Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-21

(CHAPTER lV-COnttnued)
These figures you mention are on
record?" he inquired.
II believe they are available
What does it cost to install and
operate cannery for the first sea-
SOM"
about two hundred thousand dol
lars, am told. But believe one can
mortgage his catch or borrow money
on it from the banks, and so not have
to carry the full burden"
The man stared at his companion
with unseeing eyes for moment, then
asked: Whats to prevent me from
going into the business?"
Several things. Have you the
money!"
Possibly. What else?"
"A Site
THAT ought to be easy
Cherry laughed. "On the contrary,
suitable cannery site is very hard
ditions necessary, fresh flowing water
for one; and, furthermore, because the
companies have taken them all up"
"Ah! | see." The light died out OF
Emersons eyes. the eagerness left his
voice. He flung himself dejectedly In
to chair by the fire, modify watch
ing the flames licking the burning
logs. All at once he gripped the arms
of his chair, and muttered through set
jaws: God, I'd like to take one more
chance!" The girl darted swift look
at him, but he fell to broodlng again,
evidently insensible to her presence.
At length he stirred himself to ask:
Can l hire a guide hereabout Wen
have to be going on in day or So
Constantine will get you one. l sup
pose you will avoid the Katmai pass?'
"Avoid it? Why?"
Its dangerous, and nobody travels
it except in the direst emergency. It's
much the shortest route to the coast,
but it has a record of some thirty
deaths. should advise you to cross
the range farther east, where the
divide is lower. The mail boat touches
at both Places
He nodded agreement. There's no
use taking chances. I'm In no hurry.
l wish there was some way of repay
ing you for your kindness. We were
pretty nearly played out when we got
here"
ooh, I'm quite selfish" she dis
claimed. "If you endured few
months of this monotony, you'd I'M
derstand."
During the rest Of that day Boyd
was conscious several times OF being
regarded with scrutinizing eyes by
Cherry. At dinner and afterward In
the living room while Fraser talked,
he surprised the same questioning
look on her face. Again she played
for him, but he refused to sing, main
tanning an unbroken taciturnity. After
they retired she sat long alone, her
brows furrowed as if wrestling with
some knctty problem 81 wonder If he
would do it," she said, at last. y
wonder if he could do it," She rose
and began to pace the floor; then
added, as if in desperation: wen, !
must do something. for this can't last.
Who knows perhaps this is my
chance; perhaps he has been sent.
There are times when momentous
decisions are Influenced by the most
trivial circumstances; times when al
fairs of the greatest Importance are
made or marred by the lift OF an eye
brow or the tone of voice; times
when lifelong associations are sew
cred and new ties contracted purely
upon intuition, and this woman felt IN
stinctively that such an hour had now
struck for her. 1t was late before sne
finally came to peace with the conflict
in her mind and lay herself down to
rest. On the following morning she
told Constantine to hitch up her team
and have it waiting when breakfast
was finished. Then she turned to En-.
erson, who came into the ROOM ana
said quietly: %
81 have something to show you II
Won will take a short ride with me.
The young man, impressed by the
gravity of her manner, readily con-
scented. Half an hour later ne wrapped
her I'm in the sledge-robe and took sta
ton at the rear. whip in hand. Con-
stantine freed the leader, and they
went off at mad run, whisking out
from the buildings and swooping down
the steep bank to the main Travelled
trail. when they had gained the level
and the dogs we're Strengthened into
their gait, they skinned over the snow
with the flight Of bird.
"That's a wonderful team you have"
Boyd observed, as he glanced over the
double row of undulating gray backs
and waving plume-like tails.
1.-THE best, in the country she
smiled back at him. "They are good
for hundred miles day"
The young man gave himself up to
the unique and rather delightful ex-
perience Of being transported through
an unknown country to an unknown
destination by charming girl OF
whom he ais knew nothing. He
watched her in silence; but when he
forebore to question her. she turned.
exposing a rounded, ravishing cheek,
glowing against the white fur of her
hood.
Have you no curiosity, sir"
'None! Nothing but satisfaction" he
observed.
It was his first attempt at gallantry,
and she flashed him bright, APPROX
iny glance. Then. as If suddenly
checked by sudden thought, she
frowned slightly and turned away. She
had mapped out course of action dur
ing the night in which it was her pur-