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
in the air till hope should cease 10
live.
Utterly distracted, Sylvia knew not
what TO do, or which way 10 turn.
That first black night OF Dunny's dis
appearance had gone IKE a terrible
dream. With Jerry away, with not
a single soul 10 whom size 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 relief
she had quite expected Dummy 70
return az any hour OF the afternoon,
till the day had gone, the sun had set
and the darkness OF night begun to
fall Then her worry had quickly
ripened into fear.
John Hank had spread the alarm
throughout the town, at last, and
reused his neighbOTs, yet man 10
take the parties all IN hand and or
ganize a search, as Jerry Kirk would
certainly have done. was not 10 be
found among them all.
Such as they were. however, they
had secured the region thoroughly
In every direction, within a mile of
town.
Searching with lanterns, calling
sharply from one 70 another, they had
swept in a long. eager line across the
nat wherein the lumber yard and
town were placed, and then athWart
the shoulder of the mountain, Up
through the bed of the great ravins,
and down toward the valley and the
farms. but all TO no ayaD.
How the night had gone poor Sylvia
did not know. She had spent
the greater part OF those hours cut on
the hills herself. Then had followed
a 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
Jains had the parties penetrated No
one had thought of trailing the burro
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 wOodInen could
have done some deed OF violence, IN
saatching back the mended donkeyi
the hume could have caught a 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 10 hope. trying to guide the men
to newer fields. had become so pale
they hardly knew her face. BY the
third day she was quite IL the cad
OF her wits.
She was frantic to run away her
self-anyw search of the 1T
tie brother 10 whom she chung with
all the love OF a sister and mother
combined.
She had written 10 saz,Fy Kirk TO
come and help her IN her need. but
the letter waited at Mnlsite. while
Jerry was miles beyond. delayed by
intricate cares of business and IN
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 rOr Weaver. miss" he said.
Il got him as soon as I could"
Kennedy arrived in Tamaraek on
Saturday afternoon. He lost no time
in securing a horse and riding holly
10 the mountains. He searched as
all the others had searched before.
blindly, but with worry and love TO
spur him on.
He rode his horse half TO death that
first afternoon, and found himself
baffied at the fall Of darkness He
then spent the hours till midnight
securing the Chinese quarters, with
Flack. TO see If DuRny's burro might
be there.
Al daylight SUNDAY. he was after
It'd again, for the eobbier alone sup
piled him with 4 hope. The sun was
barely up when the Indian trailer