The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-03-30

The girl came TO him.
Don't mind me-" he protested.
"I'm fine rangerl"
Louise held a canteen to his lips.
what do you expect, after a fight
like this? Now sit here. It's all
right. See? The wind has shifted at
last"
Breck looked through half blind
eyes. The change had come. His
/. back fire was sweeping down, lick
ing into the line below. A wave of
flame shot up as the two met. 1t
fell at once, broke into isolated Sec
tions and vanished with incredible
swiftness. Only snags of standing
timber were left to blaze against the
night.
land that's that" said Louise, be-
side him. I've won't even have to
watch those snags. It's going to
rain. / felt a mist when | came
over the ridge" She held up her
hands. "There!"
Breck turned his face to the sky,
feeling moist breeze descend as
the heat of fire subsidized. He stood
up, taking the girls arm. "I've got
a camp lower down. We'd better
get under cover"
Even as they reached their horses
and rode to the stream, the mist be-
came a drizzle. In camp, Breck
hung a tarpaulin between two trees,
pegged one edge of it back to make
a lean-to, and built fire in front
His bed roll he threw inside for a
seat and then went down to the pool
to wash.
When he returned Louise had
started meal, and though rain was
falling about him he halted to watch
her. She sat on a saddle close to
the fire, the red light upon a pensive
face, her small figure bent, with
knees drawn up. A coffee pot
steamed over the Goals. Something
fried in the pan she held.
He remained silent until Louise
announced, If you're hungry
enough, you can begin on this gov
ernment mule. I'm starvedl"
With tin plates on the blanket
roll, they sat opposite each other,
their saddles for seats. Breck tried
to capture again the feeling that
they belonged like this always. He
wanted to forget the Tillsons, the
nesters, and the troubles of his job.
But a thought had come and would
not be put down.
Why had she not been surprised
at finding him alone? She had not
! asked about crew, nor mentioned
the Pothole people. For a time he
avoided bringing it up. Perhaps she
would say something. But she did
not.
They finished roast beef from the
can, had chocolate bars for des-
sert, and continued with cups of
coffee. Beyond their shelter the rain
fell with soft rustling through the
pines, then drifted on. Clouds part
ed and stars came out. Breck looked
at his watch. Two o'clock. Dawn
would break in another hour. He
must leave her then and go down to
the Potholes.
when did Cook call your camp?"
he asked, leading their talk to the
nesters.
"About the middle of the after
noon. He and Slim were to start,
but they would be a day on the
trail"
at hope Kern Peak can head them
off, now that it's over" Breck con-
! tinued. Didn't Cook think I had
help from the Potholers?"
HE didn't say" Louise stirred
up the fire and hunched herself clos
er to it.
Breck pushed their plates from
the bedroll and sat next to her.
Louise" he asked, "can you tell
me what I'm thinking about now?"
Her lips began a smile, parted,
closed. Then she answered with a
slow shake of her head.
"Wen, I'm thinking of the Pot
holes, and of what kept the nesters
from coming into this fire. 1t will
be daybreak in another hour and /
must go down there You're going
back to Temple Meadow. suppose?
| Will you try to get Cook on the line
and let him know about this fire?
| Tell him I'll call later"
She avoided his request. ''Why
are you going to the Potholes?"
"I'm afraid that's asking my busi-
ness, isn't it?'
Eyes. I meant it that way. But
I'm sorry; my mistake. I somehow
thought we had reached a point
where we could talk openly"
Breck dropped his hand upon both
of hers, resting in her lap. 81 was
short, Louise. Forgive it. I'm 60
ing to the Potholes to prove sus-
| picion"
Still with her eyes upon the Goals,
she asked, "You think the nesters
started this fre?"
''I'm not certain. do know some
one drove them from helping on it. !"
1.-The Tillsons?"
Breck nodded.
Louise turned to him. 81 can
tell you about this fire, exactly
Lightning started it."
"Of course. Lightning always
starts theml"
''Its true this time"
"You seem to know. How"
Louise hesitated. She released
her hands. We're talking openly?
No mistakes. No misunderstanding,
is that right?"
"Yes."
well, Art Tillson came to our
camp, day before yesterday. That