Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-05-05

report last night he had told the
ranger Of his deal with the cattle
men, and had cursed the job that
forced him to make enemies.
whats in line for today?" he con-
tinued, ''patrol?"
mo; I'm not sending you on the
trail until tomorrow. Look over
your fire tools, sharpen up your axes
and brush hooks. and get things in
good shape. You might not have
time later. Get yourself settled and
feeling at home"
"Suits me-" Breck agreed.
He spent the day with grindstone
and files, putting razor edge on
double-bitted axes, and making the
long curved brush-hooks fit for any
mans war. At noon his horses and
mule came to the fence gate near
by, thrust their necks over the top
and said something about lunch. He
fed them barley and they went off to
nibble at flowers in the pasture. Be-
fore night he had his tool box ar
ranged for action.
Next morning, talking to head
quarters he asked Cook to send him
on patrol to Sulphur Creek.
Take your time, son." the ranger
answered. Were not ready for
that. Today you might as well ride
the Kern River trail. Look over the
country west Of you-all that lying
between Sulphur and the Potholes.
There's your worst fire hazard.
You'll find some tourist camps on
the river. Go in and say howdy."
Breck obeyed orders, inwardly re-
voting, though he knew the old
ranger was guided by wisdom of ex-
perience. So, day by day, he was
forced to put down his impotence
and work at the forests job.
He explored his district west and
south, talked with tourists over their
midday fires, climbed high peaks
and from that vantage studied the
geography of the maze Of streams
and interlocking ridges. As he be-
came more and more familiar with
this roof land, the Sierra Nevadas
lost some Of the forbidding aspect
they had presented at first.
The approach Of July meant
spring in the top country. Days
were warm, though nights remained
close to freezing. Now he rode
through meadows purple with lark
spur; climbed long rock ridges in a
blaze OF red snow flowers. At, dusk
he returned to his cabin with eve
ming primroses opened in yellow
cups underfoot, filling the air with
sweet delicate perfume.
Repeatedly he found his thoughts
travelling eastward beyond the bowl
of Rock House. His gaze went often
to trail that led up the notch to-
ward certain camp fifteen miles
distant. 1t seemed as if Dad Cook
had read his wish when he gave
the order one morning, "You had
better swing around by Temple
Meadow today"
There was blazed trail from
Rock House to Temples camp, but
Breck was in hurry somehow and
rode Kit up ridge and along its
crest on route of his own. 1t was
half an hour before noon as he
crossed the last summit and de-
scended into wide strip of grass
land. A flag Of cabin smoke came
from a clump of trees at the fur
Their end. He rode toward it rapidly,
his eyes searching for a cowboy who
was not cowboy at all.
Two cabins stood in the trees. one
old and weathered, with low, sheet
iron roof; the other of logs new
within the past three years, for
hewn surfaces still showed bright
yellow. Red and white checked cur
tains in the window of this last told
that a woman lived in it, and the
whole look around the outside was
Of woman's neatness, with saddle
gear hung on wooden horses, lariats
coiled, pack canvas folded and piled
in the shelter of pine.
The other was as plainly a mans
shanty, where q man could kick
things about and enjoy the mess.
One window pane was broken and
stuffed with gunny sack. A black
bear pelt, freshly skinned and salt
ed, was nailed on the logs of the
front end. A low bench stood near
the door, with tobacco cans litter.
ing the ground under it.
It was from this cabin that Brock
saw smoke rising. A door opened
as he came out of the woods and
crossed short clearing. He recop-
nized Louise Temple. though not the
girl he had been picturing.
She wore q dress today; some
thing short. dark green like the for
est, with the red Of snow flowers in
it; and somehow he was meeting her
all over again.
She smiled, holding up her hand
to him even before he dismounted.
Hello. Ranger. Sorry didn't see
you after the count"
He wondered If she meant Il. II
was pretty busy" he said, as Il the
explanation should come from him.
Things were happening that day"
Yes; weren't theyl"