Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-21
CHAPTER xx


far below. the swollen torrent brawl-
ing in its bowlder ridden bed. while
behind them the angry ocean spread
southwark to blood red horizon.
Ahead, the bleak mountains brooded
over forbidding valleys: to the west
suffused sun glared sullenly. painting
the high piled clouds with the gorgeous
hues of stormy sunset. 10 Heien
the wild scene seemed dyed with the
colors of fame and blood and steel.
"rrhat rain raised the deuce with the
trails" said Strive, as they picked
their way past an unsightly sip
whence 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 it was no easy
task to avoid these danger spots, FOR
the horses houndered on the muddy
soil. Vaguely the girl wondered how
she would find her way back III 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, put
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. II she should fall
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 silver
thread through the distant valley. A
peeled flagpole topped by a spruce
bough stood In front Of the tavern,
while over the door hung sled sus-
pended from n beam. The house itself
was quaint structure, rambling and
amorphous. from whose sod roof
snrang blooming flowers and whose
high banked walls were pierced here
and there with sleepy windows. II
had been built by homesick foreigner
OI uUkllOMu "AoAA Liz "a
NV Of .'mushers' who paid for his
clean and orderly hospitality had dub
bed duly and rs a matter Of course a
"Swede." When travel had changed to
the river trail. leaving the house lone
some and high as though left by re-
ceding wave. Strive had taken 1t over
on a debt and now ran it for the con-
yenience of q slender traffic, mainly
stampeders, who chose the higher
route toward the interior. His llireling
spent the idle hours in prospecting n
hungry quartz lead and In doing as
sessment work on nearby claims.
Shortz took the horses and answered
his employers questions CURLY, fash
ing a curious look at Helen. Under
other conditions the girl would have
been delighted with the place, for this
was the quuintest spot she had found
In the north country. The main room
held bar and gold scales, a rude table
and a huge iron heater, while Its
walls and ceiling were sheeted with
white cloth so cunningly stitched and
tackled that it 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 had
been wont to sleep III tiers three deep.
~, Ii nd
to the right a compartment which
Strive called the art gallery. Here
free reign had been allowed the origi-
nal owners artistic fancies, and he
had covered the place with pictures
clipped from gazettes of questionable
rangement of pink ladies in tights, pu-
gilists in scanty trunks. prize bulldogs
and other less moral characters Of the
sporting world.
"This is probably the worst compa-
ny you We're ever in Strive observed
to Helen, with forced attempt at
lightness.
"Are there no guests here?" she ask
ed him, her anxiety very near the sur
face.
Gravel is light at this time Of the
year. They'll come i'll later perhaps"
A fire was burning i'll this pink room
where the landlord had begun spread
ing the table for two, and it's warmth
was grateful to the girl. Her compan-
ion, thoroughly at his ease, stretched
himself on a fur covered couch and
smoked.
"Let me see the papers now, Mr..
Strive" she began, but he put her off.
mo, not now Business must wait
on our dinner. Don't spoil our little
party, for there's time enough and to
spare"
She arose and went to the window,
unable to sit still Looking down the
narrow gulch, she saw that the noun
tains beyond were indistinct, for it
was growing dark rapidly. Dense
clouds had rolled up from the east.
A raindrop struck the glass before her
eyes, then another and another, and
the hills grew misty behind the COM
ing shower A traveller with pack
on his back hurried around the corner
Of the building and past her to the
door. AT his knock Strive, who had
been watching Helen through half shut
eyes, arose and went into the other
| room.
she thought. The voices were dead