Gilpin observer., 1903-03-12

at the lake. He reused himself in a
moment, raised his gun, brought 1t to
his shoulder, and without hardly TAX
ing aim, fired.
There was wild spasmodic leap.
splashing and plunging. He fired
again and again at the struggling
beast. With snort of agony it made
a few plunges blindly into the thick
ct and fell.
Paul reused himself in moment
and rushed to its side. Despair quick
ly gave way to Joy, for here was food.
The moose was a giant in size, and
would furnish them with food for
days. He cut its throat with his knife
and then for the first time thought of
his companion. He called aloud. and
fired a shot in the air, but only the
| echoes answered him.
"He will get on my trail and follow
me" thought Paul, and began to skin
the dead moose without feeling in
the least uneasy. Having at last COM
pleted his task, he built a fire, and,
cutting Off some of the choicest steaks
began to broil them over 1t. Paul had
been on short rations long time, and
never steak tasted better.
| Paul wrapped himself in his blank
ct and lay down by the fire to warm
himself and dry his clothing. The
night passed in troubled dreams.
When he awoke it was broad day
light.
When it was noon and Paul's COM
/ M nj mt Ia %<~ f<A
uneasy. Could it be they were lost?
To become separated he thought
would be fatal to both. He roasted
and packed away all the moose meat
he could carry, and after another, rest
less night, started out to return to the
| spot where he had last seen his com
panion.
The lowering skies portended anoth-
er storm, and before he had gone five
miles the snow was falling in blind
ing fury, completely obliterating the
trail. For hours and hours Paul stag
gered on until he came upon q great,
high wall of stone, which barred his
farther progress and partially shslt-
cred him from the driving storm.
He spread his blanket above him,
| ohu, hhoih6 oOAS uiy pluc SllChS,
kindled a little fire, over which he
stretched his half-frozen fingers. His
suffering throughout that night was in
tense, and it is a wonder that he did
not perish.
But morning came, and, cold and
hungry AM in despair, he crept away
from the great cliff under shelter of
which he had passed such a miser-
able night.
| He reached a deep ravine in which
was a great deal OF dry pine wood,
and he proceeded to make a fire. The
fire blazed and roared and gave out a
generous heat. He was soon warmed,
and. wrapping his blanket about him,
slept throughout the day. Night came
and he awoke. and, building another
fire, slept throughout the night.
Next day the sky was clear, and he
started on his wandering. going in the
direction OF the Yukon. He slept that
night in the shelter of q rock, and the
next morning started again ON his
journey.
About the middle of the forenoon
he saw party of men coming toward
him, and shouted and danced for joy.
He ran to meet them yelling like a
mailman.
At last he came up with them. The
leader was tall man about his own
age. He gazed on the being whom
hardship, exposure and toll had SO
completely metamorphosed that he
was unrecognizable. and asked:
Who are you, and what are you?"
| n OF hoc
ton of horror. and well he might. He
was face to face with his most bitter
enemy. Theodore Lakeland.
1t is necessary at this point in our
story that we take leave OF Paul for
the time being and return to the brave
girl whom we left Fastening to the
dangers and wilds of the polar world
for the man she loved.
Laura kept up bravely SO long as
she could discern the form of Mrs.
Miller on the dock, but when it faded
from view she fell upon steamer
chair and burst into tears. A hand
hardened by toll and softened by love
was laid upon her shoulder and a low,
gentle voice whispered in her ear:
Don't cry. pretty one. It's a hard
lot ye've chosen, but there's a rich
promise In the future for ye."
Looking up she saw the kind face
Of the woman called Kate Willis bend
ing over her.
Il know. child. it's tough on ye {
go away from friends and relations,
perhaps. but yen find friends where
yer goin' thatll be true to ye."
II don't doubt you. my good woman.
don't doubt you," Laura declared.
Pardon this weakness and let me as
sure you that 1t will not last long.
The knowledge that | shall perhaps