The Grit-advocate., 1903-04-03


Tae fellow set OFF at lively pace
on his snowshoes and in an hour and
half was back, saying:
THEY be not there"
What dye mean?" asked Kate.
Gone
What is gomez
Camp.
"Where?"
Dun know" and he shrugged his
shoulders again.
She was nonplussed, and in fact
frightened.
Gone" she whispered, half aloud.
Gone and left me alone with this
sick man in this wilderness. Gone.
and with that poor child. Why,
cant hardly believe it, and yet my
heart. has always told me tn rascal
vas a villain. oh, Laura, Laura!
where are you now, my poor child?'
she began to sob. Il promised ye I'd
stay by ye through thick an thin.
an I've gone an lied to ye. That ras-
cal put this poor sick man off on me,
an what could do?'
In her helpless rage she looked
about for some object to vent her
wrath upon, and seeing Horsa Cum
minis emerging from the small tent
in which he had slept, she rushed at
him like virago, crying:
You red-headed thief. where is yer
master? | say where is yer master?
Speak or I'll chuck yer head in the
snow an hold it there till ye
smother"
With look of surprise he said:
why, l did not know he had gone"
"He is, and took my little friend
with him.
well that is strange: that beats
anything ever heard! What can he
mean?"
Il don't know, but there is some
mischief in it, and I'll be bound you
are at the bottom o it.
why, my dear good woman, you
do me very great injustice" began
Cummins with mock humility.
Look here!" she yelled Don't
ye come none o. yer monkey-doodle
business around me, for | won't stand
I. t,'cu
nuthin' master O yours, and tell him
t bring tha. girl back or I'll make
Alaska SO hot tor you the icebergs
will MELT"
With this threat Kate turned and
entered the shanty.
THAT woman's regular she tiger!"
growled Cummins, as he walked over
III ,f hnr iuh bn
down in the snow to think the matter
over Blame me if she ain't p per-
feet devil of a woman. The boss has
put a hard job on me. She knows |
had hand is It. Now the youngster
don't show pny signs O dyin' very
fast. wish he would, but he don't.
What am ! To do with this tiger cat?
She'll snatch my eyes out if l go
back"
Meanwhile Kate went into the small
shanty, voTing she would have har-
mony or know the reason. Her pa
tient was wide awake. his great, dark
brown eyes on the door. For the first
time Fate realized that he was a
young man and quite handsome.
Were you talking to some one out
ttere?" he asked.
Yes; was just a-layin' one O
them triflin critters for not attendin'
to his work. | give him piece of
nsy mind and reckon after this he'll
know what's what" Kate declared.
Don't your people agree?"
Yes; all agree with each other, but
none don't agree with me. They go
do things without askin' me or con-
sultin' me bit more'n if | was a
block O. stone, and had no more
sensen Kansas badger"
Paul, who telt considerably strong
er, raised himself on his elbow and
asked
What have they done, my good
friend, without consulting you?"
Pulled up stakes an gone! Yes,
gone, an not left sled nor dog to
foller EN- with. l don't keer so much
so fur as I'm concerned, but that poor
child all alone with that man; and
she told me with her own mouth she
nistrusted him, and l said I'd stand
by her, and, like lunk-head. let 'em
s'de-track me off here and then he
slopes an takes the pore little thing
with him! Oh, it makes me hot; but
Ill have harmony yit; see if | DON'T"
What do you mean, my good wo-
MANI" Paul asked in amazement.
"Who is this man that deceived you?"
THAT scamp from Fresno called
Lakeland"
Lakeland from Fresno!" The pa
tent started up in bed staring at her
who is the poor young thing he
took away-the girl?" asked the pa
tient, seiZing her arm in vicelike
grip.
"Laua Kean'
With wild shrek he leaped half
dressed from the bed and rushed from
the shanty.