Western Kansas world., 1918-03-28

dering around in the woods at nigh? !?
Good Lordi Your teeth are chattering.
Sit down here and get warm 1t is sort
of chilly
Even in her fear, born or the night.
the circumstances. and partly of the
man, Hazel noticed that his speech was
of different order from that to which
she had been listening the past ten
days His enunciation was perfect.
He dropped no word endings, nor
slurred his syllables. And cast in so
odd a mold is the mind of civilized
woman that the small matter of little
refinement of speech put Hazel Weir
more Mt her ease than a volume of
explanation or protest on his part
would have done.
Il got lost" she explained. growing
suddenly calm- 81 was out walking,
and lost my way"
easy thing to do when-you don't
know timber" Bill remarked. "And in
consequence you haven't had any sup
per: you've been. scared almost to
death-and probably ell of Cariboo
Meadows is out looking for you. Well,
you've had an adventure. That's worth
something. Better eat a bite, and
you'll feel better"
ne over Tie piece VI meat on
the Goals while he spoke. Hazel saw
that it lay on two green sticks, like a
steak on gridiron. 1t was quite
thought of that. The meat exhaled
savory odors. Also. the warmth of the
fire seemed good. But
I'D rather be home" she confessed
''Surel 1 guess you would-natu-
of
though it won't be easy. It's no snap
to travel these woods in the dark. You
couldn't have been so far from the
Meadows. How did it come you didn't
yell once in a while?"
ST didn't think it was necessary"
Hazel admitted, until it began to get
dark. And then didn't like to-"
He dug some utensils out of his pack
| layout-two plates, knife, fork and
spoons. and laid them by the fire. OPP
posite the meat a pot of water bubbled.
Roaring Bill produced a small tin
| bucket, black with the smoke of many
an open fire, and a package, and make
coffee. Then he spread a canvas sheet,
and laid on that bread, butter, salt, a
! jar of preserved fruit.
''How far is it to Cariboo Meadows?'
| Hazel asked.
Bill looked up from his supper prep
| arations.
you've got me-" he returned care
| lessly. Probably four or five miles.
I'm not positive; I've been running in
circles myself this. afternoon"
"Good heavensl" Hazel exclaimed.
| 'But you know the way?'
Like a book-in the daytime" he
replied. "But night in the timber is
another story, as you've just been find
ing out for yourself"
tI thought men accustomed to the
wilderness could always find their way
about, day or night" Hazel observed
| tartly.
'They can-in stories," Bill an
swered dryly.
She had to be satisfied with his as
| surance that he would see hef to Carl
boo Meadows. And. accepting the situ-
alton with what philosophy she could
command, Hazel proceeded to fall to
and soon discovered herself relishing
the food more than any meal she had
eaten for a long time. Hunger is the
king of appetizers, and food cooked in
| the open has q flavor of it's own which
no aproned chef can duplicate. Roar
! ing Bill put half the piece of meat on
her plate, sliced bread for her, and set
| the butter handy. Also, he poured her
! q cup of coffee. He had a small sack
of sugar. and his pack boxes yielded
condensed milk.
'What sort of meat is that?' Hazel
asked after few minutes of silence.
| 1t was fne-grained and of a rich fla
vor strange to her mouth She liked
| it, but 1T was neither beef. pork nor
mutton, nor any meat she knew.
"Venison. Didn't you ever eat any
| before 2" he smiled.
'sNever tasted it" she answered.
| isn't 1T nice? No, I've read of hunters
| cooking venison over an open fire, hut
this is my first taste. Indeed. I've
never seen real camp fire before.
] 'Lord-what a lot you've missed -
| There was real pity in his tone Il
/ killed that deer today Have some
more coffee
!. He refiIled her tin cup. and devoted
| himself TO his food. Before long they
| had satisfied their hunger. Bill laid
n few dry sticks on the fire. The flames
laid hold of-tllem and shot up in bright,
wayering tongues. 1t seemed to Hazel
| that she had stepped utterly out of her
world. Cariboo Meadows. the school,
house. and her classes seemed remote
| She found herself wishing she were a
man. so that she could fare into the
1 wildS with horses and gun in this
L