I Married a Ranger

e to work in the Park O

and Canyon?" I asked

acular chasm in the world, when I applied fo

rst glimpse of the Canyon. Bathed in cold moonlight, the depths were filled with shad

field clerk there. So very, very many pages of that booklet have never been written-pages replete with dangers and hardships, loneliness and privations, sacrifice and service, all sweetened with fri

uisance, although I assured him I was well able to take care of myself. Time softens most of life's harsh memories, and I've learned to see his side of the question. What was he to do with a girl amo

l to the Superintendent. He was a towering, gloomy giant of a man, and I rather timidly presen

know you were t

sorry," I said

at to do or say next, a tall blond m

ndent looked

uess I'll turn you over to him. Look after her,

one before he became Chief Ranger at Grand Canyon. I looked him over rather curiously and decided that I liked him very well. His keen blue eyes were t

you a We

ed. "But we drift out here from everywh

irginia?" I blurted. Homesick

d I reckon he saw that tear

ther went down there during the Civil

to be homesick. But he laughed

irrels and birds were everywhere. We walked past rows and rows of white tents pitched in orderly array among the pines, the canvas village of fifty or more road builders. By and by we came to a dra

e and hadn't been manicured since! But in view of the fact that the Park Service was handicapped by lack of funds, and in the throes of road building and general development, I was lu

sagged on its leather hinges and moved open or shut reluctantly. Square holes were cut in the walls for windows, but these were innocent of screen or glass. Cracks in the roof and walls let in an abundanc

didn't know how funny the financial inducements of my new job sounded to me

with the road crew and rangers, provided the cook didn't mind having a woman around. I began to have leanings toward "Equal-Rights-for-Women Clubs," but the cook was as nice as could be. I fel

en do. I ain't got time to fix fan

tumbling from their tents to eat. As I was washing my hands and face in the kitchen I heard Jack making a few remarks to his boarders: "Now don't any you roughnecks forget there's a lady eatin' here f

rees. As they became accustomed to having me around they shed their reserve along with their

my usual glass of milk and thin sandwich lunch. The food was served on long pine tables, flanked by backless benches. Blue and white enamel dishes, steel knives and forks, and of course no napkins, made up th

Chief sat at the head of the table, and my plate was at h

faithful friend one could wish for. He was never too tired nor too busy to add a shelf here or build a cabinet there in my tiny cabin for me. But all that I had to learn la

m steak to pie. The three meals there were breakfast

lorn look. White Mountain contributed a fine pair of Pendleton blankets, gay and fleecy. He spread a Navajo rug on the floor and placed an armful of books on the table. Ranger Fisk threw the broken chair outside and brought me a chair he had

k came to the rescue. He lent me his cot a

had hired a girl for the fire look-out tower, and suggested that I mi

n't lock. I'm glad to have her." So they found a

en. All day she stayed high in the fire tower, with her glasses scanning the surrounding country. At the first sign of smoke, she determined its exact locati

ther curiously. I waited

ng!" she said, and laug

ed next, after a glance around our new domain.

and this is primitive a-plenty for me. There's no bathroom, an

coaxed a tin basin away from the cook and were

e dragged the decrepit dresser against the front portal and moved a trunk across the bac

psed, I with it. Modesty vetoed a light, since the men were still passing our cabin on their way to the tents; so in utter darkness I pulled the mattress under the table and there made myself as comfortable as possible. Just as I was dozing, Thea came in from the kitchen bringing her cot bumping and ba

cat tomorr

allowed in the Park,"

snapped. "I can get some traps I reckon

just

spent sufficient time in the great open spaces, and just as soon as I could get some breakfast I was heading for Washington again. But by the time I had

sort of fruit on the table, and, remembering the cook's injunction to eat what he set before me, I answered: "No, thank y

overheard the conversation. A little later a teamster appear

uffy' to you. Please keep him hid from the rang

the better, and my Indian friend, my wee gray cat