White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-05-09

SlleHCe, SIG packed ueT suitcase anu
put an outing flannel nightgown-
with nap so long that 1t looked like
fur garment-in fshnet bag. Hav-
ing made stiff adieux to the party she
went and sat down on rock by the
roadside to await some passerby who
would take her to Prouty.
"That's one chicken we counted be.
fore it was hatched," Pinkey observed
regretfully to Wallie.
The passengers who preferred to
ride in the surrey had now increased
to number which made 1t necessary
for l,iem to sit in each others laps,
and 1t devolyed upon Wallie to drive
their horses. Herding loose horses
is son etimes task to strain the tenn
per- and these were that kind Of
horses, SO that by the time the party
reached the MONDAY camp Wallie was
In more fitting mood to confront Mr..
Hicks than when they had started.
Don't let him tree you or run you
into the river" Pinkey, who knew
Wallie's purpose, warned him jocose-
ly. "I'm glad it amt me has the job
Of tellin' that hyena that he amt as
welcome as the President"
Wallie could not share Pmkeys
amusement. On the contrary, it an
noyed him. That was the worst of his
partner nowadays, he was 80 happy
that nothing troubled him. Perhaps
envy was at the bottom of this irrita-
ton; at any rate, Wallie frowned and
told himself that he never would have
believed that love could make such a
simpletoh OF anybody.
AS Wallie drew nearer, through the
smoke and steam rising from various
cooking utensils he noted that Mr..
Hicks expression was particularly
melancholy and his color indicated
that a large amount of bile had &C.
cumluated in his system. There was
something tragic in the very way he
stirred the frying potatoes, and as
Wallie hesitated Hicks set his fists
on his hips and recited in voice vi
bratiug with feeling:
Into this Universe, and why not
knowing,
Nor whence, like water willy-nilly
flowing,
And out Of 1t, as Wind along the
Waste,
know not whittier willy-nilly
blowing"
1t did not seem propitious moment
to put Mr.. Hicks in his place." as
Mrs. Stott had phrased 1t, but Wallie
had no desire to nerve himself twice
for the same ordeal, therefore, with
some of the desperate courage which
comes to high-strung persons about to
have a tooth extracted, Wallie ad-
vanced and inquired cordially:
well, Mr.. Hicks, how are things
coming?"
I'm not complaining" replied Mr..
Hicks, in tone which intimated that
once he started enumerating his griev-
ances he would not know where to
finish.
Pleasant people, aren't they?" Wal
lie suggested.
$50 is a menagerie-after it's eat
en-
"They do have appetites," Wallie
admitted II suppose it's living In
the OPEN"
I've cooked for section hands on
the Burlington, and they were canary
birds beside these Poland Chinas. We
had ought to brought troughs instead
of tinware.'
"You mustn't speak so OF our
guests" Wallie reprimanded.
Hicks went on wrahtfully:
"That fat sister In the cameo breast
pin she swlped can Of potted chicken
on me yesterday-she's regular
'camp-robber.
Wallie interposed hastily:
I'VE mustn't have any trouble.
want to get through this trip peace
ably. In fact, Mr.. Hicks, it's along
this line that wished to have a word
with you"
Mr.. Hicks looked at him quickly
and suspiciously.
HAS any Of EN- been kickin' on
me?"
Wallie hesitated, casting furtive
eye about as he did 80 for the most
convenient exit.
mot kicking, l wouldn' say kicking,
Mr.. Hicks, but 1t has been suggested
i have been thinking that 1t might
be pleasanter for you and Red to
have your own table,"
Mr.. Hicks stopped turning over the
potatoes and looked at him for what
seemed to Wallie a full minute.
In other words" he said, finally,
in voice that was oily and coaxing,
as If he wanted the truth from him,
the dudes dom want the cook and
the horse-wrangler to eat with them?"
Wallie noticed uneasily that while
Hicks spoke he was tentatively feel
using. Instinctively Wallie's eyes
sought the route he had selected, as
ne replied conciliatingly:
mo reflection upon you and Red is
Intended, Mr.. Hicks; 1t is just that
Eastern people have different Gus.
oms, and we have to humor them, al I
hough we may not agree with them"
There was another silence, in which
lr. Hicks continued to thumb his
lnife in manner that kept Wallie