Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-01-07

of Alaska. LaDgfield went with them
He was undeniably plain, understood
and over sensitive, and that was why
he felt certain that Dolly could never
love him. To be sure, he had had no
intention of loving her. but when six
feet two of well-deyeloped manhood,
IN the person of Tom Perry, came down
from Circle City prospecting, Langheld
found intentions and love had nothing
TO do with each other
Tom and Dolly had known each other
81 the States, and Langfield watched
with hopeless pain the renewal of their
friendship. She had grown shy with
him since Perry came, and there could
be but one reason, he argued. lie did
not blame her; there was nothing in
him to inspire a woman's love, and
Tom. So he packed his flute and
his knapsack and left with scarcely a
farewell.
The men were not fond of Langtield.
He had a way of shrinking into him
self that only Shivers, the camp mas
cot, lank, mongrel Siwash with the
stump or tan, UNDERSTOOD.
Langfield seldom Joined the camp
fires, but when the fever broke out
Langfeld was the first to offer his ser
vices. He was not afraid of contagion,
he told the sergeant. and anyway there
was no one at home who needed him.
After that he and Shivers took up their
quarters in the hospital tent.
The fever had its run, but only one,
thanks to the nursing, was borne UP
the trail and laid away under the snow.
scantling and drove it in by the mound,
but his band was unsteady, and his
eyes were heavy and dull.
The tcp sergeant. on his rounds the
next morning, found him sitting up in
his blankets. His face was swollen
and discolored, and he was talking ex-
citedly to Shivers.
You mustn't let Dolly get the fever, "
he said, shes so little. Nor Tom
promise me you won't let Tom" Shiv-
ers whined and thrust his muzzle into
his masters palm. "She couldn't help
loving him." Langfield continued de
fensively. You know she couldn't
yourselfv' He fell back ON the pillow
and tossed restlessly for moment.
It'll be cool Up there under the snow"
he began again, "and l won't be heavy
to pack. And say" He sat up pull
ing the dog close to him, maybe she'll
forget-that my hair was-red."
The men were very tender to Lang
field after that, and Shivers seldom left
his bedside.
When. some weeks later. he became
convalescent, he seemed smaller and
slighter than ever, and his hair shone
more wildly red against the pinched,
white face They carried him out into
the sunshine, but his eyes wandered
regretfully up to the snow.
In a month he was at his post again,
doing the work of two men. with
scarcely the strength of one.
He went down the mountain one
night an hour behind time. The trail
was slushy, and the early gray twi-
light lent a soft indistinctness every
where. Suddenly he paused. From
somewhere there came n faint cry,
weak and indistinct, but undeniably
human.
Langfeld made a trumpet of his
hands. "Hel-low he shouted. and
strained his ears for the reply
Some ten feet down the trail a gla-
cier stream had gullied out the bank.
Its icy. slate-colored waters fell almost
perpendicularly over the rocks. Creep
Ing TO the slippery edge, he peered over
and called again. n faint voice an
swered
4 steep. shelving path was just Wis
ible. and be elambered down to it,
scratched and torn by the hrambles at
every step A little further on a roll
of blankets impeded his way. and he
knew that somewhere in the ravine be
low he would find a prospector
The man proved to be a big fellow.
but the light was too dim to see his
face. The force of his fall had wedged
one leg between the crevices of rock.
ana 1t took Langtield's entire strength
70 extricate him. He pressed his can
teen 10 he strangers lips. and rubbed
him vigorously.
ITS no use" said the man at last,
II can't make it, and he sank Imply
GA the bank.
The night wore on. Slowly the gray
skirts OF dawn swept across the east
ern Sky. The proSpector could not see
I.angheld's face, but the slight droop-
inc shoulders seemed familiar The
pain was growing undesirable. and he
groaned.
Langheld started. Yes, yes" he an
swered ahSently. I'D forgotten" and
jumped TO his feet.
The morning light was flooding ev-
erything. and it fell upon the two men,
as they looked into each others eyes
Iangfeld drew in his breath with sud
den sharpness. The other muttered
an oath ANA leaned weakly back to-
ward him. You,
The man nodded.
The lines on I.angheld's face were
tense and drawn. and he Steadied him
SELF with an effort. Well he said At
last. s'its three miles TO camp. and we'd
better be moving"
There were few drops left in his
eanteen. He offered them to ais conf
oanion. converted himself into prop
for the wounded side, and the slow,
czinful journey down the trail began
Neither Of them talked much. The
mist hung midway on the mountain,
and when they emerged from IL the
company'S quarters lay on the ledge be
low. Already the camp was sstir.
The two men upon the path paused,
exhausted. Langfield eased the sick
man down and threw himself beside
him He had not eaten since the day
before. and was weak and giddy. For
the first time Perry's helplessness
tempted him. Why should this man