The Red Cloud chief., 1902-10-31

snuutu tAaN We uso 10 Nlut 10 rrns
for her
Can you no, do IL now
He shook his head and said t;Ie
avalanche had fallen in the pass be
hiEd them and they we're completely
shut in where there we're.
VIII there be 10 escape. che
asked
Not until spring unless ve can
cut our way through"
Laura went to her tent and xept
she realized how helpless she vas
and began To distrus, the Who
professed TO be her friend.
oh. Cod she gruaaed. ito Thee
alone ran ro~ appeal for help:
need expect none from these men
Mr.. Lakeland seemed very much
distressed that she vas cut of from
her female mpanioa. and selected
four men 10 70 hack. as he said. an
bring her over the fallen a~ralanche
II possible. The four selected were
Ben Allen, Morris. Ned Padge;; and
them apart. to give his faal instruc-
tons. he said:
Take the and wounded nan
back TO Sksguay."
What. An have him hang rs for
holdin' him prisoner in the noun.
tains?r asked Allen.
But be is insane. You are four
witnesses TO one"
Ned shrugged his shoulders and
muttered something about nerer want.
ing TO see Skaguay. especially While
their late prisoner lived.
Very we'll. then. start with them
toward Skaguay. but don't reach the
place. Become lost. You understand
how TO do that Al leas; he must
not know anything of the young NO
man here. and she nus have TO
knowledge that Paul Miller is alive"
His final instructions were SO clear
and imperative there could Be 10 pos.
sible installing them. and when be
had finished they took their departure.
The story abou. the avalanche fall
ing in their rear and blocking Up the
way was all a clever invention or the
part Of Mr.. Lakeland.
Lakeland went TO Lalra's tent. lis
white face wearing a and
troubled look. The lines o, his Tea.
lures seemed more deeply drawn and
his face was expressive Of the great.
est concern
"Laura-NIss Kean. Re began. in
his cautious. considerable name 4
hope you will believe me when ! say
that this lanentzble accident causes
me unaccountabie annoyance IN your
account. When awakened in the
night with the intelligence that q
storm a. coming and the pass would
be impossible. I decided that for you
| must act al once. II ~e were aboard
a sinking ship and | should rescue you
and take you ashore. would you deem
il an act OF hostility because ! did
not wait for some companion of
yours"
She bowed her head and was silent.
In argument. the subtle villain al
ways beat her. but when left 10 her.
self q con over What he had said and
commune with her own heart. she in.
stipctively felt the man vas a villain.
Intuition. or whatever you may choose
10 call il, told Laura her lover lived.
She was conscious Of his presence
somewhere IN this vast world. and
felt as ~instinctiyely drawn 10 him
as the needle TO the magnet.
Days passed and the small party
was still in the valley. hemmed in
by the mountains and eternal SHOWS.
Lakeland made frequent visits u
Laura after despatching the four men
10 give an account OF their progress
in cutting their Nay through she pass.
Laura, he said. in q IoE gentle
tone. which would have thrilled any
other woman, L have tried To hope
against hope for your sake. have
tried TO believe your lover lived. but
I must yield 10 facts. AL this Jour.
ney. hardship and suffering. this
passing the winter in an Alaskan
wilderness is 20 no purpose.
is Il ro,-'
Laura. are you very strong
She gave him a swift ~i.t look-An
luploTnE glance and gespe1:
What DO you mean
Can you hear q great shock
What shocE-~ha, Is it-speak out
I bessech you,"
Paul is dead"
Il, is false"
Ii is true
What evidence have yoa:"
The evidence Of men Sho sav him
die. He died three weeks ago..
His face -as so white. he expressed
such concern. that 2. vas strongly
Impressed .i,h bis names yet she
cried:
what you say can't be tue, Ny
heart tells me re lives
Nevertheless, her eyes gnex dim
.ith tears. which rrickled ztoSn her
camAsk cheeks. Lakeland. for sew
srai moments overcome With his o~n
emotions. AZ Jas; said.