Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-10-06

not look up at her 10 surprise them
there. Now" he said, I'm going to
take on these boots of yours. which
are wet, but which will serve excel
iently, nevertheless. for a pillow. and
you are to take on 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-
needed-it was only . half-hearted
protest after all.
When he had taken on the boots.
she submitted. without demur, to his
christening the frogs on her heavy
seal-skin coat and slipping it on her
shoulders.
When finally, with some assistance
from him, she nestled down inside the
great heece-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 It all.
1T is so deliciously warm and soft"
she said Il didn't know you were
Just being a 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'll
make cushion of that great coat of
yours 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 watch?
Would you-would you like to read
fathers journal? If 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. ! think II you will read
that book, you win understand. in
spite Of your wings. And-well, I'd
like to have you understand"
He moved the bull's-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
her hand from the bag and
held 1t out to him. You've been very
good to be-" she said-'T don't mean
by risiing your life and plunging down
into that bank of fog when you knew
was In danger. A brave man would
60 that, ! suppose-some brave men,
any way. But you've been better than
that"
He told her not to talk, but to 20 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
nan was left-handed." she said grave
y. because the man who killed Mr..
Hunter, was left-handed, too"
She had spoken the very thing his
1wn mind had been cropping for with
'ut finding. and he started and stared
It her. Why do you say thatY" he
How do you know"
1T was lefthanded stick. took
t up in my left hand and it fitted;
hat was when was fetching It out of
he cabin for Uncle Jerry"
Then tAat was how you knew I |
hadn't done it,"
mo. ] didn't need any proof. I |
Knew already without that"
Suppose had turned out to be
too?"
Il didn't think of that. But II |
have made any difference to
ne. When You really have faith ia
anybody 1t isn't easily shaken: not by
mere circumstances. at least"
when you really have faith" he
'epeated- yes. suppose that's So"
lie pressed his hands against his tenn
lies. But there isn't too much OF |
hat divine commodity In the world"
There was long silence.