The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-16
CONTINUED
CHAPTER Xxx


a a the previous night, they heard
far below, the swollen torrent brawl-
ing in its bowlder ridden bed, while
behind them the angry ocean spread
southwark to a blood red horizon.
Ahead, the bleak mountains brooded
over forbiddlng valleys; to the west a
sufrused sun glared sullenly, painting
the high piled clouds with the gorgeous
hues Of a stormy sunset To Helen
the wild scene seemed dyed with the
colors of fame and blood and steel
"That rain raised the deuce with the
trails" said Struve, as they picked
their way past an unsightly slip"
whence a part of the overhanging
mountain, loosened by the deluge, had
slid into the gulch Another storm
like that would wash out these roads
completely"
Even in the daylight 1T was no easy
task to avoid these danger spots, for
the horses floundered on the muddy
soil. Vaguely the girl wondered how
she would find her way back in the
darkness, as she had planned. She
said little as they approached the road
house. for the thoughts within her brain
had begun TO clamor too wildly, but
Strive, more arrogant than ever be-
fore, more terrifyingly sure of him
self, was loudly garrulous AS they
drew nearer and nearer, the dread
that possessed the girl became Of para
Lying intensity. If she should fail
but she vowed she would not, could
not, fail
They rounded a bend and saw the
Sign Of the Sled Graded below them
where the trail dipped to a stream
which tumbled from the comb above
into the river twisting like a silver
thread through the distant valley. A
peeled flagpole topped by d spruce
bough stood in front of the tavern,
while over the door hung a sled sus-
pended from a beam. The house itself
was quaint structure, rambling and
amorphous from whose sod roof
sprang blooming flowers and whose
high banked walls were pierced here
and there with sleepy windows. 1t
had been built by a homesick foreigner
of unknown nationality whom the ar
clean and orderly hospitality had dub
bed duly and as n matter of course a
rSwedes" When travel had changed to
the river trail, leaving the house lone
some and high as though left by a re
ceding wave, Strive had taken 1t over
on n debt and now ran 1t for the con-
venience of a slender traffic, mainly
stampeders, who chose the higher
route toward the interior His hireling
spent the idle hours in prospecting a
hungry quartz lead and In doing as
sessment work on nearby claims.
Shortz took the horses and answered
his employers questions CURLY, flash
ing u curious look at Helen. Under
other conditions the girl would have
been delighted with the place, for this
was the quaintest spot she had found
in the north country. The main room
held bar and gold scales, rude table
and a huge iron heater, while its
walls and ceiling were sheeted with
white cloth SO cunningly stitched and
tackled that 1t seemed a cavern hol
lowed from chalk. 1t was filed with
trophies of the hills-stuffed birds and
animals, skins and antlers-from which
depended in careless confusion dog
harness, snowshoes, guns and articles
of clothing. A door TO the left led into
the bunk room, where travellers haG
been won't to sleep in tiers three deep
To the rear was kitchen and cache
to the right compartment which
Strive called the art gallery, Here
free reign had been allowed the origi
nal owners artistic fancieS, and h.
had covered the place with picture:
clipped from gazettes of questionable,
repute till it was a bewildering ar
rangement of pink ladies in tights. pu
gilists in scanty trunks, prize bulldogs
and other less moral characters of tn,
sporting world.
''This IS probably the worst compa
ny you were ever in" Strive observed
to Helen, with a forced attempt q
lighmess.
Are there no guests here?" she ask
ed him, her anxiety very near the sur
face.
Travel is light at this time Of tn,
A fire was burning in this pink room
where the landlord had begun spread
ing the table for two and its warmth
was grateful to the girl. Her compan
ion, thoroughly at his ease. stretche,
himself on fur covered couch ant
smoked.
Let me see the papers now, Nj
Strive" she began. but he put her Off
mo, not now. Business must wal
on our dinner Don't spoil our littl
party, for there's time enough and I
spare"
She arose and went to the window
unable To sit still Looking down tn
narrow gulch, she saw that the noun
tains beyond were indistinct, for
was growing dark rapidly. Dens
clouds had rolled up from the east