The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-01-06

square meal an a sleep an ~. of
western hospitality. Places. too. II
you like. where there are men to say
a good word for AIeck McCrae. HOws
that suit your"
Harris took his friends hand in a
warm grip. He rightly guessed that
McCrae was not bartering his services
for hospitality. but was making il
easy for Harris to accept them by ap-
pearing to bargain for service in re-
turn. So they shook hands together
on the side of the bank overlooking
the little cOuiee, and as they looked
in each Others eyes Harris realized
for the first time that McCrae was
still a young man. A sense Of COM
radeship came over him-a feeling
that this man was more Of a brother
than a father. With admiring eyes
he looked on McCrae's fine face. his
broad shoulders. his wonderful ply
sique, and the question he asked
sprang from his lips before he could
arrest it.
why don't you get married, Mace"
"WhO. me?" said McCrae, laughing;
but Harris detected a tone in his
voice that was not all happiness, and
the thought came TO him that Nc
Crae's craving for hospitality might
root deeper than he supposed.
Its long ride to the land Office"
continued McCrae. IAN you can't file
minute too soon. We'd better find
corner post an make sure Of the num-
Der of this section, an put as much
road behind US as we can tonight
After filing at the land Office Harris
returned at once to the Arthurs' home
stead. The news that the Harrises
were to be neighbors within 40 miles
was received with enthusiasm by both
Fred and Lillian Arthurs. But Har-
ris was now consumed with a burning
energy; he allowed himself only
precious half day at the home of the
Arthurses, babe his wife an affection
ate farewell. and, with a CHEEKY good
by to the warm friends on the home
stead, he was away down the trail to
Emerson.
On arrival at Emerson one of the
first men he met was Tom Morrison.
The two pioneers shook hands warm
~. and in few words Harris told of
having selected his claim, waxing en-
thuSiastic over the locality in which
his lot was to be cast.
81 must get out there myself" said
Morrison.
DO" Harris urged. There are
some other fine quarters in the neigh
borhood, and nothing would be better
than to have you on one of them
The west-bOund trip was made in
good time. although not without diff
Guilty at some points in the road, and
before the tenth of April Harris was
back under the shelter of Arthurs'
roof. He was for pressing on alone in
the morning, but he found that his
wife had made all her plans to ac-
company him and would listen neither
to persuasion nor reason.
But, Mary, there's no house. and no
shelter, and no eighbors-nOthing but
sky and grass as far as you can see!
"AlI the more reason I should CO."
she answered. IF you have to rough
it in the open you at least deserve
your meals cooked for you. and such
other help as woman can give.
really must be with you. I really
must, john and you know-Fm go
ing"
So at last he consented. The sup
plies of provisions were increased. and
together they set out to wrestle their
fortunes from the wilderness.
On arrival at the homestead the
young wife Immediately gave evidence
that she intended to bear her full
share of the pioneers duties. a COM
paratively dry spot was found among
the little poplars. and here she built
tent with blankets and a bit of rag
carpet that came in most handy for
such purposes. Their stove was set
up, and although it smoked stubborn
Iy for lack of draught, it furnished
heat for cooking, and when Jack re-
turned from lettering the horses the
smell of frying ham and hot tea struck
his nostrilS.
"WeII, that's better than TuStling for
myself, / will admit" he said.