The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-29

| Ing IN 1tS DOWlueT Iluuth ptu, Whio
behind them the angry ocean spread
southwark to a blood red horizon.
Ahead, the bleak mountains brooded
over forbidding valleys; to the west a
suffused sun glared smlenly, painting
the high piled clouds with the gorgeous
hues of stormy sunset TO Helen
the wild scene seemed dyed with the
colors OF flame and blood and steel.
THAT rain raised the deuce with the
trails" said Strive, as they picked
their way past an unsightly slip"
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 II was no easy
task TO avoid these da ger spots, for
the horses foundered 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
;truve. 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 fall
but she vowed she would not, could
not fail
They rounded n bend and saw the
Sign of the Sled Graded below them
where the trail dipped TO n stream
which tumbled from the comb above
into the river twisting like silver
thread through the distant valley. \
peeled fiagpole topped by spruce
bough stood in front OF the tavern.
while over the door hung a sled sus-
pended from beam. The house itself
was a 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. II
had been built by Il homesick foreigner
of unknown nationality whom the ar
my of "mushers' who paid for his
clean and orderly hospitality had dub
bed duly and as a matter OF course a
"Swede." When travel had changed TO
the river It'll. leaving the house lone
some and high as though left by re-
ceding wave. Strive had taken II over
on a debt AID now ran 1t for the con
venience Of a slender traffic. mainly
stampelers. who chose the higher
route toward the interior. His hireling
spent the idle hours I'm prospecting Il
hungry quartz lead and i'm 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 quaintest spot she had found
IN the north country The main room
held bar and gold scales. n rude table
and a huge iron heater. while its
walls and ceiling were sheeted with
white cloth so cunningly stitched and
tackled that IL seemed cavern hol-
lowed from chalk. II 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 dnto
the bunk room, where travellers had
been wont 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 he
had covered the place with pictures
clipped from gazettes of questionable
repute till 1t was a bewidering ar
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 were ever in.r Strive observed
to Helen. with a forced attempt at
lightness.
"Are there no guests here?" she ask
ed him, her anxiety very hear the sur
face.
"Travel Is light at this time OF the
year. They'll come In later perhaps
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 eompan-
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 hertoff.
"No, 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 II
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 a 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