Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-01-02

the canon. A ten-dollar bill made
them possessors of another canoe, and
an hour later the roofs Of Hazelton
cropped up above the bank.
"Un, Bill" Hazel called FROM the
bow. Look! There's the same old
steamer tied to the same old bank.
We've been gone a year, and yet the
world hasn't changed a mite. 1 Won
der if Iiazelton has taken a Rip van
Wrinkle sleep all this timer"
mo fear,v he smiled. II can see
some new houses-quite a few, i'll fact.
And look-by Jimmy! They're work.
ing on the grade. That railroad, re-
member"
He drove the canoe alongside a float.
A few loungers viewed them with
frank curiosity. Bill set out the treas
the canoe.
"a new hotel, by Jove" lie re-
marked, when upon gaining the level
of the town a new two-story building
blazoned with a huge sign Its func-
ton as a hostelry. "Getting quite
"ClAOpOllldu III l1AlS uCSh VI lac NOONSs
Say, little person, do you think you
can relish a square meal? Planked
steak and lobster salad-huh? I Won
der if they could rustic a salad in this
mans town? Say, do you know I'm
just beginning to find out how hungry
1 am for the flesh-pots. Aren't you,
hon?"
She was; frankly so. For long,
monotollous months she had been
struggling against just such ere wings,
impossible of realization, and there
fore all the more tantalizing. She had
been a year in the wilderness, and
the wilderness had not only lost its
glamor, but had become a thing to
flee from. She bestowed a glad pres
sure on her husbands arm as they
walked up the street, Bill carrying the
sack of gold perched carelessly on one
shoulder.
"Say, their enterprise has gone the
length of establishing a branch bank
here, 1 see"
He called her attention to a square
footed editice, its new-boarded wallis
as yet guiltless of paint, except where
a row Of black letters set forth that
it was the Bank Of British North
America.
That's u good place to stow this
bullion" he remarked. 81 want to get
it off my hands"
So to the bank they bent their steps.
A solemn, ]horse-faced Englishman
weighed the gold, and issued Bill a re-
ceipt, expressing a polite regret that
lack Of facility to determine it's fine
ness prevented him from converting it
into cash.
"That means a trip to Vancouver"
Bill remarked outside. "Well, we car
stand that"
From the bank they went to the
hotel. registered. and were shown to
a room. For the first time since the
summit of the Klappan Range, where
her tiny hand glass had suffered dis
aster, Hazel was permitted a clear
| view of herself in Il mirror.
I'm a perfect fright !" she mourned.
"Huh!" Bill grunted. you're all
right. Look ut me-" ....
The trail had dealt hardly with both,
in the matter of their personal appear
ance. Tanned to an abiding brown,
they We're, and Ii:lZcl'S one-time
smooth face was spotted with fly bites
and marked with certain scratches
suffered in the brush as they skirted
the Kispiox. Her hair had lost it's
sleek, glossy smoothness Of arrange
ment. Her hands were redeemed and
rough. But chiefly she was concerned
with the sad state of ner apparel. She
had come Il matter Of four hundred
miles in the clothes on her back-and
they bore unequivocal evidence of the
journey.
TN a perfect fright" she repeated
pettishly. zones manners, morals,
clothing, and complexion all suffer
from too close contact with your be-
loved North, Bill"
"Thanks!" he returned shortly. *
suppose I'm a perfect fright, too. Long
hair, whiskers, grimy, calloused hands,
and all the rest of it. A shave and u
hair cut, a bath and a new suit of
clothes will remedy that. But I'll be
the same personality in every essential
quality that l was when l sweated
over the Klappan with a hundred
pounds IN my back"
II hope So" she retorted. Il don't
require the shave, thank goodness, but
l certainly need a bath-and clothes.
l wish I had the gray suit that's prob
ably getting all moldy and moth-eaten
at the Pine River cabin. I wonder IL
1 can get anything fit to wear hereT'
women live here" Bill returned
quietly, land l suppose the stores sup
ply 'em with buds. Unlimber that
bank roll of yours, and do ONE shop
ping" i
She sat on the edge Of the bed, re-
| garding her reflection in the mirror
with extreme disfav0r. Bill fingered
his thick stubble of a beard for q
thoughtful minute. Then he sat down
beside her.
whats a mOlluh. hOn?" he wheed-
led. what makes you such a crosssr
Dat ch oil af Nnpo9o