New-York tribune., 1909-04-04

roping them " Why did YOU believe that
was doing risky thing IN stopping 70 assist
~tampa.' he asked
I guess YOU know best was the uncom-
promising answer.
Y,s. ! think / do. OF course. could not
argue the matter then. but fancy my climb
ing experience IS far greater than yours, Mr.
Speuser His sheer impudcnCe was admirable
He even smiled IN the superior way Of an expert
iecturnE novice
But Sp,u-rr did not smile. &c Do YOU really
wI~h to herr my views of YOUR conduct he sand
No thanks The discussion might prove
interesting hut vs., can adjourn 1t 10 the coffee
and cigar pcrod after dinner
His ewes tell under Sponsors Contemptuous
glance Yet he carried himself bravcly.
Though the man he meant u Kill. and another
man vino had read his lnuosJ thought IN time
10 prevent Cd tragedy. were looking At nm
fxcdly, hc turned away with laugh on ms lips
" l am afraid Miss Wynton, that You viii re
gard me IN future as a broken reed where Alpine
excursions are concerned" he sad
q. You were mistakcn-that IS obvious, said
Helen frankly But so was Barth He agreed
that the storm would be only a passing affair
Don't YOU think we are very deeply indebted
to Mr. Spcnser and Stampa Tor coming to our
assistance
Il do, indeed Stampa one can reward in
kind. This sort Of thing used TO be ms husl-
ness, hear As for Mr.. Spcnser. q smile from
YOU viii repay him tenfold
Herr Spcnser." 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 dIsguSs.'
The old mans unwontcd hIrshness appealed
20 the girl as did the host of other queer hap
pcuings on that memorable day Bower moved
uneasilv \ vindictive glcdm shot from ms
eyes Helen missed none OF this. But she was
fatigucd, and her feet were cold and wet, Whiic
the sleet encountered on the upper glacier mad
almost soaked her to the skin Nevertheless.
she strove bravcly to tighten the cloud that
seemed to have settled on the men
That means . wordy warfare She sand
gaily. Il pity you Mr. Bower. You cannot
wriggle out OF your difficulty. The snow VIII
soon be foot deep IN the valley Goodness
only knows what would have become Of us up
there IN the buti'
He bowed gracefully, with a hint Of the for
eign air she had noted once before. SO would
have brought You safely out OF greater perlsS,
he SAID; but every dog has his day. and tins
is Stampa's."
EN ROUTE cried the guide impatiently. He
- lodthed the sight of Bower standing there
smiling and courteous, the presence OF one
whom he regarded as a Heaven sent friend and
protectress Spcnser attributed his surhneSS
to its true cause 1t supplied another bit OF the
mosaic he was slowly pleClnE together. Greatly
as he preferred Hclcn'S company, he WAS willing
TO sacrifice at least ten minutes of 1t could ne
but listen to the discussion" between Htampa
and Bower
Therein he would have erred greatly. Helen
was tired, and she admitted it She did not de
cline ms aid when the path was steep and slip
pcrV In delightful SnatCheS of talk they man
aged to say a good deal to each other and
Helen did not fail to make plain the exact cir
CumstdnCcS under which she FIRST caught sight
Of Spcnscr 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, talking-the
others might or might not be lending their ears
TO his ntcrminable gossip.
W/E are OutstnppIng our companions Don
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.
"I tried to be exceedingly negative
But why
Il rather fancy that they would jar us -
have ended
i think it never began 1t IS a safe bet that
Mr. Bower and he have not exchanged a word
since our last halt"
Helen laughed \ genuine case of Greek
meeting Greek" she SAID "Stampa Is an ex-
cellent guide. / am sure but Mr. Bower does
really know these mountains | suppose any
one is likely to err when forecastIng Alpine
weather
would dismiss the point with a grin You
T....,- h,.,ar ha Oh. R4rth vet