White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-09-10
OF THE FIRST WATER
Bv WILLIAM MERRIAM ROUSE

sitting upon the stump OF a giant
birch; otherwise she would have
heard the sound of his axe as she ap-
preached the cut of wood where he
was working She had come into his
range of vision as noiselessly as a
squirrel pops into the crotch of
limb-in moment she would be hid.
den again by the intervening tree
trunks, and within five minutes she
would finish gathering the nuts under
that particular hickory and go on.
Bill stood up-six feet three from
bootsoles to brown hair-and drew a
trembling breath. If it had been just
any girl, he would have called greet
ing as he lighted his pipe, chuckled at
her exclamation of surprise, and gone
to work again with the double bitted
he sat down to eat.
! But Bill Hartman had got full
fair look at this girl and something
never before experienced by him had
taken place underneath the wide
breast of his blueflannel shirt.
Her skin was a golden brown, her
hair was a golden red she moved as
easily as a branch waving in the wind,
and he had an intuitive feeling that
her eyes were very deep and dark.
Five minutes before he could not have
/ hat Iii nd rfo RI ri ho
would probably have said that he liked
a pipe and hound dog better than
any kind of girl-but now he knew
all about it, The most desirable thing
in the world was less than three rods
away.
Hartman did not make sound
until he got within twenty feet of her.
and then he purposely stepped upon a
dry branch. She sprang to her feet
with the flashing movement of bird,
and he saw that her eyes, wide with
sudden alarm, were indeed deep and
dark and black-lashed. He was more
frightened than she was, when he read
that look; but a kind Of bulldog cour-
age sustained him. He couldn't pos
sibly let the only girl in the world get
away from him, now that he had seen
her.
Scare you?" he asked, IN the gen
tlest tones to which he could reduce
his ordinarily booming voice. IL
didn't mean to come on you SO sud
den"
She looked him over, and the alarm
in her eyes died to caution.
you don't make any more noise
than catamount!" Her teeth cleaned
in a quick smile. you after nuts,
too?"
"No." Bills heart leaped with JOY
that the crucial moment was passed,
and that he had not been scorned.
I'm chopping up here on Crowquill.
Ny partner and l, Pierre Beaudry,
have got wood job. We're in the
cabin beyond the next ravine."
"Oh!" Now he could see that she
relaxed even caution; he not only
looked honest, but he had established
himself as a woodsman. Il heard
there was couple of choppers this
side Of the mountain"
my names Bill Hartman" he said,
tentatively. She gave him a mischiev-
GUS little grin-and considered, while
he felt himself growing red.
"I'll tell you" she said at last, cheer
fully. I'm Marie Malloy."
That's what call regular name"
breather Bill, with all sincerity. He'd
have thought the same, however, If
she had said Abigail Dusenbury"
Live around here?"
Nov you're acting as though you
belong to the family, Mr.. Hartman"
II didn't mean to be fresh" STAN
mered Bill. Honest, didn't"
He stopped, catching twinkle in
her eye.
you'll find out where live, If
you've got long job here" she said.
II sure have!" he assured her, earn
coliy We 6oL 81 4uuCu W w,
could knock off little while this
afternoon and help you, just as well
as not"
"All right" she agreed. you help
me get what can carry in that sack
and some day or other I'll give you
a pie. I'll bet you two men can't make
a decent pie"
mo-" he admitted. "It's mostly salt
pork and potatoes for us; and you
lust watch me go after these hickory
nuts!"
Immediately Bill set himself seri-
ously to the task in hand, thus uncon-
sciously making progress in the es.
TEEN of Marie Malloy. Although he
did not know it, literal honesty of pur-