Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-11-29

Inc young man laughed, YEARLY.
Il know that very well. I went
around in a circle for while-kept
coming back to the same big pop
lar. Rhododendron over my head
no light, no path"
my boys" said virgie, found
man over toward Higgins, once,
east of Chimneys. He'd been dead
1or three months. Just photogra-
pher chap from up north. He had
a map. Put the coffee down here,
Lossie, and fetch some hot milk and
some bread and some of that cold
veal. He can have the milk first
better not 60 too fast if he's been
hungry for while. You didn't tell
me your name, son."
I'm Branford Wills-of Washing
ton"
And from Georgia or some place
before that, by your talk. Kick those
shoes OFF, think I can find you a
dry pair. My husband had small
feet-he was slight man-but may
De you can squeeze them on. Here
comes Lossie with the milk. Now
don't gulp-take it easy. Hold the
cup, Lossie-his hand is unsteady"
Young Mr.. Branford Wills slipped
the steaming milk, sighed, smiled.
He was, so Virgie discerned, a very
engaging person when he smiled.
II grew up in Alabama" he said.
think I can manage it now,
thank you. May I drink all this?"
Slowly" virgie said. "Where did
you stay last night, for goodness
sake? 1t was cold as charity and
that sleety rain falling"
Il walked. l didn't dare to stop.
| sighted star and kept moving.
The absurd part of it is that I'm
supposed to know better. I'm a
government photographer"
That's a map-maker," supplied
Vlrgie, as Lossie looked perplexed.
so you knew enough to stick to a
star, did you? The trouble was that
the star didn't seem to stick to you.
Where did you start from?"
South of the gap-six miles or
So"
I'm a straight line from here
that's twenty miles. But the way
you came
Half around the world, I'd say.
May have the coffee now? I'm all
right, really. I'm pretty rugged.
I've lived out for a number of
years"
Nobody would believe that, by
your clothes.''
"Oh, we were heading into town,
you see. We were through. We
were up there checking the contrac-
tors bids. My woods clothes have
gone on back to Washington without
me-unless the other fellows waited.
When I didn't show up at that filling
station they may have been worried
and uneasy-they may be up there
yet"
I'VE can telephone. But you'd bet
ter eat first"
You're a generous person." He
took the hot cup of coffee, eagerly.
mot many people would take in a
tramp like me-and believe his sto-
ry. You didn't tell me your name"
I'm Mrs. David Morgan. If
you've been with the government
men you've heard about me-" Vir-
gie's lips drew a little straight. Her
motherly gray eyes emptied and
withdrew a trifle.
"Oh, yes" He was slightly en-
barrassed. You belong to the pulp
people,"
"1'm the Morgan pulp business"
A thin edge was on her tone. "When-
ever government men want to lay
any sin in these mountains on any
one, they pick on me.
"Oh-but I'm sure
"Oh, I'm used to it. don't mind"
she went on.
I'm the meantime I'm going to
give you warm bed for the night,
and then we'll send a message to
your folks
"Please don't bother about me-"
Little spots of color had come into
his face, his eyes looked anxious.
Il can 60 on now. I'll get down to
town-there is town, isn't there?
OF course there must be-your
mill"
"Six miles," Virgie said, land
you're not going any farther tonight
not in this storm and cold. I'm
mountain woman first and a robber
baroness afterwards. Mountain peo-
pie never turn away strangers"