Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-13

W. :: !: :: !: !: !: !: !:
4
C9d Hgk FL ~ the close of the
III "a third day OF the
W. HH IV hard four days
412AGT haul. in from the
@6A settlements to the
1 camp. At the head
or the first team. his broad jaw set
and his small gray eyes angry with ID
tisue. trudged the big figure or Reo NC
VIVA. With his fiery red head ana his
large red face he was the only one OF MS
co,orinr in a large family. so dark that
they were known as the BLACK NC
Whas." and his temper seemed to nave
been chronIcally soured by the singular
ity of his type. He was good wooos-
man. however. and a good teamster, and
his horses followed confidently at his heeis
like dogs The second team was led py
a tall, gaunt- jawcd. one-eyed lumoermail
named Jim Johnson, invariably known as
..1yol,ev" From the fact his blind eye
was of a peculiar blankness. like whitlsh
porcelain, he had been nicknamed wall
Eve: but owing to his general popular
,ty. combined with the emphatic views
he held on that particular subject. the
name had been mitigated to VALLEY.
The two were hauling in supplies for
Conroy's Camp. on Little Ottanoosis lake.
Silently, but for the clank and creak OF
the harness, and the soft thut. thut OF the
trodden snow. the little procession toiled
on through the soundless desolation. Pres
entity the teams rounded turn or the
trail, and began to descend the steep slope
which led down to Joe Goddins's solitary
cabin on the edge Of Burnt Brook Mead
ows.
But there was no light in the windows.
No homely pungency of wood smoke
breathed welcome on the bitter air. The
cabin looked startlingly deserted.
Whoa. commanded McWha sharply
and glanced around at Johnson with an
angry misgiving in his eyes The teams
came to stop with SILVER Of all their
bells.
Then. upon the sudden stiffness, arose
the faint sound Of a childs voice, hope
lessly.
-Somethin' wrong down yondcr" growl-
ed McWha.
.s he smoke, Valley Johnson sprans
mast him. and went Looping down the HILL
Red McW-ha followed very deliberately
with the teams. He resented anything
emotional. And he was prepared to feel
himself aggrieved.
When he reached the cabin door the
sound OF weeping had stopped. INSIDE
he found VALLEY Johnson on his knees
before the stove. hurricdly lighting hre.
Wrapped in his coat. and clutchlng MS
arm as If afraid he might leave her. stood
tiny. faxen-haired child. perhaps nVe
wears old. The cabin was cold, almost as
cold as the swapping night outside Along
the middle of the floor, with bedclothes
from the bunk heaped awkwardly upon
it in the little ones efforts to warm IL
hack to responsive life. sprawled rigidiy
thu lank body of Joe Godding.
Rad McWha stared for a moment IN
.uence then stopped, examined the dead
mans face, anu Itlt DiS"SN'
"Deader'n a herring" he muttered.
Iohn made no reply till the flame caught
the kindling and rushed in from the open
draurht with a cordial roar. Then he
stood up.
Hes been dead these hours and hours.
he said. An the fire out. an the Kid
mos, froze. A sick man like he was.
,o,ve kent the kid alone here with MN
,a.,-a-vay.' And he glanced down at
IN. dead figure with severe rcprobation.
Never was much good, that Joe God
ding, muttered McWha, always critical
4. the two woodsmen discussed the
situation the child, delicate-featurcd.
b,ue-eyed girl, was gazing up from under
bor mop of bright hair, first at one. then
n the other VALLEY Johnson was the
one who had come in answer to her long
calling. who had Rugged her close, and
vranne1 her up, and crooned over her IL
lis pity, and driven away the terrors-
rrt she did not like TO look at him,
,bourh his gaunt, sallow face vas strong
and kind.
people are apt to talk easy senerdItes
abort the intuition of children. AS a
matter Of fact, the little ones are no.
above judging quite as superhciaIly anu
falsely as their elders. The child looked
at her protectors s!Shtless eye, then
,urned away and sidled over TO McWh a
with one hand coaXinsly outstretched.
Mcwha's mouth twisted sourly. Without
annearing to see the tiny hand he deity
.vaded it, STOPPING over the dead man,
he picked him up. Strengthened him out
decently on his bunk, and covered him
.wsy from sight with the blankets
we needn't be crustey 10 the kid
uber she wants TO make up TO ye.' pro-
tasted VALLEY. as the little one turned
hack 70 him with puzzled look in lie.
fearful blue eyes.