The Bossier banner., 1922-03-23

sprang from his lips before he could
arrest 1t.
why don't you get married, MacT
"'Who. mel" 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.
SITS a long ride to the land Office"
continued McCrae. .'an' you can't file
minute too soon. We'd better find
corner post an make sure of the num-
ber 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 a
precious half day at the home Of the
Arthurses bade 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
ly, 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. .sThere 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 neighbors- nothing but
sky and grass as far as you can see.'
"All the more reason should go, !"
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 a woman can give. !
really must be with you. really
must John, and you know--pm 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 q
tent with blankets and a bit Of rag
carpet that came in most handy fol
such purposes Their stove was sci
up, and although it smoked stubborn
" 70. lack of draught. 1t furnished
heat fo- cooking, and when Jack re
turned from tethering the horses tht
smell Of frying ham and hot tea struci
his nostrils.
swell. that's better than rustling fol
myself, will admit" he said.
| That night. before the darkness had
gathered too deep. they selected th,
site of their house on the very benci
that McCrae had Indicated. It wa!
about an acre in extent. and stoot
halfway between the prairie level an,
the bottom Of the coulee, where ,
small river was now running. -
It was quite dark when they sough
the cover OF their little tent. and th,
wolves were bowling far down the "a
vine.
Presidently they were startled by
crashing noise. as of some big AMI
mails rushing upon them through th
poplars, and the horses, in headlon
haste, almost swept over their sleer
ing place.
"That wolf howl put the fear int
the silly brutes," said Harris. speah
. ing calmly. although his own flesh wa
creeping just little. Il suppos
they've ripped their tether ropes
pieces. Well. we'll tie them dow
here. where they'll have company.
And he led them back short distanc
into the bushes.
A moment later. suddenly. as II cor
gealed out of thin air. on the ban
right above them. silhouetted agains
the dim light in the western sky, sto0
horse and rider. instantly Harri
mind came warning Of McCrae
"Sleep with one eye open when y0r
horses are tethered out"
Harris had no proof that the strang
rider was a horse thief. but It strug
: him at the moment that the terror I
. the horses might not have been due q
!, together to wolves.
\ He stole silently toward the ten
. There was a gun there. loaded viii
7 shot for any possible game on the pra
!. rie. As he moved in the deep darl
8 ness Of the valley he stumbled over
: root and fell. The same moment can