Folks hurried about the sturdy beginning of a future greatness. And as
she left the boat and followed a new-laid walk of planks toward a
hotel, Jake Lauer stepped out of a store, squarely into her path.
His round face lit up with a smile of recognition. And Hazel, fresh
from the long and lonesome journey, was equally glad to set eyes on a
familiar, a genuinely friendly face.
"I am pleased to welgome you back to Gott's country, Mrs. Vagstaff," he
said. "Und let me carry dot suid case alretty."
They walked two blocks to the King's Hotel, where Lauer's family was
housed. He was in for supplies, he told her, and, of course, his wife
and children accompanied him.
"Not dat Gredda iss afraid. She iss so goot a man as I on der ranch
ven I am gone," he explained. "But for dem it iss a change. Und I
bring by der town a vaigonloat off bodadoes. By cosh, dem bodadoes iss
sell high."
It flashed into Hazel's mind that here was a Heaven-sent opportunity to
reach the cabin without facing that hundred miles in the company of
chance-hired strangers. But she did not broach the subject at once.
Instead, she asked eagerly of Bill. Lauer told her that Bill had
tarried a few days at the cabin, and then struck out alone for the
mines.
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