The Glenwood post., 1911-06-03

not look up at her to surprise them
there. Now" he said. I'm going to
take of these boots of yours, which
are wet, but which will serve excel
lently. nevertheless, for a pillow, and
you are to take of that heavy coat
and get inside this bag Have you ever
slept In one?"
He was already tugging at one Of
the boots. and her protest went un-
heeded-it was only half-hearted
protest after ALL
she submitted, without demur, to his
unfastening the frogs on her heavy
seal-skin coat and slipping 1t of her
shoulders.
When finally, with some assistance
from him, she nestled down inside the
great feece-lined bag, when he had
rolled her small boots into a bundle
and made a pillow of them for her
head. as he had said he would. she
exclaimed, half-rebelliously. at the
comfort Of 1t all.
1T Is SO deliciously warm and soft"
she said. Il didn't know you were
Just being luxurious sybarite when
you refused a mattress and a pair of
blankets on the yacht II only you
could be warm, too, and comfortable"
Il shall be-" he assured her. "I'u
make cushion of that great coat Of
-ours and sit down here at the foot
of the bunk. You're not to bother
about me. You're to prove the efficacy
OF the sleeping-bag by going to sleep
in It."
"And what will you do all the while
sitting there and keeping watch7
Would you-would you like to read
fathers journal? II you would, I'd
like to have you, after what you said
long ago about the men who risked
and lost their lives trying to reach
the pole. I think II you will read
that book, you will understand, in
spite of your wings. And-well. I'd
like to have you understand"
He moved the bulrs-eye to another
part Of the hut, where the light from
1t would not shine in her eyes, and
would illuminate the pages of the
book she offered him to read, while he
sat, wrapped in her great coat, at the
foot Of the bunk.
Once as he passed by her in the
completion of these arrangements, she
withdrew her hand from the bag and
held 1t out to him. You've been very
good to be-" she said-"I don't mean
by risking your life and plunging down
into that bank of fog when you knew
l was in danger. A brave man would
do that. I suppose brave men.
any way. But you've been better than
that
He told her not to talk, but to go to
sleep; and without any more words
ensconced himself at her feet, drew
his legs up under him, tailor-fashion,
and began to read
She saw him close the book at last
and sit there, as she had sat, with it
upon his knees, absorbed, reflective
Suddenly, he took up the book again,
opened It and referred to the entry on
that last page.
He was thinking now, not dreaming.
His mind was on the active present.
Before long he stole a look at her.
She met his eyes.
I'm glad father told us that the
man was left-handed." she said grave
ly. Because the man who killed Mr..
Hunter was left-handed. too"
She had spoken the very thing his
own mind had been cropping for with
out finding, and he started and stared
at her. why do you say that?" he
demanded. How do you know1"
1T was a left-handed stick. I took
1t up in my left hand and It fitted;
that was when I was fetching 1t out of
the cabin for Uncle Jerry"
Then that was how you knew l
hadn't done it?"
mo. I didn't need any proof. I
knew already without that"
Suppose I had turned out to be
left-handed, too?"
Il didn't think of that. But 1t
wouldn't have made any difference to
me. When you really have faith in
anybody 1t isn't easily shaken; not by
mere circumstances, at least"
when you really have faith" he
repeated. Yes, l suppose that's So"
He pressed his hands against his tenn
pies. But there isn't too much Of
that divine commodity in the world"
There was long silence.