The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-07-12

The owner OF that book, whether the
present possessor or not, had been q
college man. Say that he had gradu-
ated at twenty-one or twenty-five. he
would be twenty-eight or twenty-nine
years old now. but IL so. why that
white hair? Perhaps. though. the
book did not belong TO the man Of the
cabin.
She turned to other books on the
shelf Many OF them were technical
books, which she had sufficient gen.
eral culture to realize could be only
available to a man highly educated.
and q special student Of mines and
mining-a mining engineer. she de-
cided, with . glance at those instru-
ments and appliances Of scientific
character plainly. but OF whose actual
use she was ignorant.
A rapid inspection Of the other
books confirmed her In the conclusion
that the man of the mountains was
indeed the owner Of the collection.
There were q few well worn volumes
of poetry and essays. Shakespeare. a
Bible. Bacon. Marcus Aurelius. Epicte-
tus, Keats, small dictionary, q COM
pendious encyclopedia, Just the books.
she thought. smiling at her concek.
that a man Of education and culture
would want to have upon desert To-
land where his supply of literature
would be limited.
The old ones were autographed ~
tho first book she had looked In: 9TH
ers, newer additions to the little II
brary. II she could Judge their condi-
ton. were unsigned.
Into the corner cupboard and the
drawers. Of course. she did not look.
There was nothing else In the room
to attract her attention. save some
on one Of the shelves. each one cover
ed with q square of board and kept
in place by pieces of glistening quarts.
There were four of these piles and an
other half tho size Of the FIRST -four
on the table. These. Of course. she an
not examine, further than to note that
the writing was In the same bold.
free hand as the signature In the
books. II she had been an expert she
might have deduced much from tho
writing; AZ It was. she fancied 1t was
strong. direct. manly.
Having completed her inspection of
this room. she opened the door and
went into the other. It was smaller
and less inviting. II had only one
window. and . door opened outside.
There was q cook stove here. and
/ - ,,sA aud
graniteware. and moro rude box re-
ceptacles on the walls which were I'LL
ed with q bountiful and we'll selected
store Of canned goods and provisions
OF various kinds. This was evident
ly the kitchen, supply room. china
closet. She saw no sign OF q bed In
II, and wondered where and how the
man had scent the night.
BY rights. her mind should have
been filled with her uncle and his
party, and In their alarm she should
have shared. but she was so extremely
comfortable. except for her foot. which
did not greatly trouble her SO long as
she kept It quiet. that she felt cor
tain degree Of contentment. not to say
happiness. The adventure was 80 TO
mantle and thrilling-save for those
awful moments In the pool-especially
to tho soul Of conventional woman
who had been brought up In tho most
humdrum and stereotyped fashion OF
the earth's ways. and with never an
opportunity for the development Of
the spirit OF romance which all Of w
exhibited some time In our life. and
which. thank God. some Of US never
lose. that she found herself revealing
In It.
She lost herself in pleasing imagina
tons OF tales of her adventures that
she could tell when she got back to
her uncle. and when she got further
back to staid old Philadelphia. How
shocked everybody would be with It
all there! OF course. she resolved
that she would never mention one ep
isode Of that terrible day, and she had
somehow absolute confidence that this
man. In spite Of his grim. gruff tact
turnity. who had shown himself SO ex.
ceedingiy considerable OF her feelings.
| would never mention II either.
She had 30 much food for thought
that not even In the late afternoon Of
the long day could she force her mind
to tho printed pages Of the book she
had taken At random from the shelf
which lay open before her. where she
sat In the sun. her head covered by an
old "Stetson" that she had ventured
to appropriate. She had dragged .
bear skin out on the rocks In the sun
and sat curled up on It half reclining
against a boulder watching the trail.
the Winchester by her side. She had
eaten 30 late breakfast that she had
made q rather frugal lunch out Of
whatever had taken her fancy in the
store room. and she was waiting most
anxiously now for the return Of the
man.
Tho season was late and the sun
sank behind the peaks quite early In
the afternoon. and II grew dark and