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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 1915)
mm MOT it Jtf MWm GAR1AM) Copyrlaht, 1014, AUTHOR'S FOREWORD ' This little dory lg the outcome of two trips (neither of which was In tbe Hear Tooth forest) during ilia years 1009 Rid 1010. The golden trull 1m nu actuality for Die. The camp ou tho lake wan mlno. The ruin, the snow 1 mot, the prying camp robbers, the K rouse, the muskruls, tho beaver, were my companion. Hut Meres McFarlune was with mo only In limitlliiullon. She In a Del Ion. horn of a momentary pow erful handclasp of a western rancher's daughter. Tho story of Wuylund Nor. cross la Action onto. Hut Ilia McKur lane ranch, (he mill and tho lonely rangor stations bio closely drawn pic ture of realities. Although tho stage of my comedy Is Colorado, I have not hold to any one locality. Tho scene In CompoHlto. It wis my Intention originally to 'write a much longer and more Impor tant book concerning Supervisor Me Farlane, but -tills Is merely tho very Nlendcr story of a young western girl who, being desired of three Htrong men, bestows ber lova ou a tourist whose weakness 1 at once her allure ment mid her cure. The administration problem, tho soelologle llicnio, which wns to have made the novel worth while, got lost In some way on tho low trull and never caught up with the lovers. I'm sorry, but so It was. CHAPTER I. The Happy Girl. TIII5 stage line which run from Williams to Hear' Tooth (one of the most authentic then to bo found In all the west) possessed at least uno genuine Concord conch, mo faded, so saddened, so cracked ami no splintered that lis passengers en tered It under protest and alighted from It with thniikHglvlng, and yet It mist tiavo been built by honorable men, for In ID It still made tho run of 120 miles twice each week without loss of wheel or even no lunch as molt ing a scrap of pnlnt. And yet whutover It may have been In lit youth It was In lis uge no longer n gay dash of color In the landscape. On the contrary, It lilted Into the dust brown and sngo green plain as de fcnslrely as a beetle In a dusty pittli. Nevertheless It was an Indispensable part of a very moving picture as It crept, creuklng and groaning (or It may lie It wns the suffuiliig passenger creaking and groaning), along (he lit II nlde. , After leaving the Grande river the loud winds up a pretty high divide before plunging down Into Die pink, as they call all that region lying be tween (he Continental range on the east and the Hear Tooth plateau on tho west It was a big spread of laud end very far from an eiistern mini' conception of a park. From Hun hi peak It seems n plain; but, In fact, when clouds shut oh the high sum mits to (h west tills "valley" becomes a veritable mountain laud, a tumbled, lonely couutry, over which an occa sional horseman crawls, a minute but I'ci'MlHtent Insect. It Is, to bo exact, a Micceshlon of ridge and ravines, sculp tured (In some far off, post glacial tlinel by Hoods of water, covered now. Hither sparsely, with planus, cedars and unpens, a dry, forbidding but ma jestic, landscape. In bite August the bills become Iri descent, opiillno with the translucent yellow of the aspen, the coral and crimson of the lire weed, the blood red of huckleberry beds and tho royal pur ple of the asters, while Mowing round nit. as solvent and neutral sotting, lies the gray-greeu of the ever present and ever enduring sage brush. Thrnuiih this gorgeous land of mist, Of stillness II nd of death a few yean hko a pule young mini (scaled beside the driver) rode one Hummer day In a voiceless rupture which ins do Hill Mc Coy weary. "If you'd bad as much of this as I have you'd talk of something else." be f:rowlct after luiif doaeu attempts at conversation. Hill wasn't much to look at, but be wis t good driver, and the stranger respected hliu for It F.veutunlly this simple minded horse man became curious about the slim young fellow sitting Instlde lilui. "What you doing out her anyhow fishing or Just rebuilding a lungT" "llcbulldlng two lungs," auswervii the tourist. "Well, this cltmatt will Just about f tut bun: Into a coffee rso," retorted Mil, with official loyalty to lib) oun try. wwm if. M wftau J 7 'fROWANCE (wTOY Till Wilms kt taa BEAR TOOTH by Hamlin Garland To his discerning eyo "tho tourist" now became "a lunger." "Where do you live when you're to borne?" "Connecticut." "I knew It" "How did you know Itr Tho youth seemed really Inlcrwted to know. "1 drove another fellow up hero last full that (leu It out tho same kind of brogue you do." lilll was prevented at tho moment from pursuing this line of inquiry by tho discovery of a couple of horsemen racing from a dlHlunt ranch toward the road. It wns plain, even to the stran ger, that they Intended to Intercept the stage, and Hill plied the lash with sudden vigor. "I'll give 'em a chase," suld be grimly. The other nppeared a llttlo alarmed. "What ore they, bandits?" "UnndltHl" sueered Hill. "Your eye sight Is plorclng. Them's girls." The truvclcr apologized. "My eyes aren't very good," be said hurriedly. lie was, however, quite Justified In bis mistake, for both riders wore wide rimmed sombreros and rode astride at a furious puco, bandanas. fluttering, skirts atreamlug, uud one was culling In shrill command, "Oh, Hill!" As they neiired the gate tho driver drew tip with a word of surprise. "Why, howdy, girls? Howdy?" he said, with an assumption of Innocence. "Wero you wlslilu' fer to speak to mo?" "Oh, shut up!" commanded one of the girls, a round faced, freckled romp. "You know perfectly well that Ilerrle Is going homo loduy. We told you all about It yesterday." "Hnre thing!" exclaimed Bill. "I'd forgot nil about It." "I.lko nolliln'l" exclaimed the uinld. "You've been countln' the hours till yon got hero. I know you." Meanwhile her companion had slip ped from her horse. "Well, goodby, Molly. Wish 1 could stay longer." "(loodby. Hun down ugaln." "I will, You come up." The young passenger sprung to the ground and politely said: "May I help you In?" Hill Blared, the girl smiled, and ber companion called: "Ho careful, Herrle, don't hurt yourself, the wagou might pitch." Tho youth, perceiving that bo bud itmdti another uiIhUiIio, stammered nu apology. Tho girl perceived bis embarrass ment nud sweetly accepted his baud. "I am much obliged, all the suine." Hill shook with malicious laughter. "Out In the country girls jiro war ranted to Jump clean over u measly little buck like tills," be explained. The girl look a seat In (he back cor ucr of the dusty vehicle, and Hill open ed conversation with her by unking w hat kind of a (lino alio bud been hav ing "lit the east." "Fine," said alio. "Did ye gM as fur buck as my old town?" "What town la lhu(. Hill?" "Oh, come oltl You know I'm from Omaha." "No; I only got as Cr as South Hend." The picture which the girl hud made as sho dashed up to the pasture gute her but rim blowu away from ber blown face uud sparkling eyes-nulled with the kindliness In ber voice as she accepted his gulluut aid, entered a deep liuprcNslou on the tourist's mind, but lie did not turn his bead to look at her -perhaps he feared Hill's elbow quite as much us his guffaw-but be listened closely, mid by listening learned that she bad been "east" for several weeks, and also that she was known, and fa vorably known, all along the Hue, for whenever lliey met a (cum or passed a ruueh some one called out, "Hello, Herrlel" In cordial salute, and the uieu, old and young, wero especially pleased to see her. Mci ii wlillu the stage rose and fell over the gigantic swells like a tiny bout ou a monster sea, while the sun blutcd ever more fervently from the splendid sky, and (he hills glowed with ever Increasing tumult of color, Through this land of color, of tvpo.u of ro mance, tho young traveler rode, drink ing deep of the geruiles ulr, feeling that the girl behind hint was a won drous part of this wild and unaccount able con nl ry. He had uo chance to study ber face ignln till the coach rolled down the bill to "Yancy'a," ranch homo, where they were to take dinner and change home. Vth Intent to show lllll that he did THE SALEM DAILY CAPITAL not greatly fear bis smiles the youth sprang down and offered a hand to as sist his charming fellow passenger to alight, and she, with kindly under standing, again accepted but aid, to Bill's chagrin, and they walked up the path side by side. "This Is all very new and wonderful to me," the young man said In expla nation, "but I suppose It's quite com monplace to yoa and Hill." "Oh, no It's home!" "You were born here?" "No, 1 was born In the east, but I've lived here ever since I was three years old." "By east you mean Kansas?" ".No, Missouri," she laughed back at him. She was taller than most women and gave out un air of line unconscious health which made her good to see, al though ber face was too broad to bo pretty. She smiled easily, and ber teeth were white and even. Her hand he noticed was as strong as steel and brown ns lentber. Her neck rose from her shoulders like that of an acrobat, and she wulked with the sense of se curity which comes from self reliant strength. She wns met at the door by old lady Yuncy, who pumped her hand up and down, exclaiming: "My stnrs! I'm glad to see ye back! Tears like the country Is Just nuturally goln' to the dogs with out you. The dance last Saturday was a frost, so I hear no snap to tho fld dlln'. no gimp to the Jlggln'. It shore ly was pitiful." Yancy himself, tall, grizzled, suc cinct, shook her hand in big turn. "Ma's right, girl, the country needs ye. I'm senred every time ye go away fer fear some feller will snap ye up." The young tourist be signed W. W. Norcross In Yancy's register watched ber closely and listened to every word The Girl B.hlnd Him Was a Wondrous Part of This Wild and Unaooountabl Country. alio spoke with an Intensity of Interest which led Mrs. Yancy to say privately: " Tears like that young 'lunger' nlu't goln' to forglt ye If ho can help It." "What makes you think he's a lun ger?' " "Don't bnf to think. One look at him Is enough." Thereafter a softer light the light of pity shone lu the eyes of the girl. "I'oor fellow! He does look kind o' peaked. Hut this cllninta will bring hliu up to the scratch," alio added, with optimistic faith In her beloved hills. A moment later the downcomlng stage pulled lu loaded to the sldo lines, and everybody on It seemed to know Herea McFurlnne. It wns hollo here and hello there mid how are yo be tween, with smacks from the women and open CTles of "Puss It around" on the part of (he men, till Norcross mar voted nt the display, ' "She seems a great favorite," he ob served to Yuncy, "Who-Herile? She's tho whole works tip at Hear Tooth. Good thing he don't want to go to congress she'd lay Jim Worthy on tho shelf." Herea's popularity was not so re murknble as her manner of receiving It. She took It nil ns a sort of Joke a good, kindly Joke. Bhe shook bunds with ber mule admirers and smacked the chocks of her female friends with an air of modest deprecation. "Oh, yovt don't mean It," wns one of her phrases. Bhe enjoyed this display of affection, but It seemed not to touch her deeply, and ber Impartial, humor ous acceptance of the courtship of the men was equally charming, though this wns due, according to remark, to the claims of some rancher up the Hue. She continued to be the theme of conversntlbn at the dinner table and yet remained unembarrassed and gave back quite ns good as alio received. "If I wns Cliff," declared one lanky admirer, "I'd be allot If I lot you out it my slghL It ain't safe." Bhe smiled broadly, "I don't feel scannl." "Ob. you're all rlghtl It's the other feller like me that gets hurt." Tho northbound coach got awity first, and as the girl ennio out to take her place Norcross said, "Won't you have my sent with the driver?" Plie dropped her voice humorously. "No, thnnk you. I ran't stand for Rill's rlack." Norcross understood. Bhe didn't rel 5 JOURNAL, SALEM, ORE., SATURDAY, SEPT. 25, 1915. ish the notion of being so close to the frankly amorous driver, who neglect ed no opportunity to be personal. Therefore be helped ber to ber seat Inside sod-resumed his place In front Bill, now broadly communicative, minutely detailed his tastes hi food, horses, liquors and saddlers In a mono logue which would have been tiresome to any one but an Imaginative yonng eastern student Bill bad a vast knowledge of the west, but a distress ing habit of repetition. In this Informing way some ten miles were traversed, "the rod climbing ever higher and the mountains to right and left Increasing In grandeur each hour, till of a sudden and In a deep valley on the bank of another swift stream they came upon a squalid saloon and a minute postofflce. This was the town of Moskow. Bill, lumbering down over the wheel, took a bag of mall from the boot and dragged It into the cabin. The girl rose, stretched herself and said: "This stag lu' Is slow business. I'm cramped. I'm going to walk on ahead." "Muy I go with you?" asked Nor cross. "Sure thing! Come along." As they crossed. the little pole bridge which spanned tbe flood the tourist exclaimed: "What exquisite water! It's like melted opals." "Conies right down from the snow," she answered. Impressed by tbe poetry of bis simile. He would gladly have lingered, lis tening to the song of the water, but as she passed on he followed. The oppo silo bill was sharp and tho road stony, but as they reucbed the top the young easterner called out, "See the savins!" Before them stood a grove of cedars, old, gray and drear, as weirdly Impres sive as tbe cacti In a Mexican desert Torn by winds, scarred by lightnings, deeply rooted, tenacious as tradition, unlovely as Egyptian mummies, fantas tic, dwarfed and blackened, these un accountable creatures clung to tbe ledges, "What do you suppose planted those trees there?" . The girl was deeply Impressed by the novelty of this query. "I never thought to ask. I reckon they Just grew." "No, there's a reason for all these plantings," be Insisted. We don't worry ourselves much about such things' out here," she re piled, with charming humor. "Wre don't even worry' about the weather. We Just tuke things ns they come." They walked on talklug with new In timacy. "Where Is your home?" bo asked. "A few miles out of Bear Tooth. You aro from the east, Bill says 'the far east,' we call It." "From New Haven. I've Just finished nt Yulo. Have you ever been in a city?" "Oh, yes! I go to Denver once In awhile, and I sawt I.ouls once, but I was only u yearling and don't remem ber much about It. What arc you do ing out here, If It's a fair question?" Ho looked awny at the mountains. "I got rather used up last spring, and my doctor said I'd better come out here for awhile and build up. I'm going up to Meeker's mill. Do you know where that Is?" "I know every stovepipe In this park." she answered. ",Ioe Meeker Is kind o' related to me uncle by marriage. He lives ubout llfleeu miles over the bill from Hear Tooth." s This fact seemed to bring them still closer together. "I'm glad of thnt," he said pointedly. "Perhaps I shall be permitted to see you now nnd again? I'm going to bo lonesome for nwhlle, I'm afraid." "Don't you believe HI Joe Meeker's boys will keep you Interested," sho as sured him. Tho stage overtook them nt this point and Hill Biirllly remarked, "If you'd lioen alone, young feller, I'd 'a' give you a chase." Ills resentment of the outsider's growing fnvor with the girl was ludicrously evident As they rose Into the higher levels the aspen Bhook its yellowish leaves In the breeze nud the purplo foothills gained In majesty. Great new peaks came Into view on the right, and tho lofty cliffs of tho Bear Tooth range loomed In naked grandeur high above the blue greeu of the pines which cloth ed their sloping eustocn sides. At Intervals the road passed small log ranches crouching low on the banks of creeks, but aside from tlicso nnd tho sparse nnlmnl life around them no sign of settlement could be seen. The valley lay as It had lain for thou sands of years, repoatlng Its forests ns tho meadows of the lower levels send forth their annual grasses. Norcross suld to himself, "I have circled the track of progress nnd have re-entered tho border America, where the stage coach Is still the one stirring thing be neath the aim." At lust the driver, wl(h a note of ex ultation, culled out. "Grab a root, every body; It s all die way down bill and time to feed." And so as the dusk came over the mighty spread of the htilg to the oust and (lie Kak to the west darkened from violet (o purple black the stage rumbled nnd rattled and rushed down the winding road through thickening sltins of civilization and Just nt tiluht rail rolled Into the little town of Bear Tooth, whteh Is the eastern gateway of tho Uto plateau. KiHvros hud given a gronl deal of thought to the young girl bblnd Mm. and thought had deepened ber charm. Her frankness, her humor, ber superb physical strength and her calm self re liance apKaled to blm, aud the wore dangerously because he was so well aware of bis own weakness and lone liness, and as the stage drew up before (he hotel he fervently said, "I bop I shall tee you again?" CHAPTER II. "This is our ranch." T EFORE Berea could reply a man's l-C voice called, "Hello, there!" and I I a tall fellow stepped up to ber ' with confident mien. Norcross awkwardly shrank away. This was ber cowboy? lover, of course. tt was Impossible that so attractive a girl should be unattached, and the knowledge produced in him a faint but very definite pang of envy and re gret Tbe happy girl, even In the excite ment of meeting her lover, did not for get the stranger. She gave him ber band in parting, and again he thrilled to Its amazing power. It was small, but It was like a steel clamp. "Stop In on your way to Meeker's," she said, as a kindly man would have done. "You pass our gate. My father is Joseph McFarlane, the forest supervis or. Good night" "Good night" be returned with sin cere liking. Tbe hotel was hardly larger than tbe log shanty of a railway grading camp, but the meat was edible, and Just out side the door roared Bear creek, which came down directly from Dome moun tain, nnd the young' easterner went to sleep beneath Its singing that night He should have dreamed of the happy mountain girt, but he did not On the contrary, he imagined himself back at college In tbe midst of Innumerable freshmen yelling: "Bill McCoy! Bill McCoy!" He woke a little bewildered by bis strange surroundings, and when he be came aware of the chcap.bed, the flim sy washstand, the ugly wall paper and thought how far be was from home and friends he not only sighed, he shivered. The room was chill, the pitcher of wa ter cold almost to the freezing point nnd his Joints were stiff and painful from bis ride. What folly to come so far Into the wilderness at this time! As tbe eastern youth crawled from bis bed and looked from the window be wns still further disheartened. In the foreground stood a half dozen frame buildings, graceless and cheap, with out tree or shrub to give shadow or charm of line all wns bare, bleak, sore. But under bis window the stream was singing its glorious moun tain song, and awny to the west rose the aspiring peaks from which It cntne. Romance brooded In that shadow, and on the lower foothills the frost touch ed follnge glowed like a mosaic of Jew els. Dressing hurriedly he went down to the small barroom, whose litter of dnfHo bags, guns, saddles and camp utensils gave evidence of the presence of many hunters nnd fishermen. The slovenly landlord was poring over a newspaper, while a discouraged half grown youth wns sludging the floor with a mop. But a cheerful clamor from nn open door nt the back of the hull told that breakfast was on. Venturing over the threshold, Nor cross found himself seated nt table with some five or six men In corduroy Jackets nnd lnced boots, who were. In fact, merchants nnd professional men from Denver nnd Pueblo out for fish nnd such gnme ns the law allowed, and nil In holiday mood. They Joked the waiter girls and Joshed one anoth er In noisy good fellowship. Ignoring the slim youth In English riding suit, who enme In with nn nlr of mingled melancholy nnd timidity nnd took n sent nt the lower corner of the long table. As ho looked about the room the tourist's eye wns attracted by four young fellows seated nt a small table to his right. They wore rough shirts of nn olive-green shade nnd their faces were w'nd scorched, but their voices held n pleasant tone, and something In tho manner of the landlady toward them made them noticeable. Norcross later naked her who they were. "They're forestry boys." "Forestry hoys?" "Yes. The supervisor's office Is here, and these boys nro bis help." This Information added to Norcross' interest nnd cheered lilm a little. He know something of the United States forest service and bad been told that many of tho rangers were college men. He resolved to make their acquaint ance. "If I'm to stay here they will help mo endure the exile," bo snld. After brenkfnst he went forth to find the postofflce, expecting n letter of Instructions from Sleeker. lie found nothing of the sort, and this quite dls concerted blm. "The stage Is gone," the postmistress told blm, "und you can't get up till day after tomorrow. You might reach Meeker by using tho government phone, however." "Where will I find the government phone?" "Down In tho supervisor's olllce. They're very accommodating. They'll let you use It If you tell them who you want to reach." It was Imposslblo to miss the for estry building fur the reason that a handsome flag fluttered above It. The door being open. Norcro eroclved from the threshold a young clerk nl work on a typewriter, whll( In a cor tier closo by the window another and older man was working Intently on a map. "Is this tbe oJIce of the forest super visor?" asked the youth. Tho man at the machine looked up and pleasantly answered: "It Is, but the supervisor Is not In yet. Is there anything I can do for you?" "It may be you can. 1 am on my way to Meeker's mill for a little out lug. Perhaps you could toll me where Meeker's mill Is aud how I can best got there." The man at the map meditated "It's not far, some eighteen nr twenty miles, but It's om a pretty rough tralf "What kind of a place is It?" "Very charming. You'll like it Eeal mountain country." . This ofllcer was a plain featured man of about thirty-five, with keen and clear eyes. His voice, though strongly nasal, possessed a note of manly sincerity. As be studied his visitor be smiled. "You look brand new. Haven't bad time to season check, have you?" "No. I'm a- stranger In a strange land." "Out for your health?" "Yes. My name is Norcross. I'm Just getting over a severe Illness, and I'm up here to lay around and fish and recuperate if I can." '.'You can you will. You can't help it," the other assured blm. "Join one of our surveying crews for a week and I'll mellow that suit of yours and make a real mountaineer of you, I see you wear a Sigma Chi pin. What was your school ?" "I am a 'Son of E1L' Last year's class." The other man displayed bis fob. "I'm ten classes ahead of you. My name is Nash. I'm what tbey call an 'exiert', I'm up here doing some es timating aud surveying for a big ditch they're putting In. I wns rather in hopes you had come to jolp our ranks. We sons of Ell are holding tbe conser vation fort these days, and we need help." "My knowledge of your work Is rath er vague," admitted Norcross. "My father is in the lumber business, but his point of view isn't exactly yours." "He slays 'em, does he?" "He did. He helped devastate Michi gan." "After me the deluge! I know tbe kind. Why not make yourself a sort of vicarious atonement?" Norcross smiled. "I had not thought of that It would help some, wouldn't it?" "It certainly would. There's no great money In the work, but it's about tbe most enlightened of all tbe govern mental bureaus." Norcross was strongly drawn" to this forester, whose tone was thnt of a highly trained specialist "1 rode up on the stage yesterday with Miss Ber rle McFarlnne." "The supervisor's daughter?' "She seemed a fine western type.'' "She's not a type; she's un individual. She hasn't her like anywhere I've gone. Sbo cuts a wide swath up here. Being an only child, she's both son and daughter to McFarlnne. She knows nioit about forestry than her father. In fact half tbe time he depends on her Judgment" Norcross was Interested, but did not wnnt to take up valuable time. He said, "Will you let me use your tele phone to Meeker's?" "Very sorry, but our line Is out of order. You'll have to wait a day or so, or uso the malls. You're too late for today's stage, but It's only a short ride across." As they were talking a girl came gal loping up to tbe bitching, post nnd slid from ber horse. It was Berea McFar lano. "Good morning, Emery." she called to the surveyor. "Good morn ing," she nodded at Norcross. "How do you find yourself this morning?" "Homesick," he replied smilingly. . "Why so?" - "I'm disappointed In the town." Berrle looked round at the forlorn shops, the Irregular sidewalks, the "Good momma." she nodded at Nor- eross. "How do you find yourself this morninaf" grassless yards. "It Isn't very pretty, that's a fact, but you can nlwnvs for got it by Just looking up nt tb'o blgh mill""'' WbC rU 1"8 Up t0 ,he "I don't know. I haven't had any word from Mocker, and I can't reach him by telephone." "I know. Tbe line Is short circuited somewhere. But they've sent a man out. He may close It any minute." "Wbcre'a the supervisor?" asked Nash. "He's gone over to Moore's cutting How are yoo getting on with those plats?" "Very well. I'll have 'em all D lhape by Saturday." "Como in and make yourself at b;" IN to Norcross You'll find th nan.. daya old," she smiled. "W ntvet know abont anything here tuTTthec people have forgotten It" - , Norcross followedher Into tbe offlct, curlous to know more ubout her. She was so changed from his previous con ception of -her that be was puzzled. She bad the directness and the brerltj of phrase of a business man as she opened letters and discussed their con tents with the mep. "Truly she Is different" thought Nor cross, uud yet she lost something by reason of tbe display of her proficiency as a clerk. "I wish she would leave business to some one- else," he Inward ly grumbled ns be rose to Ao. She looked up from her desk. "Coma in again later. We may be able to reach the mill." He thanked her nnd went back to bis hotel, where he overhauled bis outfit and wrote some letters, nis disgust of the town was lessened by the pres ence of that hnndsome girl, and the hope that he might see her at luncheon made him Impatient of the clock. She did not appear in the dining room, and when Norcross Inquired of Nash whether, she took her meals at the hotel or not the expert replied: "No; she goes home. The ranch Is only a few miles down the valley. Oc casionally we Invite ber. but she don't think much of the cooking." One of the young surveyors put In a word: "I shouldn't think she would. I'd ride ten miles any time to eat one of Mrs. McKarlane's dinners." "Yes," agreed Nasb, with a reflective look In his eyes. "She's a mighty fine girl, and I Join the boys In wishing her better luck than. marrying Cliff Bel den." "Is It settled tbnt way?" asked Nor cross. "Yes. ' The supervisor warned us all, but even be never bus atiy good words for Bclden. He's a surly cuss and vio lently opposed to the service. His brother Is one of tbe proprietors of the Meeker mill, and they have all tried to bulldoze Landon, our ranger over there. By tbe way, you'll like Landon. He's a Hurvard man and a good ranger. Ills shack Is only a half mile from Meeker's bouse. It's a pretty well known fact tbut Alec Bclden Is part proprietor of a saloon over there tbut worries tbe supervisor worse than any thing. CHIT swears he's not connected with It but he's more or less sympa thetic with the crowd."" Norcross, already deeply . Interested In the present-and future of a girl whom be bad met for the first time only the day before, was quite ready to give up his trip to Meeker. Early ou the second morning be went to the postolllce which wus also the telephone station to get a letter or message from Meeker. He found nei ther. But as be was standing In the door undecided about taking tbe stnge Berea came Into town riding a fine bay pony and lending a blazo faced buck skin behind her. Her face shone cordially as she call ed out, "Well, how do you stack up this morning?" i "Tiptop," be answered, In an nttempt to match ber cheery greeting. "Do you like our town better?" "Not u bit! But the bills are magnifi cent" "Anybody turned up from the mill?" "No, I haven't beard a word from there. The telephone is still out of commission." "They cnu't locate the break. Uncle Joe sent word by the stage driver ask ing us to keep nn eye out for you and send you over. I've come to take you over myself." "That's mighty good of you, but It's a good deal to ask." "I want to see Uncle Joe on business, anyhow, and you'll like tbe ride better than the Journey by stage." Leaving the horses Btnndlng with their bridle reins banging on tbe ground, she led the way to the office. "When father comes in tell blm where I've gone and send Mr. Nor cross' packs by tho first wagon." "You'd better tuke my boy," said Berea. "Old Pulntface there Is little notional." Norcross approached bis mount with a caution which indicated tbat be bad at leust been Instructed lu range borse psychology, und as he gathered bis reins together to mount, Berrle re marked: ' "I hope you're saddle wise." "I hud a few lessons In riding school," he replied modestly. Young Downing approached tbe girl with a low voiced protest "Yoa oughtn't to ride old Taint He nearly pitched the supervisor tbe other day." "I'm not worried," she snld aud swung to ber saddle. The ugly beast made off In a tear ing sldewtse rush, but. sho Bmlllngly called back, "All set". And Norcross followed her In blgh admiration. Eventuully she brought ber broncho to subjection, and they trotted off togeth er aloug the wagon road quite comfort- -bly. By this time the youth had for gotten bis depression, bis homesick ness of the morning. The valley was again enchanted ground. After Shacking along between some rather sorry fields of gruln for mile or two Berea swung Into a side trail "I want you to meet my mother," she said. The grassy rond led to a long, one story, half log. half slab house which stood on the bank of small, swift wIMow bordered stream. (Continued next Saturday.) 60 s.Tt-,M.w,(WM(pt