Evening star., 1909-05-09

hills But the sfgnorae What of herr"
She will remain at the HI" "
l will do anything you wish,' said Helen
sorrowfully; for her gladness had been changed
if not more, human beings were in imminent
danger on the slopes of the very hill that had
witnessed the avowal of her love.
- time in beginning the ascent. They were
gone SO long that she was almost frantic with
dread in their behalf; but at last they came,
slowly, with the tread of care, for they were
carrying the body of man.
While they were within couple of hundred
feet of the hut Spenser advanced rapidly and
Helen knew that he bought bad news.
Come. dear one" he said gently I'VE
must 60 to the inn apd send help. Our guides
are bringing an injufeo man to the hut. and
there is one other we left on the mountain. F"
"Dead?"
Yes, killed instantly by stone. That was
all Just mishap, one of the things that can
never be avoided in climbing. But come. dear.
More men are needed. and doctor. This poor
fellow is badly hurt.
Can do nothing for him?" she pleaded.
A species of fright twitched his grave face
for an instant. No, no, that is not to be
thought of" he urged. "Pietro says he has
some little skill in these matters. He can do
all that is needed until doctor arrives Be
lieve me. Helen, it is imperative that we should
reach the hotel without delayi"
She went with him at once. Who is itf"
she asked.
He steeled himself to answer according to
his intent Though he had vowed that never
again would he utter syllable to his love that
was not transparently true. how could he tell
her then that Stampa was stretched lifeless on
the broad bosom of Corvatsch, and that the
Italians were carrying Bower. crushed and
raving in delirium. to the hut
" An Englishman and his guide, | am sorry
to say, was his prepared reply The guide is
dead. but his employer can be saved, am sure,
if only we rush things bit Now. Helen. let
us 90 at top speed. No talking. dear We
must make the hotel under the hour.
They did it. and help was soon forthcoming.
Then Spenser ordered carriage, and insisted
that Helen should drive to Maloggia forthwith.
tain that everything possible was done for the
unfortunate climber Indeed, when his be
loved was lost to sight down the winding road
that leads to the main valley of the Engadine,
he accompanied the men who went to the Mortel.
Halfway they met Pietro and Bartolomeo carry
ing Bower on an improvsed stretcher of ice
axes and blanket
Ply this time. under the stimulus of wine and
warmth. Bower regalned his senses he
recognized Spenser. and tried to speak. but the
American told him that even the least excite
ment must be avoided
Once the hotel was reached. and they were
waiting for the doctor Bower could not be
restrained.
1t was you who rescued me?" he said feebly
- and two Italian guides We saw the
accident from the other side of the Roseg
glacier. /"
Yes Stampa pointed you out to me |
could not believe my eyes | watched you till
the thought came that Stampa had befooled
me Then he pushed me off the rock where we
were standing | broke my leg in the fall:
but he held me there on the rope and taunted
me Great God how sufferedf'
" You really ought not to talk about it, said
Spenser soothingly
Why note He brought me there to kill me,
he said The cunning old fox told me that |
should find Helen in the Mortel hut, and offered
to take me to her by short cut over Corvatsch.
And believed him! l was mad, | suppose.
We did the Marmore ascent by the light of the
stars Do you realize what that means? 1t is
hard climb for experts in broad daylight
But meant to beat you, Spenserl Stampa
vowed you were in ST. Moritz And again be-
lieved him Think of it'll l was hoodwinked
by an old peasant
"Hushl Try and forget things till your
broken limb is fixed. "
What does it matterl Confound it you'v
won! So let me tell my story. l must have
lost my senses when saw you and Helen leav
ing the glacier with two strange guides. | for
got all else in my rage / stood there. frozen,
bewitched. Stampa was watching me all the
time and the instant turned to reve him he
threw me off my balance with thrust of his
AK Now you are going to die, Marcus Bowers