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THE SALEM DAILY CAPITAL JOURNAL, SALEM, ORE., SATURDAY, OCT. 23. 1915.
THE
FORESTER'S
DAUGHTER
A Romance of the Bear
Tooth Range
By HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright, 1914, by Manilla Garland
"You're Smith girl," he abruptly
assorted.
"What makes yon think go?"
"Oh, there's something about you
Hmllh girls that given you dead away."
"Gives us away? I like that!"
"My phrnso wus unfortunate. I like
Smith girls," he hastened to say.
In five minutes they were on the
friendliest terms talking of mutual
acquaintances a fact which both puz
zled and hurt Berea. Their laughter
angered her, and whenever she glnno
ed at them und detected Slonn looking
Into Wayland's face with coquettish
hlmper slio was embittered. She was
glad when Moore came In and Inter
rupted the dialogue.
Not-cross did out relax, though be
considered tbo dangers of cross exam
ination u I moat entirely passed. In this
lie was mistaken, for uo sooner was
the keen edge of Mrs, Belden's hunger
dulled than her curiosity Nhurpcned.
"Where did you say the supervisor
wan?" she repeated.
' "The horses got away, and he bad to
go buck after them," again responded
Iterrle, who found the scrutiny of the
oilier girl deeply disconcerting.
"When do you expect him hack?'
"Any uitmite now," she replied, and
In (his she was not deceiving them, al
though she did not Intend to volunteer
any Information which might embar
rass either Wayluud or herself.
Norcross tried to create a diversion.
"Isn't this a charming valley?"
Slonn took up the cue. "Isn't It?
It's romantic enough to be the back
drop lu a Itret Unite play, I love It I"
(.........I nr.. !., ...I it
WIMiriV 1.111 ll,T III ITUJinUU. A UIIVW
a Norcross, a Michigan lumberman,!
vice president of the association. Is
lie by any chuuee a' relative?" j
"Only a father," retorted Waylnnd,
with a smile. "Hut don't hold mo re-
upouslblo for anything he bus done.
We seldom agree"
Moore's manner changed abruptly.
"Indeed! And what Is the son of W.
W. Norcross doing out bore In the for
est service?"
Tho change In tier father's tone was
i not lost upou Slonn, who ceasotl her
hauler and studied the young man with
deeper Interest, while Mrs. Iteldcn, de
lecting some restraint lu Uerrlo's tone,
renewed her questioning, "Where did
you camp lust night?"
"Might here."
"I don't oo bow tho horses got away.
There's a pasture hero, for we rode
right through It."
' Iterrle wus aware that each moment
of delay In explaining the situation
looked like evasion and deepened the
Klgnlllcance of her predicament, and
.vet ahe could not bring herself to the
task of minutely accounting for bor
time during the last two days.
lielden came to her relief. "Well,
well, we'll have to be moving on.
We're going Into camp at the mouth
of tho wost fork," he said as he roso.
"Tell Tony nud tho supervisor that we
want to line out that timber at the ear
liest possible moment."
Slonu, who was now distinctly co
quetting with Waylnnd, held out her
hand, "I hope you'll llnd time to
come up and sec us. I know we have
other mutual friends If we had time
to get at tky'tif."
Ills answer was humorous. "I am a
soldier. I am on duty. I'm not nt nil
hui'e (hut I shall have a mometit's
leave, hut I will call If I can possibly
lo so "
They started otT at last without hav
ing learned In detail anything of the
Intlntntc relationship Into which the
impervlsor's daughter and young Nor
cross had been thrown, and Mrs. Bel
deu was still so uitifli lu the dark that
the called to Iterrle: "I'm going to
MMid word to OUT that you are over
here. He'll he craay to cxuuo the min
ute he tlnds It out."
"iHin't do that!" protested Iterrle.
Wayland turned to Iterrle, "That
would Ive pleasant." lie said smilingly.
Itut she did not return his smile. On
(lie contrary, ahe remained very grave.
"I wish thut old talebearer had kept
nway. She's going to make trouble
for us nil. And that girl, Isn't she a
Mieolarle? I never cvuld bear her."
"Why, what' wrong with her? She
hoenia a very nice, sprightly person."
"Klip's regular play actor. I don't
like mndeiip people. Why doea she go
around wltlt her sleeves rolled up that
wa.v and-aiid hor dress open nt the
throat V
"Oh, those are the affectations of
the moment. She wants to look tough
and boisterous. That' the fad with
nl the girls just now. Its only
Iri nn less piece of toolllinoiui."
She could not tell htm how deeply
alio reaouted his ready lone of camara
derie with the other girl, but the was
nocretly suffering. It hurt her to thin
thai lie could forget his aches aud be
an five and easjr wdth stranger at a
moment's noflce. "Under the influence
of that girl's smile he seemed to bare
quite forgotten bis exhaustion and his
pain. It waa wonderful how cheerful
be had been while abe was In sight
In all this Berrie did blm an injus
tice. He had been keenly conscious,
daring every moment of the time, not
only of bis bodily Hla, hut of Berrie,
and be had kept a brave face In order
that he might prevent .further ques
tioning on the part of a malicious girl.
It was his only way of being heroic.
Now that the crisis was passed be was
julte aa much of a wreck as ever.
CHAPTER X.
Further Perplaxitiaa. '
PERCEIVING Wayland's return
ing weakness, Berea Insisted on
bis lying down again while she
set to work preparing dinner.
"There Is no telling when father will
get here," abe said. "And Tony will
be hungry when be comes. Lie down
and rest"
i lie obeyed her silently and, going
to the bunk, at once fell asleep. How
long be slept be could not tell, but he
was awakened by the voice of the
ranger, who was standing in the door
way and regarding Berrie with a round
eyed stare.
lie was a tall, awkward fellow of
about thlrty-Sve, plainly of the fron
tier type, but a man of Intelligence.
At the end of a brief explanation Ber
rie said, with an air of authority:
"Now you'd better ride up the trail
and bring our camp outfit down. We
can't go back that woy anyhow."
The ranger glanced toward Wayland.
"All right, Miss Berrie, but perhaps
your tenderfoot needs a doctor."
Wuylund rose painfully, but resolute
ly. "Oh, no, I am not sick. I'm a lit-
Tht Suparvlaar Waved His Hand.
tie lame, that's ull. I'll go along with
you."
"No,"suld Berrlo decisively. "You're
nut well enough for thut. Gut up your
horses, Tony, and by that time I'll
have some dinner ready."
"All right, Miss Berrie," replied the
man and turned away.
Hardly bad be crossed the bridge on
his way to the pasture when Berrie
cried out, "There comes daddy."
Waylnnd Joined hor ut the door and
stood beside her watching the super
visor as ho came algmigglng down the
steep bill to the east Willi nil his
horses trailing, lichlud blm roped to
gether head to tall.
"He's hud to come round by Lost
lake," she exelalmed. "He'll be tired
out and absolutely starved. Wuhool"
she slioiited lu greeting, aud the su
pervisor waved his hand.
There was something superb In the
calm sent of the veteran ns he slid
down the slope. He kept bis place In
the saddle with the air of the rider
to whom hunger, fatigue, windfalls
ami Miinwslldes were nil a part of tho
day's work, nud when he reined lu he
fore tho door and droped from his
horse ho put his arm about bis daugh
ter's neck with quiet word: "I thought
I'd llnd you here. How Is everything?"
"All right, daddy. But what about
you? Where have you been?"
"Clean buck to Mill mrk. The
Mamed rnyuses kept Just ahead of me
all the way,"
"Poor old dadl Aud on top of that
came the snow."
"Yes, and a whole hatful. I couldn't
get buck over the high pass. Had to
go round by Lost lake, and, to cup all,
Old Uuldy took a notion not to lead.
Oh, I've had n peueh of a time, but
here 1 am. Have you seen Moore and
his party?"
"Yes, they're In camp up the trail.
Ilu and Alec Meldcti aud two women.
Are you huugry?'
He turued a comical glance upou her
"Am I hungry? Sister, I am a wolf.
Norcross, take uiy horses dowu to the
pasture."
Hhe hastened to lutorpose. "Let me
do that, daddy, Mr. Norcross t Imdly
used up. You see, we started down
here Inte yesterday ufternoou. It was
ruining und horribly muddy, aud I took
the wrong trail. The darkness caught
us, and we didn't reach the station till
nearly midnight,"
Wnylsnd acknowledged his weak
ness. "I gueaa I made a mistake, iu
perrlsor; Cut not titled for this strvuu
ous life."
McFarlane was quick to understand.
"I didn't Intend to pitchfork you into
the forest life quite so auddeuly," be
said "lWt gtva up yet awhile. You'll
harden to It."
stiuwsirj
.. "Here comes Tony," said Berrie.
"He'll look after the ponies." -
Nevertheless Wayland went oat, be
lieving that Berrie wished to be alone
with her father for a short time.
Aa he took bis seat McFarlane said:
"You stayed In camp till yesterday aft
ernoon, did you?
"Yes, we were expecting you every
moment"
He saw nothing In this to remark
upon. "Did It snow at the lake?'
"Yes, a little; It mostly rained."
"It stormed up oo the divide like a
January blizzard. When did Moor
and his party arrive?"
"About 10 o'clock this morning.". .... .
"I'll ride right up and see them.
What about the outfit? That's at the
luke, I reckon?'
"Yes, I was Just sending Tony after
it. But father, if you go up to Moore's
camp don't say too much about what
bus happened. Don't tell them Just
when you took the back trail and Just
how long Wayland and I. were ,ln
camp."
"Why not?'
She reddened with confusion. "Be
cause You know' wbut an old gossip
Mrs. Belden Is. I don't want ber to
know. She's an awful talker, and our
being together up there all that time
will give her a chance."
A light broke In oo the supervisor's
brain. In the midst of his preoccupa
tion as a forester be suddenly became
the father. His eyes narrowed aud
his face darkened. "That's so. The
old rip could make a whole lot of cap
ital out of your being left in camp
that way. At the same time I don't
believe in dodging. The worst thing
we could do would be to try to blind
the trail. Was Tony here last night
when you came?"
"No; be was down the valley after
his mall."
His face darkened agnln. "That's
another piece of bad luck too. How
much does the old .woman know at
present?"
-"Nothing at nil."
"Didn't she cross examine you?'
"Sure , she did, but Wayland side
tracked her. Of course It only delays
things. She'll know all about It soon
er or luter. She's great ut putting two
and two together. Two and two with
her always make five."
McFarlane mused. "Cliff will be
plumb crazy If she gets bis ear first."
"I don't care anything about Cliff,
daddy. I don't care what be thinks or
does If be will only let Wayland alone."
"See here, daughter, you do seem to
be terribly Interested In this tourist."
"He's the finest mnn I ever knew,
futhor." . .
He looked at her with tender, trust
ing glunce. "He Isn't your kind, daugh
ter. He's a nice clean boy, but he's
different He don't belong n our
world. He's only Just stopping , here
Don't forget that."
"I'm not forgetting that, daddy. I
know he's different. That's why I like
hliu." After a pause she added: "No
body could buve been ulcer all through
these days than he has been. He was
like a brother."
McFarlane fixed a keen glance upon
her. "Has be said anything to you?
Did you come to an understanding?"
Her eyes fell. "Not the way you
mean, daddy, but I think be likes me.
But do you know who be Is? He's the
sou of W. W. Norcross, thut big Mich
Ignu lumberman."
McFarlane started. "How do you
know that?"
"Mr. Moore asked him if he was any
relation to W. W. Norcross, and he
aid, 'Yes, a son.' You should have
seen how that Moore girl changed her
tune the moment he admitted that
She'd been very free with hi in up to
that time. But when she found out
he wus a rich man's son she became
ns quiet and Innocent as a kitten. I
hate herl She's a deceitful snip!"
"Well, now, duughter, thnt being the
ense. It's all the more certuin that be
don't belong to our world, and you
mustn't fix your mind on keeping blm
here."
"A girl can't help fixing her mind,
daddy."
"Or chnuRlng it." Ho smiled a lit
tle. "You used to llko Cliff. You liked
him well enough to promise to marry
him."
"I know I did. But I despise him
uow."
"Poor Cliff! But the thing we've got
to guard ngnlust Is old ludy Iteldeu's
tongue, Shu and that lielden gang
have It tu tor me, aud all thnt has
kept them from open war has been
Cliff's relationship to you. They'll
take a keen delight lu making the
worst of nil this camping business."
Mel'arlaue was uow very grave. "1
wish your mother was here this min
ute. 1 guess we had better cut out this
timber cruise nud go right back."
"No, you mustn't do that.. That
would ouly make more talk. Oo ou
with your pluus. I'll stay here with
you. It won't take you but a couple
of days to do the work, aud Way laud
tievds the rest"'
"But suppose Cliff hears of this bu.nl.
ness between you nud Norcross and
couies galloping over tho ridge?"
"Well, let blm. He ha uo claim on
me,"
He rose uneasily, "It's all mighty
risky busluesa, and It's my fault I
should Lever have permitted you to
tn tt on this trip."
"Don't you worry about me. daddy.
I'll pull through somehow. Anybody
that kuows me will understand bow
little there Is In-lu old lady Belden's
gnb. I've had a beautiful trip, and t
won't let her nor anybody els spoil It
for me."
Wayland was down on the bridge
leaning over Uia rail llsteutug to. tho
song of the water.
McFariana approached gravely, but
when be spoke It was In his usual
soft niouotene. "Mr. Norcross," h
began, with candid Inflection.. "I am
vepy sorry to say ft. but I wish you
and my -daughter-bad never started
on this trip." -- :
"I know what yo& mean, supervisor,
and I feel aa you do about It Of
course none of n foresaw any such
complication as this, bnt now that we
are snarled np In It well have to mnke
the best of tt. No one of ns Is ti
blame. It waa alt accidental."
The youth's frank words and bis
sympathetic rotce disarmed McFar
lane completely. Even the slight re
sentment" he felt melted away. "It'e
no uae saying 'If,'" be remarked at
length. '"What we've got to meet Is
Beth Belden's report-Berrie hns cut
loose from CI 1ft, and he's red headed
already. . When he drops on to this
story, when be learns that I had to
chase bs'ck after the horses and that
you aud, Berrie were alone together
for three days, he'll have a fine club
to swing, and he'll swing It, and Alec
will help him. Tbeyire all waiting
a chance, to get me, and they're uieau
enough to get me through my girl."
"What can I do?' asked Waylnnd.
McFarlane pondered. "I'll try to
head off Marm Belden and I'll have a
talk with . Moore. He's a pretty rea
sonable chap."
"But you forget there's another tale
bearer. Moore's daughter is with
them."
"That's so. I'd forgotten her. Good
Lord, we are In for it! There's no
use trying to cover anything up."
Here was the. place for Norcross to
speak up and say, "Never mind, I'm
going to ask Berrie to be my wife."
But be couldn't do it Something rose
In his throat which prevented speech.
A strange repugnance, a kind of sul
len resentment at being forced into a
declaration kept him silent, and Mc
Farlane, disappointed, wondering and
hurt kept silence also.
Norcross wus the first to speak. "Of
course those who know your daughter
will not. listen for an Instant to the
story of on unclean old thing like Mrs.
uelden.". -"I'm
not. so sure about that" re
plied the father gloomily. 'Teople al
ways listen to such stories, and a clrl
always gets the worst of a situation
llko this... Berrle's been brought up to
take care of herself, and she's kcDt
clear of criticism so far, but with Cliff
on edge and this old rip snooping
around" His mind suddenly changed.
i our being tho. son of a rich man
won't help any. Why didn't you tell
me who you were?"
"I didn't think It necessary. What
difference docs It make? I bnve noth
ing to do with my father's business.
His notions of forest speculation nre
not mine."
"It would have nindo a difference
with me, and It might have mnde a
difference with Berrlo. She mightn't
nave been so free with you at the start
If .she'd known who you were. You
looked sick and kind of lonesome, and
thnt worked on her sympathy."
"I was sick and I was lonesome, and
she has been very sweet and lovely to
mo, and. It breaks my heart to think
that her kindness nnd your friendship
should bring nil this trouble nnd sus
picion upon her. Let's go up to the
Moore camp and have it out with them.
I'll make nny statement you think
best."
"I reckon the less said about It the
better," responded the older mnn. "I'm
going up to the camp, but not to talk
about my daughter."
"How enn you help it? They'll force
the topic."
"If they do I'll force them to let It
alone," retorted McFarlane, but he
went away disappointed and sorrow
ful. ;
When the supervisor returned from
the camp something In his mnnner re
vealed the fact that the situation had
not Improved.
"They forced me Into a corner," he
said peevishly. "I lied out of one night,
but they know that yon were here Inst
night Of course they were respectful
enough so long ns I had an eye on
them, but their tongues are wagging
now."
As bedtime drew near Settle took a
blanket and went to the corral, and
Berrlo Insisted that her father and
Wayland occupy the buuk.
Norcross protested, but the supervis
or said: "Let her alone. She's better
utile to sleep on the floor than either
of us."
This was perfectly true: but, In spite
of his bruised and aching body, the
youth would gladly have taken her
place besido the stove. It seemed piti
fully unjust thnt she should have this
physical hardship lu addition to ber
uneasiness of mind, .
Berea suffered a restless night the
most painful aud broken she had
known lu all her life. She acknowl
edged that Sloim Moore was prettier
and thut she stood more nearly on
Wayland's plane than herself, but the
reullaatloB of this fact did not bring
surrender. She' was not of that tem
per. All her life she had been cnlled
upon to combat the elements, to hold
her own amid rude men and Inconsid
erate women, nud she hud no Intention
of yieldlug her pluoe to a pert co
quette, uo mutter what the gossips
might say.
"She shall not have her way with
Wayland," she sledded. "I know wbnt
she wants-she wauts him at her side
tomorrow. But I will not have It so.
She Is trying to get him away from me."
The moro she dwelt on tliU the hot
ter her Jrailous fever .burned. The floor
on which she lay was full of knots.
She could not lose herself In sleep, tired
ii she was. The planks no longer
turned their soft spot to her flesh, and
she rolled from side to side In torment
Uer plan of action was simple. "1
shall en bom tomorrow and take
Waylaad with me. , I will not have
him going with that girl; that's set
tled." The ba4 trip of.. tta...dX before
had seemingly done him no permanent
injury. On the contrary; a few. hours'
rest bad almost restored blm. to his
normal self. "Tomorrow he will- be
sble to ride again."- And this thought
reconciled ber to her bard bed. ' She
did not look beyond the long, delicious
day which they must spend In return
ing to the Springs.
- 8be fell asleep nt last and was awak
ened only by her father tinkering about
the stove.
CHAPTER XI.
The Camp on the Pass.
S soqn us she was alone with her
father Berrie said, "I'm going
home today, dud."
"Going home! What forr
"I've had enough of it"
He glunced at her bed on the door.
"I can't say I blame you any."
"Ob, I don't mind sleeping on the
floor," she replied. "But I wuut to get
buck. I don't wnnt to meet those wo
men. Another thing, you'd better use
Mr. Norcross nt the Springs Instead of
leaving him here with Tony."
"Wliy so?"
"Well, he Isn't quite well enough to
run the risk. It's a long way from
here to a dooter."
"He 'pehrs to be on deck this morn
ing. Besides, I haven't anything lu
the office to offer him."
"Then send him. up to Meeker. Lan
don needs help, nud he's a better for
ester than Tony anyway."
"I don't know but you're right Lan
don Is almost as good a hustler as
Tony and a much better forester. I
thought of sending Norcross up there
at first, but ho told me that Frank and
his gang had it in for blm. Of course
he's only nominally In tho service, but
I want him to begin right"
Berrie weut further, "I want him
to ride back with me today."
He looked ut her with grave Inquiry.
"Do you think that a wise thing to do?
Won't that make more talk?'
"We'll start early and ride straight
through." -
"You'll have to go by Lost lake, nnd
that means a long, hard bike. Can be
stand It?"
"If I find we can't make it I'll pull
Into a ranch. But I'm sure we can."
When Wayland enme in the super
visor Inquired, "Do you feel able to
ride back over the hill today?" .
"Entirely bo. It Isn't the riding that
uses me up. It Is the walking, and, be
sides, as a candidate for promotion 1
must obey orders especially orders to
mnrch."
They brenkfnsted hurriedly and
while McFnrJnne nnd Tony . were
bringing In the- horses Wayland and
Berrie sot tho cabin to lights. Work
ing thus side by side, she recovered
her dominion over bitn and at the
snme time regained her own cheerful
self confidence.
"You're a wonder!" he exclaimed as
he watched her deft adjustment of the
dishes nnd fnrnlrure. "You're ambi
dextrous." "I have to be to hold my Job," she
laughingly replied. "A feller must play
all the parts when he's up here."
It was still early morning as they
mounted and set off up the trail, but
Moore's camp was astir, and as Mc
Farlane turned In much against Ber
rle's will the lumberman and his
daughter both came out to meet them.
"Come In and have some breakfnst,"
snld Slonn. with cordial incluslveness.
while her eyes met Wnylnnd's glance
with mocking glee. . . ;
"Thank you," said McFnrlnne, "wr
enn't stop. I'm going to set my dnugb-
You're a wondtrl" ha exclaimed.
ter over the divide. She has bad
enough camping, and Norcross Is pret
ty well battered up, so I'm going to
help them across. I'll be buck toulght
and we'll take our turn up the valley
tomorrow. Nash will be here then."
Berrie did not uilud her father's ex
planatlou. On the contrary, she took
a distinct pleasure lu letting the other
girl know of the long and lntlmute
day she was about to spend with her
young lover.
8lona, too adroit to display her dis
appointment expressed polite regret.
"I hope you won't get storm bound,"
she said, showing her wblta teeth lu
a meanlug smile.
"If there Is any sign of a storm we
won't cross," declared McFarlane
"We're going round by the lower pass,
anyhow. If I'm not here by dark you
may know I'ts stayed to set 'em down
at the mllL"
n
. There was-icbarm -In- Slona's alert
noise, and la the neatness of her camp
dress. Her dnlnty tent with its stools
and rugs, made the- wilderness seem
but a park. She reminded Norcross of
the- troops of tourists of the'Tyrol. nnd
her tent was of a . kind to harmonize
with the tea bouses on the path to the
summit of . the Matterborn. Then, too.
something triumphantly feminine shone
in her bright eyes and glowed In ber
joftly rounded cheeks. Her hand was
little and pointed, not fitted like Ber
rle's for tightening a cinch or wielding
an ax, and aa be said "Goodby" he
added, "I hope I shall see you again
soon." and at the moment he meant It
"We'll return. to the Springs in a few
days," she replied. "Come and see us.
Our bungalow is on the other side of
the river. And you too," she addressed
Berrie, but her tone was so convention
ally polite that the ranch girl, burning
with Jealous beat, made no reply.
McFarlane led the way to the lake
rapidly and In silence. The splendors
of the foliage, subdued by the rains;
the grundeur of the penks, the song of
the glorious stream, all were lost on
Berrie, for she now felt herself to be
nothing but a big, clumsy, coarse band
ed tomboy. Her worn gloves, her fad
ed skirt and her man's shoes had been
made hateful to her by that smug,
graceful, play acting tourist with the
cool, keen eyes and smirking lips. "She
pretends to be a kitten, but she Isn't
She's a sly grownup cat," she, bitterly
accused, but she could not deny the
charm of her personality.
Wnyland was forced to acknowledge
that Berrie In this dark mood was not
the delightful companion she bad hith
erto been. Something sweet and con
tiding had gone out of their relation
ship, aud he was too keen wltted not
to know what It wns. He estimated
precisely the value of the malicious
parting words of Slona Moore.
That Berrie was suffering and that
her Jealousy touchlngly proved the
depth of her love for him brought no
elation, only perplexity, ne was not
seeking such devotion. As a compan
ion on the trail she bad been a Joy; as
a Jealous sweetheart she wns less nd
mlrable. He renllzcd perfectly thnt
this return Journey was of her ar
rangement, not McFarlnne's, and, while
he was not resentful of ber care, be
wasvln doubt of the outcome. It hur
ried him into a further Intimacy which
might prove embarrassing.
At tho camp by the lnke the super
visor became sharply commanding.
"Now, let's throw these packs on live
ly. It will be slippery on the high
trail, nod you'll Just naturally have to
hit leather hard nud keep Jouncing If
you reach the wagon road before dark.
But you'll make It."
"Make it!" snld Berrie. "Of course
we'll mnke it Don't you worry about
that for n minute. Once I get out of
the green timber the dark won't worry
me. We'll push right through."
In packing the camp stuff on the
saddles Berrie, almost ns swift and
powerful ns her father, ncted with per
fect understanding of every tnsk, nnd
Wayland's ndmlratlon of her skill In
creased mightily.
She Insisted on .her fnther's turning
bnck. "We don't need you," she snld.
"I can find the pass."
McFarlane's faith In Ills daughter
had been tested many times, and yet
he was a little loath to have her start
off on a trail new to her. He argued
against It briefly, but she laughed nt
his feors. "I can go anywhere yon
can," she snld. "Stand clenrl" With
final admonition he stood clear.
"Goodby!" he cnlled. "If you meet
Nash hurry him along. Moore Is anx
ious to run those lines. Keep in touch
with Landon, and If nnybod.v turns up
from tho district office say I'll be bnck
on Friday. Good luck!"
"Sume to you. So long!"
Beren led the way, and Norcross fell
in behind the pack horses, feeling as
unimportant ns a small boy nt tbe
heels of a circus parade. His girl cap
tain was so competent, so self reliant
nnd so sure thnt nothing he could say
or do assisted In the slightest degree.
Her leadership was a curiously close
reproduction of her fnther's unhurried
and graceful action. Her seat in the
saddle was as easy ns London's, and
her eyes were alert to every rock and
stream In the road. She was at home
here, where the other girl would have
been n bewildered child, nnd his words
of praise lifted the shadow from her
fnce.
Waylnnd called out, "The nlr feels
like Thanksgiving morning, doesn't it?"
"It is Thanksgiving for me, nnd I'm
going to get a grouse for dinner," she
replied, and lu less than an hour the
snap of her rifle made good her prom
ise.
After, leaving the upper lnke she
turned to the right nnd followed the
course of a swift and splendid stream
which came churning through a cheer
less, mossy swamp of spruce trees. In
experienced as he wns, Wayland knew
that this was not a well marked trail,
but his confidence In his guide was
too great to permit of nny worry over
the pass, and he amused himself by
watching the wnter robins ns they
flitted from stone to stone In the tor
rent, and In calculating Just where he
would drop a line for trout if he hnd
time to do so, nud In recovered seren
ity enjoyed his ride. Gradually he put
aside his perplexities concerning tho
future, permitting his mind to prefig
ure nothing but his duties with Lan
don at Meeker's mill.
He was rather glad of the decision
to send blm there, for It promised ab
sorbing stKvrt "I shall see how Lan
don and Belden work out their prob
lem," he snld. He bad no fear of
Prank Meeker now. "As a forest guard
with official duties to perform I can
meet that young, savage on other and
more nearly equal terms," he assured
himself.
The trull grew slippery and In places
ran run or water. 'BntthS?--
torn somewhere," Berrie f ' 1 '
declared; and pushed ahead
IHIO TTtTaan It; w..
rose- above- timber and euteZj v''
the wide, smooth slopes nr
Snow filled the- un... u.
wind, keen, eutrtc. nni,i..,'
nnt of the desolate west -in
fury, but the sun" e-Jcaslomu, .A
through the clouds with i,2 '
dor. - "it is December now-
Waylnnd as he frit on his ii;
cowered low to his saddle,
be January soon!" -j
"We wiU maka.lt cartway.'''
she laughed, audjier K0Wng j
yior wirrmed bis. heart.
tlrely her cheerful self again.
as iuey rose I lie view betum.
nilicent, wintry,-spurklinir tk.
clouds, drifting like n,.ent
heavy with urmainent, sent do.! '
showers of hail ,QVer the frosted
of the grassy slopes, hut wImk
shadows passed the sunlight desJ.
ed In silent cntnracts dellclously,
like. The conies squeaked L,
rocky ridges nnd n brace of eajlt,,
cling ubout a lone crag, ns if ti,J
In their sovereign mastcrv of th. .r
screamed iu shrill ecstatic duo. TM
sheer cliffs on their shadowed .iJ
were violently purple. Everywhei J
iiiuua.-uie eAuiuueu, ensuing contns
of primary pigments which bit i,
consciousness like the flnre of i g,,
uni nana.
It wus nearly 2 o'clock when u.
began to drop down behind the rock,
ridges of the eastern slope, and tm.
In tbe bottom of a warm and shcit..
ed hollow Just at timber line, Bcrtij S
arew uer norse to stand and Hk
from the saddle. "We'll rest beren
hour," she said, "and cook our grooie,
or are you too hungry to wnlt?"
"I can wait,"., be. answered dramatJ
tally. "But It seems as if I had net
eaten.'
"Well, then, we'll save the grouse tri'
tomorrow, but I'll make some coffetl
You bring some .water while I start il
tire."
And so, while the tired horses croo-'
ped the russet grass, she , boiled somgi
coffee and laid out some bread and
meat, while he sat by watching herl
and absorbing the beauty of the scend
the charm of the hour. "It Is euctlT1
like a warm afternoon In April," hi
sold, "nnd here are some of the prtoj
flowers."
"There now, sit by and eat," th1
said, with humor, and In perfectly rt-j
stored tranquillity they ate and dranl
with no thought of critics or of rivals.!
They were alone, and content to be m I
It wns deliclously sweet and restful
there In thut sunny hollow on the
breast of the mountain. Tbe wind
swept through the worn branches of
the dwnrfed spruce with Immemorial
wlstfuluess, but these youug soals
heard It only as a far off song. Side
by side on the soft Alpine clover the;
rested nnd talked, looking away at the
shining penks, and down over tbe dark
green billows of fir beneath them.
Half the forest was under tbelr eje
nt the moment, and the man said: "li
It not magnificent! It makes me proud
of my country. Just think, all th
glorious spread of hill nnd valley Is un
der your fnther's direction I may ia;
under your direction, for 1 notice he
does Just about what you tell blm to
do."
"You've, noticed that?" she laugbi-d.
"If I were a man I'd rather be super
visor of this forest than congressman."
"So would I," he agreed. "Naab ayi
you are the supervisor. I wonder If
your father realizes how efficient yon
are? Does be ever sorrow over your
not being a boy?"
Her eyes shone with mirth. "Not
that I can notice. Be 'pears con
tented." "You're a good deal like a sou to
him, I Imagine. You enn do about U
that a boy can do, anyhow more than
I could ever do. Does he realize bow
much you have to do with the man
agement of his forest? I've neverseen
your like.' I really believe yon could
carry on the work as well as be."
Se flushed with pleasure. "fo
seem to think I'm a district forester in
disguise."
"I have eyes, Miss Supervisor, od
also ears, which lends me to ask, Why
don't you claim out that saloou gang?
Lnndon Is sure there's crooked work
going on at thnt mlll-ertalnly tint
open bnr Is a dlsgrneeful nnd corrupt
ing thing."
Her fnce clouded. "We've tried to
cut out thnt saloon, but it can't be
done. You see,- it's on i pntenteJ
claim. Tbe clnlm wus bogus.
conrset and we've mnde complaint but
the matter Is hung up nnd that gl
'em a chnnce to go on."
"Well, let's not talk of thnt It'""
delicious an hour for any question or
business, It Is a moment for poehT
I wish I could write what I feel thl"
moment Why don't we camp
and watch the sun go down and t
moon rise? From our lofty vsnta?
ground the coming of dawn would
a n epic."
"We mustn't think of thnt P1
tested. "We must be going" .
"Not yet The hour Is too penf
It mny never come again. The wW
In the pines, tlw sunshine, the conj
crying from their rocks, the butterf.''
on tbe clover my heart e
the beauty of It. It's been i wo"
ful trip. Even that staggering
In the rain bad Its splendid qnalltf;
couldn't see the poetry In It then.
I do now. These few days hsv m"
ns comrades, hftven't they-comr1"
of the trnlir '
(Contlanea next Saturday.)
J
A cent a word will Ull
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