Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-02-16
I'M the Glaciers
Keeping
g AI.AM laANDEvILLE
PRETTY tough climb, isn't II.
MAXI"

~ H. = = eSADAN ~@e~-~l -
MAXI"
The speaker was a tall Englishman
~ perhaps 50, but looking as hard and
slough and generally At as most men
~ half his age. ~
Il ayes. sir" said the guide, who stood
lAsfore him at the inn door; land wen
nave to start early II we are to ge'
back the same day"
Sir Robert Ballard turned and re-
entered his room. From desk he
pulled out a sheet Of paper, and, PICK.
Ilng up d pen, sat down at table ana
began q letter.
NMy dear Harry" he wrote, II am
afraid l have not been quite fair 70
lycu. Thinking over things again,
ean see that your foolish pranks. which
20 much offended me, may have been
Indeed, no doubt were--the results Of
sheer youthful high spirits. am
therefore, again altering my VIII, ana
instead Of my cousin, James Rennie.
Nelng my residuary legatee, you VIII
And the bulk Of my property Will
eventually come to you. ! trust this
will have been a lesson to you, ana
that you win grow up a man worthy
of the trust am reposing in you
Your affectionate uncle,
IN Robert Ballard"
Sir Robert sealed and stamped the
letter, and then on sheet OF foolscap
proceeded rapidly to redraft his Will.
II seemed an easy enough matter,
and took but few minutes. You would
hardly have imagined the amount 10
question was something like RSO,OOO.
The rapid pen ceased flying over the
waper and Sir Robert touched the bell.
4 eCall Max Schneider" he said 70 the
waiter, land you, too. come In. want
mou to witness this signature for me-"
He signed the document, the two
men afixed their signatures, and then
Ne folded II, placed It in an envelope
and slipped II into an inner pocket OF
Ms Norfolk Jacket
"What time do we start tomorrow,
MAXI" he asked
"Not later thanlhalf-past threeD sir"
nnswered the guide.
every we'll, then. l shall 90 to bed
II once, and suppose you'll 90 the
same"
And 20 minutes later he was sleep
ing like d boy.
.'Creat luck. having such lovely
weather--eh, Maxi"
Lovely indeed; Sir Robert; but pray
don't say anything about 1t till we're
clear Of the ice. It's the worst OF bad
luck, sill"
Sir Robert laughed--the laugh Of a
strong man who is thoroughly pleased
with himself.
Indeed he had reason to be pleased.
rev men had ever climbed the beetling
cliffs Of the Aignille Vert at all. Few
III still could boast Of having accom-
plished the feat within the hours Of .
single day,
Half an hour later they reached the
edge Of the Ice. The sun had now set
and the air, chill with approaching
night, was no longer clear as It had
been. Pale wreaths Of smoky mist
hung in light bands, which seemed to
nhift and change kaleIdoscopically,
though no breeze was felt.
Still roped together. as they had been
during the entire time. they crossed
enc moraine and started steadily
aFAmping across the rough Ice, whose
surface was broken by hundred deep
eifta and lumpy. yawning creyasses.
The fog closed and fell thicker and
ahiclef,
Some three hours later that night
nae OF the guides burst into the kitch-
- ol the MOntvert inn.
! His face wah white and drawn. and
IA Nat almost speechlesa With excite-
aRsnt, misery and fatigue,
Il At last Ne managed 10 gasp out his
&lsnQun htofy-hQW they had missed
AheiF WY ID the fog; how he had heard
. sharp cry Of waralng from Max, who
1sas leading the party; how next he
&Ad been jerked OF his feet BY q tire
mendcus pull at the rope round his
waist: and how he had desperately
saved himself BY driving his alpen-
stock into the Ice. Next thing he knew
he was alone -alone on the edge Of
slant crevasse, whose misty depthi
Wawned silent as 9 grave.
The instant they understood him
Hascue party was formed, under thu
Guidance Of Herman, the innkeeper.
All night the devoted men worked
and most Of next day. But It was use
abas. The glacier does not easily giy'
np lts prey.
A big, Observation-Disclosures cookbook
ene young fellow Of about uight-and
kwenty was sitting in q dingy It'll
room IN Bloomsbury, answering q let
Ger be had Just received
Harry Ballard had been looking on
for q chance Of accompanying read
lng party abroad during the long vaca
tion. and by good luck an even bette
Alllet had come his way. An OLD frien
OF his father--a MIR. Ffolkes-had writ
zen TO him TO engage his services q
tutor and general bear leader to hl
-. .r.,ra Hazard Efolkoe aurinU