Putnam patriot., 1910-10-07
susa .hau,erac~ily.


 mnmbling snechercnfly ana with hts great knotfed hands rlincang and nn- elfnehing rssStEss~t...
 This deserted shack. erected by some forgotten voyager who Providence knows how. had eat timber enough together fer that sane purpose. was the point of esar frSt food cache We had now eaten down so almost the last Of our pensmieaa Tomorrow we would dig up our treasure. enough to hast uS until we reached net foo dis fauf civilization.
 Arters suddenly ceased hls mad jun hle of words He pillowea his head ea his arms and slept yawned. and. despite my resolve to stay awake and guard my mad comrade. the rhythmic breathing of the tive sleeners laileSf me to an unconscious condition.
 was awakened hy q gentle shake of the arm The frightened eyes of Ruth Proctor stared into mine All iil- ness seemed 10 have vanished from her. He is dead. she gasped and point cd an eloquent finger at the still form opposite me.
 An investigative hand touching the iced flesh of him testified to the truth of this
 With infinite tact Miss Proctor came forward and placed soft little hand tn my own. "I will be little bother to you." she said simply. The snow -t.A. loSe rh~s shall we do with.- The tears sprang from the black depths of her eyes. and she turned her head away. unable to complete the sentence.
 I've must leave him hefe.. ! an- swered I've have only enc slsd. you know. Later will return for him"
 "To think" came brokcnly from the lips of the maid explorer. that he gave up his life in his effort to save mine" woman-like. she cradied her pretty face in her arms and abandoned her self 10 her grief.
 Ii devolved upon me to still the wall in my own heart and be practical
 Don't" whispered. so close to her that I felt her fragrant breath brush my cheek as she raised pathetic eyes to me. What is done cannot be un- done.'
 In what would be the morning In the United States l went forth and dug for our reserve food supply and dug in vain, Some vandal had pirated 1t during our absence.
 With heavy heart returned to the shack. The girl stared interrogauvely at my empty hands.
 .Looted." l ventured briefly. What good for me to put ofr the truthf Eventually she would have to know.
 "l am sorry for your sake" she an swered. and again an inexplicable look came Into her eyes.
 I've must go at once" warned We have only enough provisions for about two days"
 After a meager meal hitched the dogs tArters had long since been laid at rest and went back for the girl, who was donning her heavy arctic coat and mittens. A noise caused me to leap to the door of the hut just in time to see my huskies. mad, litee streaks of gray. speeding across the snow in pursuit of that rara avis. an arctic hare.
 Yelping excitedly. they refused to re. spond to my cries-in fact. IL is doubt ful if they heard me. With heavy heart l remembered that everything was packed in the siedge.
 l turned despairingiy. The dogs were gone They might return; more likely they would not. The arctic husky more wolf than dog-is m unknown quantity.
 In the open door. as 1 raised my eyes. l saw the girl knew from the palsor of her face that she had seen ali. but l attempted brave smile.
 'They will return" ] spoke reassur- ingiy.
 Perhaps" she said softly .I know them and their ways. you must re- member She smiled at me bravely.
 Suddenly my arms were about her. know not how 1t happened.
 My love-" said passionately, must WE utt HPfe Just Wueu Vt uusc found each ofherw At last ] had fathomed tho secret in the eyes of her
 Dearest she said. looking up at 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 will find them
 l looked Sure enough. they were not two feet from where l had hunted.
 Luck now cloyed us with her fayors. That night the dogs came whining to the door. and-oh. marveI.-the sledge. though overturned. was with them.
 Ruth. l philosophical. some good came out of it. for am sure had the dogs not run away I would not have had the courage 10 speak"
 And the lips of her came close closer.
 
 The trip was done In safety. The maid explorer was given over to my ship--a maid no longer. however. but. thanks to . vensuing. gold hunting