The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-17
CHAPTER XIV.
TWO MEMS DECISIONS


In Tamarack, despair had come Ike
a vulture. circling, soaring, waiting
ia the air till hope should cease 10
live.
Utterly distracted. Sylvia knew not
what TO do. or which way 20 tuFn.
That first black night Of Dunny's dis
appearance had gone ike terrible
dream. with Jerry away, with not
a single soul TO whom she could turn
for that deep and intimate friendship
that would furnish the aid she sud
denly required. she had undergone an
guish after anguish for which there
could be no re.ssf.
She had qUi e expected Dummy 70
return at any hour OF the afternoon.
Till the day had gone, the sun had set
and the darkness OF night begun 10
fall. Then her worry had quickly
ripened into fear.
John Hank had spread the alarm
throughout the town. at last, and
reused his neighbOrs. yet man 10
take the parties all IN hand and or
ganize a search. as Jerry Kirk woaid
certainly have done. was not 10 be
found among them all
such as they were, however. they
had secured the region thoroughly
tn every direction, within q mile Of
town.
Searching 18th lanterns. calling
sharply from one 10 another. they had
swept IN a long, eager line across the
fat wherein the lumber yard and
town were placed, and then athWart
the shoulder of the mountain, up
through the bed Of the great raviner
and down toward the valley and the
farms, but ali to no avan.
How the night had gone poor Sylvia
did not know She had spent
the greater part Of those hours out on
the hills herself, Tnen had followed
@ day OF summer beauty, suddenly
terrible in all the dread IL contained.
The search had continued Not more
than two miles upward in the noun
tains had the parties penetrated. No
enc had thought of trailing tae burTo
till his tracks were quite obliterated
and such "a hope was wasted energy.
Then dark and fearful theories had
come from ;heir caves OF doubt and
despair The Chinese woodmeu could
have done some deed OF violence. IN
snatchIng back the mended donkey;
The nume could have caught form
so small and carried It down with a
drive OF wood. 10 be buried IN the
dark-red pyramid of four-foot billets,
TO be seen no more for months.
Sylvia, wringing her hands and try
ing to hope. trying 10 guide the men
TO newer fields. had become so pale
they hardly knew her face. BY the
third day she was quite at the end
OF her wits
She was frantic to run away her
self-anyWhere-i search Of the it
tie brother to whom she chung with
all The love OF a sister and mother
combined.
She had written TO Jerry Kirk to
come ana help her In her need, but
the letter waited at Mnlsite. while
Jerry was miles beyond delayed By
intricate cares Of business and I'M
aware Of what had occurred.
Then two things happened. She
thought of Allan Kennedy and It'd
Flack had come to her aid unexpect-
eddy.
I've sent an Indian friend % mine
TO look Tor Weaver. miss" ne said.
Il got him as soon as I could"
Kennedy arrived in Tamarack on
Saturday afternoon. He lost no time
in securing a horse and riding holly
10 the mountains. lie searched as
all the others had searched before.
blIndly but with worry and love 10
spur him on.
He rode his horse half 20 death that
first afternoon, and found himself
baffied at the fan OF darkness He
then spent the hours till midnight
securing the Chinese quarters, with
Fiack. to see IL Dunny's burro might
be there
Al daylight Cundag. he was after
It'd again for the cobbler alone sup
piled him with a hope The sun was