The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-14
CHAPTER XII.

S4fA4 LG1S 03S4s
That afternoon Thorpe met the other
members of the party, offered his apol-
ogies and explanations, and was gra-
ciously forgiven. He found the per-
sonnet to consist of, first of all, MIS-
Cary, the chaperon, very young
married woman OF p or there2bouts;
her husband, a youth of three years
older, clean-shaven, Hght-haired, quiet
hammered; Miss Elizabeth Carpenter,
who resembled her brother in the
characteristics of good looks. vivacious
disposition and curly hair; an attend
ant satellite of the masculine perSua-
sion called Norton; and last of all, the
girl whom Thorpe hal all eady so va
riously encountered and whom he now
met as Miss HiIda Farrand. Beside
these were Ginger, a SQUAD negro, built
to fit the galley of a yacht, and three
Indian guides. They inhabited tents,
which made quite little encampment-
Thorpe was received with enthusiasm.
Wallace Carpenters stories of his
woods partner, while never doing more
than justice to the truth. had been of
a warm color tone One and all owned
a lively curiosity to see what a real
woodsman might be like. When he
proved to be handsome and well man
nered, as well as picturesque, his re-
ception was no longer in doubt.
Nothing could exceed his Solicitude
as to their comfort and amusement. He
inspected personally the arrangement
of the tents, and suggested one or two
changes conducive TO the Iittler COM
forts. This was not much like ordi-
nary woods camping. The largest wall
tent contained three folding cots. for
the women. over which, in daytime,
were flung bright-cOlOred Navajo blan-
EPfE Another was SOread the
ground Thorpe later, however, sent
over two bear skins, which were ac-
knowledgedly an improvement. To the
tentpole a mirror of size was nailed,
and below it stood a portable wash
stand. The second tent, devoted to the
two men. was not quite so luxurious;
but still boosted Of little cOnVenienceS
the true woodsman would never con-
slider worth the bother of transport
ing The third. equally large, was the
dining tent. The other three smaller,
and on the A tent order. served re-
spectively as sleeping rooms for Gin
ger and the Indians, and as a general
storehouse for provisions and impede
menta.
Thorpe sent an Indian to Camp One
for the hear skins. put the rest to dig
ging a trench around the sleeping tents
in order that q rainStcrm might not
cause a flood, and ordered Ginger to
excavate d square hole some feet deep
which he intended to utilize as a Iartier
Then he gave Morton and Cary hints
as to the deer they wished TO capture.
pointed out the best trout pools, and
issued advice as to the comprising OF
certain blackberries, not far distant.
Simple things enough they were to
dot was as though a city man were
to direct a newcomer to Central park,
or impart to him test for the des-
Of .
new friends were profoundly impressed
with his knowledge of occult things.
The forest was to them, as to most,
more or less of a mystery, unfathOma-
bic except to the favored genius. A
man who could interpret it, even a lit
tie. into the speech of everyday COM
fort and expediency, possessed a strong
claim to their imaginations. When he
had finished these practical affairs,
they wanted him to sit down and tell
them more things-to dine with them,
to smoke about their camp fire
in the evening. But here they
encountered a decided check, Thorpe
became silent, almost morose- He
talked in monosyIla bles, and soon went
away. They did not know what to
make of him, and so were, of course,
the more profoundly interested. The
truth was, his habitual reticence would
not have permitted a great degree of
expansion in any case, but now the
presence of Hilda made any but an at
titude of hushed waiting for her words
utterly impossible to him. He wished
well to them all. If there was any
thing he. could do for them, ne would
gladly undertake it. But he would not
act the lion nor tell of his, to them, in
teresting adventures
However, when he discovered that
Hilda had ceased visiting the clump of
pines near the pole trail. his desire
forced him back among these people.
He used to walk in swiftly at almost
any time OF day, casting quick glances
here and there in search of his divinity.
How do. Mrs. Cary" he would say.
Mice weat Their. Enjoying yourself2''
On receiving the reply he would an
sEer heartily, That's good,' and lapse
into silence, When Hilda was about he
followed every movement of hers with
his eyes, SO that his strange conduct
! lacked no explanation nor interpreta-
ton, in the minds OF the women at
least. Thrice he redeemed his reputa-
ton for being an interesting character
by conducting the party on little ex-
petitions here and there about the
country. Then his woodcraft and re-
sourcefulness spoke for him. They
asked him about the numbering opera
lions, but he seemed Indifferent
Nothing to interest YOU" he af-
firmed. Were just cutting roads now.
You ought TO be here for the drive
To him there was really nothing in
teresting in the cutting of roads nor
the clearing of streams. 1t was all in
days work.
Once he took them over to see Camp
One They. were immensely pleased.
and were correspondence loud in ex-
| carnations. ThoFpe's comments were
brief and dry. After the noon dinner
he had the unfortunate idea of COM
mending the singing of one Of the men.