Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-11-11

deianed m answer. Occasionally he
broke out Into a hubble Of meaning
less sounds npropos of nothing what
ever In our arctic world lie would
sometimes catch himself at this and
flush shamefacedly
Arters was now erain back In the
rlekciy ehair across the table from me.
mumhling lnrohcrenily aud with his
grcai knutied bands clinchlng and un.
ciinchins restlessy
This deserted shack. erected By some
forgotten yoyaser who. Providence
knows bow. had got timber enough
together for that same purpose. was
the point Of our first food cache. we
had now eaten down to almost the
last Of our penmicau. Tomorrow we
would dig up our treasure, enough to
last Us until We reached not too dis
tant civilization
Arters suddenly ceased his mad jun
BE Of words He pilowed his head on
his arms and slept yawned. and.
despite my resolve TO stay awake and
guard my mad comrade. the Rhythmic
breathing Of The two slcepers lulled
me to an unconscious condition.
was awakened by gentle shake
Of the arm The frightened eyes Of
Ruth Proctor stared ln.n mine. All H.
ness seemed to haye vsnished from her.
lie is dead, she gaSped and point
Cd IN eloquent Gne. al the still form
opposite me.
An investieativc hand touching the
iced eesh Of him testified to the truth
OF this
With infinite tact Miss Proctor came
forward and placed a soft little hand
in my own Il viii be little bother to
you. she said simply @The snow
sickness has left me. what-what
shall we do WITH The tears sprang
from tle black depths Of her eyes. and
she turned her head away. unable 70
complete the sentence.
We must leave him here" / an.
swered. I'VE have only one sled. you
know Later / VIII return for him"
ITO think, eame bpakenly from the
llns Of the maid explorer. "that be gave
up his life in his e.fcrt 10 save mine"
womanlilse. she Graded her pretty
face In her arms and abandoned her
self 10 her grief
1t devolved upon me to still the wall
in my own heart and be practical
Don't whispered so close to her
that / felt her lracfant breath brush
my cheek us she raised pathetic eyes
to me What Is done cannot be IN
done"
Ia what woHld be the morning IN
the United States went forth aud
dug for our reserve food supply and
dug in vain. Some vandal had pirated
1t during oiir absence
With a heavy heart returned TO the
shack The girl stared interrogatively
at my empty hands.
Looted" ventured briefly. What
good for me to put of the TRUTH
Eventually She would havc to know.
II am sorry for your sake" she an
swered. and again IN inexplicable look
came into her eyes
we must go at once" | warned
I'VE have only enough rDvisions for
about two days
After a meager meal hItched the
dogs (Ar,ers had long since been laid
at rest and went back for the girl
who was donning her heavy arctic
coat aud mi;tens. A noise caused me
to leap TO the door of the hut just in
time to see my huskies, mad 1.-THE
streals Of gray. speeding across the
snow in pursuit Of that rara avis, an
arctic hare
Yelping excltediy. they refused to re-
spond to my cries IN fact. Il is doubt
ful if they heard NE With heavy
heart remembered that everything
was packed in the sleage
turned despAiriugly The dogs were
gone. They might return. more likely
they would not The arctic husky
more wolf than dog-ls an unknown
quantity
In the open door. as | raised my
eyes. saw the gir. knew from the
palior Of her face that She had seen
al. but attempted a brave smile
They VIII return" spoke reassur-
ingly
Perhaps. she said softly 4 know
them and their ways. sou must re-
member" She smiled at me bravely.
suddenly my arms were about her
l know not how it hapsened
My love- said passionately, must
we die here Just when we have
found each otherT At last | had
fathomed the secret in the eyes Of her
Dearest" she said. looking up st
last from my shoulder you will never
know the snow as / do Search again
for your supplies have belief-I
can't tell why that YOU viii find
them"
looked. sure enough, they were not
two feet from where ! had hunted.
Luck now cloyed Us with her fayors-
That night the dogs came whining to
the door. and -oh. marvel, the sledge
though overturned. was with them.
Ruth, | philosophical. some good
came out Of Il fqrl am sure had the
dogs not rIn away / would not have
bad the courage to speak
And the llps Of her came close
clp@ef.
The trip was done IN safety The
maid explorer was given over to rny
ship-a maid no longer however, but,
thauSs to "a venturing. gold hunting
t..,-....., 80. ,rlf..