Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21

rocky ledge of shelf above the gorge step
ping out from his cabin at 10 o'clock to
take look at the weather before turn
ing in. could observe distinctly the out
line of the black wagon. the fioundering
horses, ara the crouching figures by their
side, scarcely larger than pigmes on the
white surface of snow, thousand feet
below him Jack had courage and strength
and the good humor that accompanies
them, but he contented himself for a few
moments with lazily Observing the travel
ers' discontinue. He had taken in the
situation with a glance; he would have
helped a brother miner or mountaineer
although he knew that it could only have
been drink or bravado that brought him
into the gorge in snowstorm, but 1t was
very evident that these We're "greenhorns,
or eastern tourists, and it served their
stupidity and arrogance right, He re-
membered also how he. having once helped
an eastern visitor catch the mustang that
had "bucked him. had been called my
man. and presented with 81: he recalled
how he had once spread the humble re-
sources of his cabin before some straying
members of the San Francisco party who
were opening the new railroad, and
heard the audible wonder of a lady that
civilized being could live SO "coarsely!'
With these recollections in his mind he
managed to survey the distant struggling
horses with a fine sense of hrInor. not I'M
mixed with scii-righteouSneSs. There was
no real danger in the situation it meant a
the worst delay and 4 CAMPING, in the
SHOW I'LL morning, Whefi ne would go down
to their assistance. They had spaci ouS
travelling equipaGe, and were. no doubt,
Well supplied with fTrs. robes and pro-
.iSiphS for a Ss.tr2l hours Journey. his
own Fork barrel was quite empty and his
blankets worn- ffe half smiled, extended
his long arms in a decided yawn and
turned back into his cabin to go to bed
Then he cast final glance around the in
terror. Everything was all right: his lead
ed rifle stood against the wall: he had just
raked ashes over the embers OF his fire to
keep it intact till morning. Only one thing
slightly troubled him: grizzly bear, two
thirds grown, but only half tanned, Which
had been given to him by young lady
named "Miggles." when that charming and
historic girl had decided to accompany her
paralytic lover to the San Francisco hos
pital, was missing that evening. 1t had
been its regular habit to come to the door
every night for some sweet biscuit or sugar
before going to its lair in the underbrush
behind the cabin. Everybody knew it
along the length and breadth of Hemlock
Ridge. as well the fact of it's being a
legacy of the fair exile. No rifle had ever
yet been raised against his lazy bulk or the
stupid. snali-eyed head, and ruff of cir
cling hairs made more erect by it's we'll
worn leather collar. ConSoling himself
with the thought that the storm had prob
ably delayed its return, Jack took off his
coat and threw 1t on his bunk. But from
thinking of the storm his thoughts natural
" returned again to the impeded travellers
below him, and he half mechani cally
stepped out again in his shirt sleeves for a
final look al them.
But here something occurred that
changed his resolution entirely. He had
previously noticed only the three fore
shortened. crawling figures around the now
stationary wagon bulk. They were now
apparently making arrangements to camp
for the night. But another figure had been
added to the group. and as it stood perched
upon wagon seat laid on the snow Jack
could See it's outline was not bifurcated like
the others. But even that general sugges-
ton was not needed: the little head, the
symmetrical curves visible even at that
distance were quite enough to indicate
that il was woman, The easy smile
faded from Jacks face, and was succeeded
by a look of concern and then of resigna-
ton He had no choice now: he must go,
There was woman there, and that set
tied it. Yet ne had arrived at this con-
clusion from no sense of gallantry. nor, in
deed, of chivalrous transport, but as a