When she got up to follow Jack to the station, she walked stiffly because of her cramped muscles; but she didn’t seem to mind that in the least.  She made only one comment upon her vigil, and that was when she stopped in the door of the station and looked back at the heaving cloud of smoke that filled the eastern sky.

“Well, whatever happens to me from now on, I’ll have the comfort of knowing that for a few hours I have been absolutely happy.”  Then, with the abruptness that marked her changes of mood, she became the slangy, pert, feather-headed Marion Rose whom Jack had met first; and remained so until she left him after breakfast to go home to Kate, who would be perfectly wild.

CHAPTER TWELVE

KATE FINDS SOMETHING TO WORRY OVER

Kate may have been wild, but if so she managed to maintain an admirable composure when Marion walked up to the door of the cabin.  She did not greet her best friend with hysterical rejoicings, probably because she had been told of her best friend’s safety soon after dark the night before, and had since found much to resent in Marion’s predicament and the worry which she had suffered before Marion’s message came.

“Well!” she said, and continued brushing her hair.  “Have you had any breakfast?”

“Ages ago.  Where’s everybody?” Marion flung down her hat and made straight for the hammock.

“Helping put out the forest fire, I suppose.  They had to go last night, and I was left all alone.  I hope I may never pass as horrible a night again.  I did not sleep one minute.  I was so nervous that I never closed my eyes.  I walked the floor practically all night.”

“Forevermore!” Marion murmured from the hammock, her cheek dropped upon an arm.  “I simply ruined my shoes, Kate, walking through all those ashes and burnt stuff.  You’ve no idea how long it stays hot.  I wonder what would soften the leather again.  Have we any vaseline?”

Kate looked at her a minute and gave a sigh of resignation.  “Sometimes I really envy you your absolute lack of the finer sensibilities, Marion.  I should not have suffered so last night, worrying about you, if I were gifted with your lack of temperament.  Yes, I believe we have a jar of vaseline, if that is what worries you most.  But for my part, I should think other things would concern you more.”

“Why shouldn’t it concern me to spoil a pair of nine dollar shoes?  I don’t suppose I could get any like them in Quincy, and you know what a time I had getting fitted in Hamburger’s.  And besides, I couldn’t afford another pair; not till we sell our trees anyway.”

“How is the fire?  Are they getting it put out?” Kate’s face was veiled behind her hair.

“I don’t know, it is down the other side of the mountain now.  But three hundred men are fighting it, Jack said, so I suppose—­”

“Jack!” With a spread of her two palms like a swimmer cleaving the water, Kate parted her veil of hair and looked out at the girl.  “Jack who?  Is that the man up at the lookout station, that you—­”