Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-07-25


Entering the main room, he led her
gently to one Of the chairs near the
table and Immediately thereafter light
ed the fire which he had taken the
precauuon to lay before his departure
1t had been dark in the cabin, but the
fire soon filed it with glorious light,
She watched him at his task and as
he rose from the hearth questioned
him
Now tell me-" she began, you
found"
First your supper, and then the
story" he answered, turning toward
the door Of the other room.
No pleaded the girl, cant you
see that nothing is of any Importance
to me but the story? Did you find the
camp2"
i found the place where it had
been.
Where it had been!"
There wasn't a single vesige of it
left That whole pocket, I knew it
well, had been swept clean by the
food"
But Kirkby, and Mrs. Maitland
and"
They weren't there"
Did you search for them?"
Certainly"
But they cant have been drowned, +"
she exclaimed piteously.
"Of course not he began reassuT-
ingly. 'Kirkby is a veteran of these
mountains and"
But do you know him ?" queried the
girl in great surprise.
II did once" said the man, flushing
darkly at his admission. u haven't
seen him for five years"
So that was the measure of his iso
lation. thought the woman, keen for
the slightest evidence as to her com
panions history, of which, by the way
he meant to tell her nothing.
"Weu?" she asked, breaking the
pause
"Ktrkby would certainly see the
cloud burst coming and he would take
the people with him in the camp up on
the hogback near it. 1t is far above
the food line; they would be quite safe
there"
And did you look for them there?
Il did The trail had been washed
out but scrambled up and found I'M
disputed evidence that my surmise
was correct. / haven't doubt that
all who We're in the camp were saved. .
Thank God for that" said the girl
greatly relieved and comfOrted by his
reassuring words. And Robert Matt
land and the rest on the mountain
what do YOU think of them?"
II am sure that they must have
escaped, too. ! don't think any Of
them have suffered more than a thor
ough drenching in the downpour anC
that they are all safe and perhaps OF
their way to the settlements now"
But they wouldn't go back withou
searching for me, would they?" criet
the girl
Certainly not. suppose they ar,
searching for you now"
We'll then"
Wait" said the man. you start
ed down the canon, you told every
body you were going that way. The.
naturally searched in that direction
they hadn't the faintest idea that yo,
were going up the river.
No" admitted Enid, that is true
I did not tell anyone. ! didn't dream
Of COINS up the canon when l starte,
out III the morning, it was the result
of a sudden impulse"
God bless that" burst out I'll,
man, and then he checked himself
flushing again darkly
What had he been about to say
The question flashed across his owl
mind and into the woman's mind a
the same time when she heard tn
incompleted sentence; but she, toe
checked the question that rose to he
lips
This is the way I figure it." cor
tinued the man hurriedly to cover u
his confusion. They fancy then
which, save for me. they are; they be
Ieve you to have gone down the car
on Kirkby with Mrs Maitland an
the others waited on the ridge unit
Mr. Maitland and his party joine
them. They couldn't have saved yer
much to eat or wear from the camp
they we're miles from q settlement
they probably divided into two partie:
the larger with the woman and chi
dreE. started for home, the secon
went down the canon searching fo
your dead body!"
And had it not been for you, erie
the girl, impulsively, they had foun
st."
God permitted me to be of servic
to you answered the man, simply
Il can follow their speculations exac