Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04

soned thought for his madness addressed Spen-
ser with easy complacence while Barth was un-
roping them Why did you believe that l
was doing a risky thing IN stopping to assist
| Il guess you know best was the uncom-
promising answer.
Yes, I think do Of course could not
| argue the matter then; but l fancy my climb
ing experience is far greater than yours, Mr.
| Spenser." His sheer impudence was admirable
! He even smiled in the superior way OF an expert
| leCturlng novice.
| But Spenser did not smile do you really
| wish to hear my views of your conduct" he said
No, thanks The discussion might prove
| interesting but VT can adjourn it to the coffee
and cigar period after dinner
His eyes fell under Sponsors contemptuous
Though the man he meant to kill. and another
man who had read his inmost thought in time
| to prevent tragedy. were looking at him
fixedly, he turned away with laugh on his lips
~ am afraid, Miss Wynton, that you will re-
| gard me in future broken reed where Alpine
| excursions are concerned, he said
You were mstaken-that is obvious, said
Helen frankly But so was Barth, He agreed
that the storm would be only passing affair
Don't you think very deeply indebted
to Mr. Spenser and Stampa for coming to Our
assistance?"
II do, indeed Stampa, one can reward in
kind. This sort of thing used to be his bust
i j
you will repay him tenfold-"
Herr Spenser." broke in Stampa. you go
| on with the signorina and see that she does not
slip She is tired. Marcus Bower and have
matters to discuss"
The old mans unwonted harshness appealed
to the girl as did the host of other queer hap
penings on that memorable day Bower moved
uneasily. A vindictive CLEAN shot from his
eyes Helen missed none of this. But she was
fatigued, and her feet were cold and wet, while
| the sleet encountered on the upper glacier had
almost soaked her to the skin Nevertheless.
she strove bravely to tighten the cloud that
seemed to have settled on the men
That means a wordy warfare" she said
gaily. 81 pity you. Mr. Bower. You cannot
wriggle out of your difficulty The snow will
soon be foot deep in the valley Goodness
only knows what would have become of us up
there in the butt"
He bowed gracefully, with hint of the for
eign air she had noted once before. i would
have brought you safely out of greater peris,
he said but every dog has his day. and this
is Stampa's."
| FIN ROUTE cried the guide impatiently. He
- loathed the sight of Bower standing there,
smiling and courteous, in the presence of one
whom he regarded as Heaven sent trend and
protectress Spenser attributed his surliness
to its true cause 1t supplied another bit of the
mosaic he was slowly piecing together. Greatly
| as he preferred Helens company, he was willing
| to sacrifice at least ten minutes of it could he
| but listen to the discussion" between Stampa
| and Bower
Therein he would have erred greatly. Helen
| was tired. and she admitted it. She did not de-
cline his aid when the path was steep and slip
perry In delightful snatches of talk they man
aged to say good deal to each other, and
| Helen did not fail to make plain the exact Cir
cumstances under which she first caught sight
of Spenser outside the hut When they arrived
at the carriage road, which begins at Lake Cav
loccio, they could walk side by side and chat
freely. Here in the valley matters were nor
NAL The snow did not place such a veil on all
things The windings of the road often brought
them abreast of the four men in the rear.
| Bower was trudging along alone, holding his
head down, and seemingly lost in thought.
| Close behind him came Stampa and the En-
gadiners Karl, of course, was talking-the
others might or might not be lending their ears
| to his interminabe gossip.
WE are outstripping our companions Don't
w you think we ought to wait for them!"
said Helen once, when Bower CHANGED to look
her way.
| NO." said Spenser
"You are exceedingly positive
II tried to be exceedingly negative"
but whyi'
Il rather fancy that they would jar on us ~
| But Stampa's promised lecture appears to
have ended
Il think it never began 1t is a safe bet that
Mr. Bower and he have not exchanged a word
| since our last halt"