The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-24
CHAPTER III. Root and Branch.

Root and Branch. Only for a moment however, did I give way to this panic. Very quickly did I realize that my fears were all groundless and silly. the result of strain and nervous exhaustion My tired. storm-fung soul drank in the beauties of the rolling prairies, the hills, the blue, blue sky and somehow my problems, small in the face of Creation, rested.
 There would be miles of uphin, and a short drop down. Then we reached the top-of-the-world boufe- vard-a road as smooth as asphalt and so high as to seem suspended in space It ran like a wide, white rib bon into the deep woods of the gov ernment reservation.
 Dark fell suddenly ,and we drew up at a comm odious log house in tne very heart of the forest. The owner of the house was away; but 1t seemed to be full accordance with Wyoming etiquette for any passer-ny 10 go Tn, eat, and sleep and go on, without notifying his absent host Toward noon, the following day, we drove into Poison Creek, where was to embark on my new adventure. Why was it called Poison Creek, po~ body knows, as there was not a
 
 Bill was standing outside the post office and general store in one. five been in town since yesterday" he said, helping me out of the back, and almost breaking my hand in his big, strong one. Thought you might get in here last night. How's Jarv?"
 "Fine,' I answered. with a, catch in my throat at mention of him.
 You've grown more beautiful, T@11 T TD= TzT- admiration.
 had not seen my husbands s friend in two years; and it occurred to me that I had never before noticed how handsome he was. He had always been a man at whom a stranger would look a second time, because of a something about his tall, dark per son which commanded attention. He was not a brcad man, as was Jarvis but he somehow gave the impression of strength.
 . "How does it feel to be a million aire, Bi1I?" I asked. Manganese had been found on his land, and royalties were coming in faster than he could count them.
 Same he grinnned. "No differ ence"
 I began at once to get estimates on lumber. labor, and things, though never looked at the plan Jarvis had given me. Bill, advised me in a gen eral way about carpenters, and gave me such information as he thought I needed. I did not let him take the responsibility off my hands. as he wanted to do, as Jarvis had said 1 should. And the busy-ness helped me.
 Finished, my house had much the appearanceof a tiny California bunga- low; but it was not double one, such as Jarvis had told me to build; nor was 1t in the spot he had desig- mated.
 When I was settled, Bill came over from his place. two miles distant, three Or four evenings a week, to keep me from getting lonesome, he said. I thought it was to feast his eyes on the prettiness of my little house. His own was frightfully crude; just a rough shack like the ones his men lived in; his only extravaganza being a twelve thousand dollar car.
 After a while he got it out of me how felt about Jarvis. Once the ice of my reserve was broken, I let him fully into my confidence and was sur prised at the sympathetic understand ing he showed.
 'If you disaporoved. Nell, why didn't you talk to him about it?'' 'I couldn't" I replied. q had to test him out"
 T see what you mean," he sarc, l musingly- Well, child the lack you have discovered is the only blemish I have ever found in him. Most of us have rotten branches that must be chopped off to save, or at least to insure proper growth of the tree. I expect all of us need cover of char ity.''
 But if the root of the tree is d. seased, the entire tree is in a fair way to die,'' I cried. Covering it does no good-the diseased spot must be located and dug entirely out" T wish you luck, dear child" he answered gravely; and the subject was dropped between us.