"It's pretty sharp this mawnin'," said Flo. "You'll need gloves and

sweater."

Having fortified herself with these, Carley asked how to find West Fork

Canyon.

"It's down the road a little way," replied Flo. "A great narrow canyon

opening on the right side. You can't miss it."

Flo accompanied her as far as the porch steps. A queer-looking

individual was slouching along with ax over his shoulder.

"There's Charley," said Flo. "He'll show you." Then she whispered:

"He's sort of dotty sometimes. A horse kicked him once. But mostly he's

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sensible."

At Flo's call the fellow halted with a grin. He was long, lean, loose

jointed, dressed in blue overalls stuck into the tops of muddy boots,

and his face was clear olive without beard or line. His brow bulged a

little, and from under it peered out a pair of wistful brown eyes that

reminded Carley of those of a dog she had once owned.

"Wal, it ain't a-goin' to be a nice day," remarked Charley, as he tried

to accommodate his strides to Carley's steps.

"How can you tell?" asked Carley. "It looks clear and bright."

"Naw, this is a dark mawnin'. Thet's a cloudy sun. We'll hev snow on an'

off."

"Do you mind bad weather?"

"Me? All the same to me. Reckon, though, I like it cold so I can loaf

round a big fire at night."

"I like a big fire, too."

"Ever camped out?" he asked.

"Not what you'd call the real thing," replied Carley.

"Wal, thet's too bad. Reckon it'll be tough fer you," he went on,

kindly. "There was a gurl tenderfoot heah two years ago an' she had a

hell of a time. They all joked her, 'cept me, an' played tricks on her.

An' on her side she was always puttin' her foot in it. I was shore sorry

fer her."

"You were very kind to be an exception," murmured Carley.

"You look out fer Tom Hutter, an' I reckon Flo ain't so darn above

layin' traps fer you. 'Specially as she's sweet on your beau. I seen

them together a lot."

"Yes?" interrogated Carley, encouragingly.

"Kilbourne is the best fellar thet ever happened along Oak Creek. I

helped him build his cabin. We've hunted some together. Did you ever

hunt?"

"No."

"Wal, you've shore missed a lot of fun," he said. "Turkey huntin'.

Thet's what fetches the gurls. I reckon because turkeys are so good to

eat. The old gobblers hev begun to gobble now. I'll take you gobbler

huntin' if you'd like to go."




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