West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-01-23

h"u pceu pullt ny u nOineSlck 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 n
"Swede." When travel had changed to
the river TRAIL leaving the house lone
some and high as though left by n re-
ceding wave, Strive had taken Il over
on n debt and now ran Il for the con-
venience OF slender traffic, mainly
stampeders, who chose the higher
quite toward the interior His hirelIng
spent the idle hours In prospecting
hungry quartz lead and In doing as
sessment work on nearby claims.
Shortz took the horses and answered
his employers questions CURLY, fash
Ing n curious look Mt 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 md gold scales, n rude table
and n huge iron heater. while its
walls and ceiling were sheeted with
white cloth so cunningly stitched aud
tackled that II seemed cavern hol-
trophies Of the hills-stuffed birds and
animals. skins and antlers-from which
depended In careless confusion dog
harness, snowshoes. guns and articles
or clothing. A door to the left led Into
the bunk room, where travellers had
been wont to sleep I'm tiers three deep.
To the rear was a kitchen and cache,
TO the right compartment which
Strive called the art gallery. Here
Tree reign had been allowed the orlgi-
nal owners artistic fancies, and he
had covered the place with pictures
clipped from gazettes OF question: BILE
repute till II was bewildering mr.
rangement OF pink ladies In tights pu-
gllists 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" Strive observed
TO Helen, with a forced attempt nj
lightness.
Are there no guests heref" she ask
ed him, her anxiety very near the sur
face.
Travel is light at this time OF the
year. They'll come In later perhaps
a IRE 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. stretched
himself on fur covered couch and
smoked.
Let me see the papers now, Mr..
Strive" she began. but he put her off.
NO, not now. Business must walt
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 lndistinct. 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 n 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.
THANK heaven, some one has comew
she thought The voices were dead.
ened to hum by the sod walls till
that Of the stranger raised Itself In
such indignant protest that she dlstin.
guished his words
on I've got money 20 pay my wayi
I'm no deadhead"
Shortz mumbled something back.
Il don't care II you are closed. I'm
tired, and there's storm coming"
This time she heard the landlords
refusal and the miners angry profani-
~. "A moment later she saw the trnv-
eler plodding up the trail toward town.
What does that meanf" she inauir-
cd as the lawyer re-entered.
oh, that fellow is n tough. and
Shortz wouldn't let him I'm. He's care
ful whom he entertains. there are so
many bad men roaming the hills"
The German came In shortly to light
The lamp, and, although she asked no
further questions. Heen's uneasiness
Increased. She hair listened " the sto.
rles with which Strive tried TO enter
tain her and ate little OF the excellent
meal that was shortly served - them.
Strive meanwhile ate and drank al
most greedily, md the shadowy. SIMS
ter evening crept along. A strange
cowardice had suddenly overtakeu the
girl, and II at this late hour she could
have withdrawn she would have done
50 gladly and gone forth to meet the
violence OF the tempest But she had
gone too far for retreat. and. realizing
that for the present apparent compl-
ance was her wisest resource. she sat
quiet answering the man with cool
words while his eyes grew brighter.
ms SKID more flushed. his speech more
rapid. lie talked necessarily and with
ieyerish gayety, smoking numberless
cigarettes and apparently unconscious
of the flight 81 time. At last he broke
on suddenly and Consulted his votob
while Helen remembered that She had
not heard ShOrtz in the kitchen for
long time. Suddenly Strive smiled ON
her peculiarly. with confident cunning
As be lcered az her over the disorder
between them be took from hfs poc,et
q fat bundle, which he tossed 90 her
Vow for the bargain ehT
ASK the man TO remove these dish.
es.' she e. as she undid the parcel
with clut ieers.
II sent h.m away two hours ago.0
kald strive. arising as m 10 come 10
her She shrank back. but be only
leaned across gathered up the four
corners u The tabIec'Oth and. twisting
them together r1rried the whole
ilIng out fhc dishes crashing md fan.