Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-01-02
Copyright by Little, Brown 8 Co..

1OuSll Ou Nou W IN q SSuA Vul VI
your life and leave it in a country
where there's nothing but woods and
eternal silence-but we've got around
twenty thousand dollars to show for
it. Hazel. And one can't get some
thing for nothing. There's a price
mark on it somewhere, always. Be
my good little pal-and see if you can't
make one Of these stores dig up q
white waist and a black skirt, like you
had on the first time I saw you"
He kissed her, and went quickly out.
And after a long time of sober staring
at her image in the glass Hazel shook
herself fmpatiently.
I'm a silly, selfish, incompetent lit
tie beast" she whispered. bill ought
to thump me, instead Of being kind.
i can't do anything, and I don't know
much, and I'm a scarecrow for looks
right now And I started out to be a
real partner.v
She wiped an Grant tear away, and
made her way to a store. The stock
of ready-made clothing drove her to
despair. 1t seemed that what women
resided In Hazelton must 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, a waist and skirt, and a comfort
able pair of shoes. Hats, as q 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 at the proper
angle above her heavy black hair.
Then she went back to the hotel, and
sought q 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,S he greet
ed. "Old Hack jumped at the pelts,
and paid a fat price for the lot. Also
the ranch deal has gyne through. He's
a prince, old Hack. Sent up a man
and had it surveyed and classified
and the deed waiting for me. And
oh, say, here's a letter for YOU"
"For me? Oh, yes" as she looked
at the handwriting and postmarl.. IT
wrote to Lorraine Marsh when we were
going north. Good heavens, look at
the date.-it's been here since last Sep
TENDER! !"
"Hackaberry knew where we were,"
Bill explained. "Somctimcs 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
obliterated, and with decent clothes
upon them, they sought the dining
room. There, while they waited to be
served, Hazel read Lorraine Marsh's
letter, and passed it to Bill with a
s-elf-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 it be nice to take a trip
homer? Hazel suggested thoughtfully.
'.I'd love to-"
1--WE are going home,y Bill reminded
gently.
"Oh, Of course,v she smiled. "But
I mean to Granville. I'd like to go
back there with you for a while, Just
to-just to"
ITO show EN-" he supplied lacon-
acally.
"Oh, Bill" she pouted.
Nevertheless, she could not deny
that there was a measure of truth In
his brief remark. She did want to
Hshow 'em."
She looked acros the table at hel
husband, and thought to herself with
proud satisfaction that she had done
Uell. Viewed from any angle whatso
ever. Bill Wagstaff stood head anG
shoulders above all the men she 'haC
ever known. Big. physically and men
tally, clean-minded and capable-in
dubitably she had captured a lion
and, though she might have denied
gtoutly the %imputation, she wantet
Granville to see her lion and hear hin
goar.
''Still thinking Granville?" Bill
queried, when they had finished al
uncommonly silent meal.
Hazel flushed slightly. She was
ana momentarily she felt that sh'
should have been thinking Of their lit
tie nest up by Pine River Pass instead
She knew that Bill was homing to tn,
cabin. She herself regarded it wit
affection, but Of a different degree fron
his. Her mind was more occupies
with another, more palpitating circl
Of life than was possible at the cabir
much as she appreciated its green an
peaceful beauty. The sack of gol
tying In the bank had somehow opene
MP ~far-lung possibilities. She skippe
the interval of affairs which she kne,
must be attended to, and betook hei
self and Bill to Granville. thence t