Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-03-29
CHAPTER xnl-continued.

We - ANAa 1NAA
despair. II seemed that what women
resided In Hazelton gust invariably
dress in Mother Hubbard gowns of
cheap cotton print with other gar
ments to match. But eventually they
found for her undergarments OF a
sort, n waist and skirt, and a comfort
able pair of shoes. Hats, as n milliner
would understand the term, there were
none. And in default of such she
stuck to the gray felt sombrero she
had worn into the Klappan and out
again-which. in truth, became her
very well, when tilted Mt the proper
angle above her heavy black hair.
Then she went back to the hotel, and
sought a bathroom.
Returning from this she found Bill,
a Bill all shaved and shorn, unloading
himself of sundry packages of new
attire.
AHA. everything is lovely he greet
cd. "Old Hack jumped at the pelts,
and paid a fat price for the lot. Also
the ranch deal has gUne through. He's
Il prince, old Hack. Sent up a man
nv htAN ~ VI NCyCh III NiNASSAhNA
and the deed waiting for me. And
oh, say, here's a letter for you"
For mel Oh. yes" as she looked
at the handwriting and postmark. 81
wrote to Lorraine Marsh when we were
going north. Good heavens, look at
Ahe date-lt's been here since last Sep
yember! !"
"Hackaberry knew where we we're"
Bill explained. sometimes in camps
like this they hold mail two or three
years for men that have gone into the
Interior"
She put aside the letter, and dressed
while Bill had his bath. Then, with
the smoke and CRIME of a hard trail
obliteroted, and with decent clothes
upon them, they sought the dining
There. while they waited to be
served, Hazel read Lorraine Marsh's
letter, and passed IL to Bill with a
self-conscious little laugh.
There's an Invitation there we
might accept she said casually.
He returned the letter as the wait
ress brought their food.
"Wouldn't 1t be nice to take d trip
homer" Hazel suggested th~oughtfully.
"rd love to-
"we are going home" Bill reminded
gently.
"Oh, Of course" she smiled. But
l mean to Granville. I'd like to so
back there with you for u while, just
to-iust to-"
$40 show EN- he supplied lacon-
lcally.
"Oh, Bill" she pouted.
Nevertheless, she could not deny
that there was a measure of truth in
his brief remark. She did want to
"show en-
She looked across the table at hel
husband, and thought to herself with
proud satisfaction that she had done
well. Viewed from any angle whatsO
ever, Bill Wagstaff stood head and
shoulders above all the men she had
ever known. Big, physically and men.
tally, clean-minded and capable-in.
dubitably she had captured II lion
and. though she might have denied
stoutly the imputation, she wanted
Granville to see her lion and hear hin
roar.
"Still thinking Granville?" Bill
queried, when they had finished al
u%ncominonly silent meal.
Hazel flushed slightly. She was
and ~momcntarily she felt that sh,
should have been thinking of their lit
tie nest up by Pine River Pass instead
She knew that Bill was homlng to the
cabin. She herself regarded il Will
affection. but of a different degree iron
his. Her mind was more occupied
with another. more palpitating circl,
OF life than was possible at the cabin
much rs she appreciated its green ant
peaceful beauty. The sack of goll
lying In the bank had somehow opene,
up far-tluag possibilities. She skippe,
the interval Of affairs which she knew
must be attended to, and betoOk her
self and Bill TO Granville, thence t
the bigger. older cities, where none.
shouted In the voice If command
where all things were possible to thos
who had the price.
But she was beginning to know
this husband of hers too well TO pre-
pose anything of the sort abruptly
Behind his tenderness and patienc
she had sometimes gllmpsed some
thing ~inficxible. unylelding as the wi
derness he loved. SO she merely al
swered:
in a way. yes"
Lets go outside where | can smOk
n decent cigar on top of this fairl
decent NEAL he suggested. "The
wen figure on the next move. / thin
about twsnty-four hours in Hazelto
will do me. There's a steamer goe
down-riycF tomorrow"
Four days later they stood on til
deck OF u grimy little steamer breas
ing the outgoing tide that surge
through the First Narrows. Present.
they swung around Brockton Poln
and Vancouver spread its penlnsul,
clutter before them. Tugs an
launches pulled by. about their harb,
traffic. A ferry clustered black wit
people hurried across the inlet. 81
even above the harbor noises. acroi
the Intervening distance they cou.
hear the vibrant hum of the indu
trial hive.
She had no regrets when Bill co
fined their stay 10 the time necessal
70 turn his gold into n bank accoun
and allow her to buy a trunkful, mo.
OF less. Of pretty clothes. Then tn,
bore on eastward and halted at As
croft. Bill had refused to comm
himself positively to a date for Il
eastern pilgrimage. He wanted to 81
the cabin again. For that matter 81
did. tOo-so that their s%ojourn the
did not carry them over another wi
ter.
From Ashcroft an auto stage whlrl
them swiftly into the heart of Il
Cariboo country-to Quesnelle, whe
Bill purchased four head of horses
nm afternoon, packed, saddled. and ]
the trail at daylight in the morning.
The vanguard of the land hung
had already penetrated to Fort GeorI
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