 1915-1921, 1918-10-19

dentafly rested on hers. You're uk0
ice. I didn't think about you getting
cold riding. Get down and put on
coat, and I'll have fire In minute"
II suppose if I must, must; but I
can get off without any help, thank
you," Hazel answered ungraciously.
Roaring Bill made no reply, but
stood back, and when her feet touched
solid earth he threw over her shoulders
the coat he had worn himself. Then
he turned away, and Hazel saw him
STOPPING here and there, and heard
the crack Of dry sticks broken over
his knee. In no time he was back to
the horses with an armful Of dry stun,
and had a small blaze licking up
through dry grass and twigs. As it
grew he piled on larger sticks till the
bright flame waved two feet high,
lighting up the nearby woods and
shedding bright glow on the three
horses standing patiently at hand. He
paid no attention to Hazel until she
came timidly up to the fire. Then he
looked up at her with his whimsical
smile.
"That's right" he said; "come on
and get warm. No use worrying-or
getting cross. I suppose from your
civilized, conventional point Of view
it's q terrible thing to be out in the
woods all night alone with strange
man. But I'm not bear-I won't eat
you."
I'm sorry If seemed rude" Hazel
said penitently: 81 can't help thinking
Of the disagreeable side of it. People
talk so. I suppose I'll be a nine days
wonder in Cariboo Meadows"
Bill laughed softly.
'Let them take it out in wondering"
he advised. "Cariboo Meadows is q
very small and Insignificant portion Of
the world, anyway"
He went to one of the packs, and
came back with canvas cover, which
he spread on the ground.
"Sit on that" he said. '"The earth's
always damp in the woods"
Then he stripped the horses Of their
burdens and tied them out of sight
among the trees. That task finished,
he took an ak and rustled q pile Of
wood, dragging dead poles up to the
fire and chopping them into short
lengths. When finally he laid aside
his ak, he busted himself with gather
Ing grass and leaves and pine needles
until he had several armfuls collected
and spread in an even pile to serve as
mattress. Upon this he laid his bed
ding, two thick quilts, two or three
pairs Of wooden blankets, pillow, the
whole inclosed with q long canvas
sheet, the bed tarpaulin Of the cattle
ranges.
"There," he said; "you can turn in
whenever you feel like it."
| For himself he took the saddle blan.
kets and laid them close by the fire
within reaching distance of the wood
pile, taking for cover a pack canvas
He stretched himself full length filled
his pipe, lit 1t, and fell to staring into
the fire while he smoked. %
Half an hour later he raised his
head and looked across the fire at
Hazel.
"Why don't you go to bed?" he
asked. ,t
'Tm not sleepy" she declared, which
was palpable falsehood, for her eye.
lids were even then dropping.
| "Maybe not. but you need rest" Bill
said quietly. ."Quit thinking things.
It'll be all the same hundred years
from now. Go on to bed. You'll be
more comfortable"
Thus peremptorily commanded, Ha.
Eel found herself granting instant ODE
dience. She got into the blankets just
as she stood, even to her shoes, and
drew the canvas sheet up so that it
hid her face-but did not prevent her
| from seeing.
In spite Of herself she slept ftfully.
Now and then she would wake with a
start to half-frightened realization
OF her surroundings and plight, and
whenever she did wake and look past
the fire 1t was to see Roaring Bill Wag-
staff stretched out in the red glow, his
brown head pillowed on one folded
arm.
Then all at once she Weakened out Of
sound slumber with a violent start.
Roaring Bill was shaking the tarpau-
lin over her and laughing.
"Arise, Miss Sleeping Beautyl" he
said boyishly. breakfasts ready"
He went back to the fire. Hazel sat
up. patting her tousled hair into some
semblance of order. Off in the east
reddish streak spread skyward into
somber gray. In the west, black night
gave ground slowly. -
swell, it's another day." she whis.
pered, as she had whispered to herself
once before. 81 wonder If there will
ever be any more like it?"