Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-07-11

I|.lo {,1I silence. 1t began to dawn or
him that this was an eXtraor
binary adventure for man on whose
shoulders rested the responsibilities OF
one Of the greatest engineering tasks
on the continent and who was due
to take train for the seat of his
operations at o'clock In the morning.
He looked down at his companion
saw the sheen of her hair as 1t rippled
out from under her fur turban, studied
the soft contour Of her cheek and chin
without himself being observed and
noticed incidentally that the top Of the
bewitching head beside him came Just
about to a level with the cigar which
he was smoking He wondered If he
were making fool Of himself.
Where the river ferry was half
drawn up on the shore. its stern frozen
in the ice. he paused and looked down
at the girl In quiet surprise. She nod
ded. smiling. and motioned across the
river.
II was over there once tonight" said
Rowland aloud. Didn't see any
houses and heard nothing but wolves
Is that where we're going?"
Her white teeth cleaned at him. and
he was conscious Of q warm pressure
against his arm as the girl signified
that they were to cross. His perplex-
ity increased. On the farther shore
the forest came down to the rivers
edge in black wall Of spruce and bal
sam. Beyond that edge of the wilder
ness he knew that no part Of Prince
Albert intruded 1t was possible that
across from them was squatter's cab
in. and yet if this were so and the girl
was going to it why had she told him
that she was a stranger in the town?
And why had she come to him for the
assistance she promised to request Of
him instead of seeking it Of those
whom she knew?
he said. You seem pretty we'll ac-
quainted over here. Where are we CO.
ing?'
This time she responded with an en-
phatic negative shake Of her head. at
the same time pointing with her free
hand to the we'll defined trail that
wound up from the ferry landing into
the forest. Earlier in the day How
land had been told that this was the
Great North trail that led into the vast
wildernesses beyond the Saskatche-
wan. Two days before the factor from
Lac Balm. the Chippewayan and the
Crees had come In over it. Its hard
crust bore the marks Of the sledges
Of Jean Croisset and the men from the
Lac Ia Ronge country. Since the big
ten days before. forest man had
now and then used this trail on his
way down to the edge Of civilization.
but none from Prince Albert had
travelled 1t in the other direction.
Rowland had been told this at the
hotel. and he shrugged his shoulders in
candid bewilderment as he stared
down into the girls face She seemed
to understand his thoughts. and again
her mouth rounded itself into that be-
witching red o. which gave to her face
an expression OF tender entreaty. Of
pathetic grief that the soft lips were
powerless to voice the words which
she wished to speak. Then suddenly
she darted few steps from Rowland
and with the toe OF her shoe formed a
single word in the surface of the snow.
She rested her hand lightly on How
lands shoulder as he bent over to
make it out in the elusive starlight.
Camp he cried. Strengthening him
self. do you mean to say you're
out here?"
She nodded again and again. delight
ed that he understood her. There was
so childishly sweet in her
face. in the gladness Of her eyes. that
Rowland stretched out both his hands
to her. laughing aloud. Your he ex-
claimed. You. camping out here!'
With a quick little movement she came
10 him. still laughing with her eyes
and lips. and for an instant he held
both her hands tight in his own. Her
lovely face was dangerously near to
him. He felt the touch of her breath
IN his face: for an instant caught the
sweet scent Of her hair. Never had
be seen eyes like those that glowed up
1t him softly. filled with the gentle
starlight: never in his life had he
dreamed of face like this. so near to
him that 1t sent the blood leaping
through his veins in strange excite
nent. He held the hands tighter. and
he movement drew the girl closer to
him until for no more than breath
le felt her against his breast In that
he forgot all sense Of time and
place; forgot his old setback How
and - practical. unromantic. master
builder Of railroads; forgot everything
'ut this presence Of the girl, the warm
PRESSURE against his breast. the lure
# the great brown eyes that had come
70 unexpectedly into his life. In an
'ther moment he had recovered him
elf. He drew step back. freeing
he girls hands.
II beg your pardon" he said softly.
His cheeks burned holly at what he
lad done. and. turning squarely about.
le strobe up the trail. He had not
AIKEN a dozen PAGES when far ahead of
lin he saw the red glow Of n fire.
Then hand caught his arm. clutching
I it almost 1ercely, and he turned to
meet the girls face. white now with
TRANCE terror
what Is it," he cried. Tell me-
He caught her hands again, startled
" the look in her eyes. Quickly she
'ulled herself away. A dozen feet be-
ind her in the thick shadows of the
crest trees something took shape and