Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-04-03

With great caution he got upon his
feet and struck out toward Gertrude.
The Ice cracked under him. Craigie's
pond was showing what it could do.
Gomez he cried, seiZing the girls
hand. The whole ponds breaking up!
What's the matter"
"My-my knees" gasped Gertrude.
''They-they tremble So
The poor child was experiencing one
OF the many strange phenomena OF
fear Her soul acknowledged no panic,
but she could not put forth one foot
beyond the other to save her life or
even to save his AS he paused beside
her she began to sink down, and the
Ice cracked around them with the soft
ly menacing voice Of doom.
He put his right arm around her.
and the ice groaned under them. For
the next few seconds it seemed to him
that he was skating on water rather
than ice. He knew that with this bur
den he could never reach the shore; he
knew that to sink with her was the
end for both Of them. And then the
black top of that strange rock called
the ''smokestack" seemed TO start up
under his eyes. His right skate cut
clean through. He stumbled. recovered
himself and stood gasping on the rock
with Gertrude In his arms.
He set her upon her feet and holding
her by the shoulders, looked into her
face with an excellent imitation OF
smile
'Well, Miss Allen" said he. how do
you like Craigie's pond:"
The manner Of this singular question
went far toward calming her, and the
rock under her feet lent tirmness to
her limbs.
WAS there ever anything so awful"
she cried
"Siuce you don't seem TO like it," he
rejoined, Il suggest that we go ashore"
II don't dare" said she. with a shud-
der "and | can't. | haven't the
strength"
"But we've tried the ice there. We
Inow it's strong said he. Don't be
afraid"
He stepped off the rock and extended
his hand to her She held back. He
gently drew her forward. and the uext
instant they both scrambled to the
SmOkestack again, while in the place
where they had stood appeared an ON
inous marking upon the ice like great
spiders web.
III tell you what's a fact, Miss AL
len," said the young man, with an eff
fort to be conventional Its warm
day, and this ice is melting faster than
any ice | ever saw before. Upon my
soul" he added, cts beginning to
rainr'
IN fact, some drops fell from the lead
en- sky upon his outstretched hand.
Gertrude caught him by the arm.
do you realize what that means?"
she cried I'VE shall have TO stay here
forever"
well, it mightn't be more than two
or three weeks" said he cheerfully
This weather can't last always And
with you for company
do you suppose it would do any
good TO scream" she asked suddenly.
Lets try"
I'D be ashamed" said he. glancing
at the shore as if lie feared detection.
and at that moment the bulky form Of
Jack Kemp appeared in the path be
tween the spruces.
For fully half minute Kemp stared
at them, and not word was spoken.
Then hc called in a voice that seemed
Inappropriate to the seriousness Of the
occasion:
Il say! What are you two doing out
there
We're waiting for a cold snap" re-
Piled Ripley pleasantly.
We've been skating. and the ice is
all melting, and We can't get ashore"
said Gertrude
Kemp took Il seat on a rock.
"The way the ice mclts in Craigie's
pond" said he "is scaudalous 1t is
said to be due to a peculiar geological
formation which lets warm water into
this pond from the lower regions Of
the earth. A Harvard professor was
up here one time and he told me-
"A little less geology and little
more assistance, Mr. Kemp" said Rip
ley, would seem to meet the require
ments Of the present situation"
Kemp took IA cigar out OF his pocket
ana slowly lighted It,