Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-02-01

another story, as you've just been lind |
ing out for yourself"
81 thought men accustomed to the |
wilderness could always find their way |
about, day or night" Hazel observed |
tartly.
"They can-ln stories," Bill an
swered dryly.
She had to be satisfied with his as
surance that he would see her to Carl
boo Meadows. And, accepting the stu
alton with what philosophy she could
command, Hazel proceeded to fall to
and so9n 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 flavor of its 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, ne poured her
a cup of coffee He had a small sack
of sugar, and his pack boxes yielded
condensed milk.
"What sort of meat is thatF Hazel
asked after a few minutes of silence.
It was fine-grained and of rich ia
vor strange to her mouth. She liked
it. but it was neither beef, pork nor
mutton, nor any meat she knew.
"Venison. Didn't you ever eat any
before?' he smiled.
"Never tasted it," she answered.
isn't it nice? No. I've read of hunters
cooking venison over an open fire. nut
this is my first taste. Indeed, I've
never seen a real camp fire before"
'Lord-what a lot you've missed J"
There was real pity in his tone. Il
| killed that deer today. Have some
more coffee"
He refilled her tin cup, and devoted
himself to his food. Before long they
had satisfied their hunger. Bill laid
few dry sticks on the fire. The flames
laid hold of them and shot up in bright,
wavering 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
man, so that she could fare into the
wilds with horses and gun in this
capable man fashion, where routine
went by the board and the unexpected
hovered always close at hand. She
looked up suddenly, to find him regard
ing her with a whimsical smile.
"In a few minutes" said he, I'll
pack up and try to deliver you as per
contract. Meantime, I'm going to
smoke"
He did not ask her permission, but
filed his pipe and lighted it with a
coal. And for the succeeding fifteen
minutes Roaring Bill Wagstaff sat
staring into the dancing blaze. Hazel
watched him uneasily after a time. He
seemed to have forgotten her. His
pipe died, and he sat holding it in his
hand. She was uneasy, but not afraid.
There was nothing about him or his
actions to make her fear. On the con-
trary, Roaring Bill at close quarters
inspired confidence.
In the midst of her reflections he
got up.
"Well. we'll make move" he said,
and disappeared abruptly into the
darkness.
She heard him moving around at
some distance. Presently he was back
leading three horses. One he saddled
The other two he rigged with his pack
outfit. storing his varied belongings in
the two pair of kyaks, and loading
kyaks and bedding on the horses with
deft speed that bespoke long prac
tice. He was too busy to talk, ant
Hazel sat beside the fire, watching il
silence. When he had tucked up the
last rope end, he turned to her.
"There," he said; we're ready to hi
the trail Can you ride?"
81 don't know" Fazel answered du
biously. 81 have never ridden horse
"My, my!' he smiled "Your educa
. ton has been sadly neglected-and yo'
, schoolma' am, tOow
"My walking education hasn't beel
, neglected" Hazel retorted. Il don
; need to ride, thank you"
> 'Yes, and stub your toe and fal
! down every ten feet" Bill observed
''No, Miss Weir, your first lesson Il
horsemanship is now due-if you aren'
afraid of horses"
"rm not afraid of horses at all,
. Hazel declared. 'But 1 don't think it
very good place to take riding le:
sons. / can just as well walk, for II
, not in the least afraid" And then sh
n added as an afterthought: "How
you happen to know my name"
h SIN the same way that you kno'
4 mine," Bill replied, "even if you haven
mentioned it yet. Lord bless you,
you suppose Cariboo Meadows coul
!, import lady school teacher from tn
a civilized East without everybody
q fifty miles knowing who she was, an
a where she came from, and what sh
a looked like? l guess you don't reali7
o what old granny gOssips we wild Yves
erners are. Especially where girls al
4, concerned"
- Hazel stiffened a trifle. She d
L not like the idea of Cariboo Meadow
& discussing her with such freedom.
p "Well," said he, Eve won't argue Il
point"
He disappeared into the dark agai
This time he came back with Il
crown of his hat full of water. whit
he sprinkled over the dwindling fiji
AS the red glow of the embers fad,
in sputter of steam and ashes, Haz
realized more profoundly the blackne
of n cloudy night in the woods.
'It's going to be nasty travelin
Miss Weir" Roaring Bill spoke at h
elbow. "I'll walk and lead the pacl
You ride Silk. He's gentle. Az "
have to do is sit still, and he'll st
right behind the packs I'll help y
mount"
If Hazel ha1 still been inclined to
sist on walking, she had no chance
debate the question. Bill took her
the arm and led her up beside t
horse. Il was a unique experience t
her, this being compelled to do thini
No man had ever issued ultimatums
her. But here was Roaring Bill WI
staff telling her how to put her foot
the stirrup, putting her for the fl
time in her life astride horse, wal
ing her to duck low branches. In
nq mind there seemed tO he no ul1esti