The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-11
TIE EVENING STORY
On = Pontoon.
(By Nora Bryant.)


which neither nature nor man had
meant to be accom- plished.
He leaned against the rope which
served for a railing on the old pontoon
bridge and looked up the canyon,
where the massive iron structure was
slihouetted against the sky. 1t was an
april afternoon in the mountains; q
sunday afternoon. so that the ring OF
steel, the putting of engines, the shouts
OF WOrkmen. were stilied- The gulch
was as peaceful as it would be six
months hence. when the army of Ia
Dorers would depart, leaving only the
great, silent bridge to mark their oc-
cupancy.
Whitcomb was frank with himself
he did not deny, in these meetings
With himself, face to face that this
restlessness had appeared because of
the presence of the camping party at
the Blde-a-Wee hunting lodge up in
smith Peak Not that he had ac-
tually met the party as whole The
men mad wandered down to the bridge,
mad asked many 'foOf' questions and
wandered back to the camp. At a dis
lance he had seen women in well made
riding habits and outing gowns who
had given him homesick thrill Sud
deniy he wanted to get back to the
land OF swallow tailed coats and SHIN
merry frocks.
Whitcomb sighed and looked down at
mis- eorduroys and hunting boots dis
eohtentedly. The pontOons rocked.
and horses hoofs sounded suddenly
al the end of the bridge. Coming to-
ward him was girl leading a sturdy
Ilttle mountain pony: a girl with a
pare neads where the sun glanced and
BdInmered on masses of copper col
ofed hair; a. girl with fiawless skin and
eyes ike sand hill violets; a girl whose
every slender line breathed health and
vigor. e=A4s
The girl in her turn saw a broad
snouldered man. dark with tan. above
winch his blond hair shone curiously.
me corduroy hunting suit was
stopped before him.
j, Can you tell me- she asked. ssif
mere is quicker way for me to get
PACK TO the Bide-a-Wee Lodge than by
the long Smith road 20
Yes" he answered. eth ere is. and if
you would not mind waiting for me to
get my pony III set you on it. never
could direct you from here"
70 MS surprise and delight the girl
dcquiesced readily But as he turned
10 fetch his broncho which he had left
grazing on the shore, he gave a easD
Great heavens!" And throwing his
arm about the amazed girl, he leaned
as Iar out with her as the rome rail
would permit. Entering the bridge at
a mao pace. the white bell mule lead
ing. was the herd of mules used in
building the trestle. There was a bonn
pafament OF hoofs that drowned the
sank foot into the water. There was
roar OF trampling feet and a rending
crash or the floor as the h rd passed so
close that both their faces were stung
Dy the lashing tail. Then silence again
III the valley, except for the sounds of
retreatng hoofs up the mountain road
careful, CAREFUL" cried Whitcomb.
as the girl drew herself from his arm
we are adoati"
The strain on the old bridge had been
TOO great. The worn flooring had
parted, and still clinging to bit OF the
rope ran the man and girl were float
ing rapidly down stream on one of the
pOntOonS. This little raft rode we'll
out Of the water, and the river. swol-
len by the spring freshets in the noun
ta1ns, towed them along at a smart
pace. The two looked at each other
and suddenly smiled.
There is really not much danger -
said Whitcomb. It's five miles down
70 the rapids, and two miles below here
the river narrows so that 1 shall have
no trouble in lassoing a landmark
time. spreading his coat on the damp
floor of the pontoon, do be seated and
| be comforta BILE.
Don't you suppose some one saw us
ana will come to the rescue?" asked
the girl.
Whitcomb shook his head obviously.
7 m afraid not. The mule boy was not
in sight when the thing happened. and
hell probably spend the remainder of
the day hunting for his mules
The girl did not appear as anxious as
might have been expected, and Whit
comb sat down beside her
1t will take some time to float down
there" he said, and in the meantime
I'll tie these ropes together
She watched his clever fingers in ST.
lenee ana Whitcomb was moved with
a strange desire to talk of himself
do you know, you are the FIRST east
girl I've En0lroT7 IN
Surprise on the rose tinted face be-
side him.
7 haven't been back east since I
finished college. At first I wrote often
especially to-to well, wrote often.
But" smiled the girl. you both be-
gan to lose enthusiasm? ''
Whitcomb looked at her gratefully
Yes, something like that; at least, I'm
afraid she did. She was a pale little
| girl, not IS, when I saw her last She
had hair something like yours, but
without those rich, dark shades. I was
mighty fond of the little girl, but I'm
afraid I've grown away from the cling
ing vine type"
The violet eyes were noncommittal
"A little hard on her. If she really
cares"
Whitcomb sighed, with Arm lines
showing around his lips IT know it,
and I'm going back there this summer
to find her.
Bul Jnens perhaps, she mas forgotten
long ago. Seventeen is very young
A dull red showed under Whitconnb's
tan. Perhaps she has. live been
hoping since this afternoon. that she
has"
The eyes were scornful now. DO
you think you've any right to say that
to me?"
No meekIy. ''but-but you are ev-
erything I've grown to admire in
woman, so fine and strong, and
Look lookis she interrupted.
The pOntoon was nearing a sudden
swept nearer to the shore. But few
feet ahead of them a great tree leaned
far out over the water. its branches al
most touching the surface. There was
no time for deliberation, no time to stop
the poritoon. for the force Of the cur
rent here was terrific.
Before the girl could spring to her
/ =. IL l. l.