Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-02-22

hung a little mirror, by the aid of
which Dick combed and brushed his
hair. He imagined he looked most
haggard wretch. With that he faced
forward, meaning t. go round the cor
ner Of the house to greet the cowboys
and these new-found friends.
Dick had taken but one step when
he was halted by laughter and the
patter of light feet. He saw a little
foot sweep into view, white dress,
then the swiftly moving form of a
girl. She was looking backward.
dad, 1 shall fall in love with your
new ranger. / Wilt have"
Then she pumped squarely into
Dicks arms.
Dick saw a fair face ana dark
blue, audaciously flashing eyes. Swift
as lightning their expression changed
to surprise, fear, wonder. FOR an in
slant they were level with Dicks
grave questioning. Suddenly, sweet
", she blushed.
"Oh-hi" she faltered.
Then the blush turned to scarlet
fire. She whirled past him, and like
a white CLEAN was gone
Dick became conscious of the quick
ened beating of his heart. He expe-
rienced singular exhilaration. That
moment had been the one for which
he had been ripe, the event upon
which strange circumstances had
been rushing him.
With couple Of strides he turned
the corner. Laddy and Lash were
there talking to man Of burly form.
"He1lo, there's the young fellow
spoke up the burly man. "Mr. Gale,
I'm glad to meet you. My names
Belding"
His greeting was as warm as his
handclasp was long and hard. Gale
saw heavy man of medium height.
His head was large and covered with
grizNed locks. He wore a short
cropped mustache and chin beard. His
skin was brown, and his dark eyes
beamed with a genial light.
young man, did you run into any
thing as you came out?" asked Bel
ding, with twinkling eyes.
"Why, yes; / met something white
and swift flying by" replied Dick.
"That was Nell Burton, my girl
Stepdaughter, 1 should say" said Bel
ding. "She's sure some whirlwind, as
Lady calls her. Come, let's go in
and meet the wife"
In Mrs. Bedding, Gale found wom-
an of noble proportions and striking
appearance. Her hair was white. She
had strong, serious, well-lined face
that bore haunting evidences of past
beauty. The gaze she gent upon him
was almost piercing in it's intensity.
Her greeting, which seemed to Dick
rath>@' slow in coming, was kind
though not cordial Gales first
thought, after he had thanked these
good people for their hospitality, was
to inquire about Mercedes Mrs. Bel
ding said the girl had suffered no
great hardship, other than mental, and
would very soon be rested and well.
"Now, Gale" said Bedding, when his
per, "the boys, Jim and Laddy, told
me about you and the mix-up at Ca
sta. I'll be glad to take care of the
girl till it's safe for your soldier
friend to get her out of the country.
That won't be very soon, don't mis-
take me. I don't want to seem
over-curious about you-Laddy has
interested me in you-and straight
out I'd like to know what you propose
to do now"
81 haven't any plans" replied Dick !;
and, taking the moment as propitious,
he decided to speak frankly concern
ing himself. ST Just drifted down
here. My home is in Chicago. When
l left school come years ago-I'm
twenty-five now-I went to work for
my father. He's-he has business In