not
put in an appearance again that fall or winter and so did not hear of
the incident.

November brought a long, tiresome storm of snow and sleet and chill
winds, which even the beasts would not face, except when they were
forced. After that there were days of chilly sunlight, nights of black
frost, and more wind and rain and snow. Each little ranch oasis
withdrew into itself and settled down to pass the winter in physical
comfort and mental isolation. Even Billy Louise seldom rode abroad
unless she was compelled to, which was not often. The stage which
passed through the Wolverine basin twice a week left scanty mail in the
starch-box which Billy Louise had herself nailed to a post nearest the
trail. Now and then a chance traveler pulled thankfully out of the
trail, stopped for a warm dinner or a bed, and afterwards went his way.
But from October until the hills were green, there was never a sight of
Ward, and Billy Louise changed her mood and her opinion of him three or
four times a week.

Ward, as a matter of fact, had a very good reason for his absence. He
was working for a rancher over on the other side of the mountains, and
when he got leave of absence, it was merely that he might ride to his
claim and sleep there a night in compliance with the law, and see that
nothing was disturbed. He was earning forty dollars a month, which he
could not afford to jeopardize by any prolonged absence; and he was to
take part of his pay in cows. Also, he had made arrangements to keep
his few head of stock with the rancher's for a nominal sum, which
barely saved Ward from the humiliation of feeling that the man was
giving him something for nothing. Junkins, the rancher, was a good
fellow, and he had a fair sense of values. He knew that he could pay
Ward these wages and let him winter his stock there--I believe Ward had
seven or eight head at that time--and still make a fair profit on his
labor. For Ward stuck to his work, and he worked fast, with the drive
of his nervous energy and the impatience he always felt toward any
obstacle. Junkins considered privately that Ward was giving him the
work of two men, while he had the appetite of one. So that it was to
his interest to induce Ward to stay until spring opened and gave him
plenty to do on his own claim; and such was Ward's anxiety to acquire
some property and a certain financial security, that he put behind him
the temptation to ride down to the Wolverine until he