The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-10
Copyright. 1872. -hr-tha- Associated
Literary Press.)

Haven't ! told her so, Andy. over
and over and got turned down for
my trouble %
"Eh. lad; there's way in the
telling OF 1t. Are YOU fond ~ her
Nick burned some OF the FISH
reckiessiy, heedlessly.
Have /? Say, does fellow live
UP here In this forsaken hole i'll the
hills for three years, then suddenly
meet a girl like Lou Varney. and not
get all the symptoms? I'd drop over
the edge or sawtooth gulch for her
But have you told her so4F Nor
rissey's huge shoulders shook with
silent enjoyment. The sex cannot
read your mind
seven hundred times. She say
we're couple OF hardup Chalmers.
with hardly grub stakes between as,
and she's TOO busy to get married"
"A lad with your muscle ami
hundred and fifty acres on Save th
can win the grubstakes Look at an
old trapper tramp like myself I'm
thinking you've been too easy going
with her.
You don't know. Andy. I've done
my best. I knew how 1t was going
the first time she ever rode Il WI
here on her pony, to ask would I mail
letters for her IN Racket. Would I?
Ia have raken them lowell. that
all right. I took them to Racket, Ter
place is only three miles from here,
She's fixed it up the way women AL
ways do muslin window curtains,
flowers growing round and even
few chickens. And work? Why, to-
day she was out stacking brush "
herself Says she'll clear up the
whole Calm. She's afraid OF fire
| sparks from the trains starting the
whole timber stretch going"
HI yIF As-n
so they will some day. lad. I've
tramped the whole Sawtooth range
for twenty odd years, first as pros
| pector, then as trapper. Now the
! boys call me old Morrissey, the
/ tramp. don't they. now I know ev-
| cry step Of these mountains and dam
! ger points. l can follow any trail
/ blindfolded, except my own trail
| lost that ten years ago. flh. they say
! the old lad don't know what he's talk
! ing about. You're the only orfe that's
! treated me decent and given me IA
| blanket 10 wrap IN and lie down by
! yOur fire there I don't forget II.
/ Don't be burning the fish"
1T isn't burning. That $ smoke,
/ Nick sprang to his feet face up
! lifted, smiling like an animal a the
night air Above them was patch
OF sky showing above the tall taper
ing tons of hemlocks and pines 1t
looked lurid and misty. On the ~inl
| there came the vague scent ana burn
ing timber,
9'Sawttooths a6laze, Andy Come
on" gasped Nick.
Outside the circle of frellghT the
ponies were hobbled. While Nick
saddled them. Morrissey stamped out
their own fire and threw earth on It
r. Il a I,,r
along the up-trail. They had camped
on 81 piney knoll above the rushing
Aorent of the mountain brook. The
erail was rocky and dangerous Twice
Nlcks pony stumbled and nearly lost
his footing and shower Of loose
stones ratified down In the gully,
Never mind picking them ap, lad. ~
hreathed Morrissey
Another mile and the roar OF
flames came. 70 them on the night
wind The AR was heavy with the
fragrant suffocating smoke and burn
ing pine ia spuce. Great rolling
clouds Of gray moved slowly over
Sawtooths breast Somewhere down
in the heart Of the pine forest was
LOUIS Httfe shack
"You'lI never make II. lad" shout
ed Morrissey Ahead of them great
masses of fallen timber blocked tho
trail The air was fun of burning
leaves ana stray wind blown
branches. The horses had begun to
i fail Neck, ears and jaws were drip
/ ping with white foam. Nick nalted.
desperate and excited.
II must get through 1t to her"
Wait II bit" cautioned the old
trapper There used TO be the old
trail through tho gulch. No mans
eyes but me own and the Indians
have looked al It. DO you mind
But tonight III ride you down It,
and wen get the girl, Hold back.
\ 4.iitesd naw
Il Meier oncf- on that terrible ride
did Nick question. Unerr!ngly Andy
MorTTssey led Tie way over the old
trail into the secret heart OF Saw
tooth's wilderness. When they came
to the rocky edge of the vast gulcp
they left TIE ponies behind, fastened
to trees. out OF the danger zone.
At log bridge Nick stopped short,
his mountain trained eye measuring
it's strength. but Andy strobe ahead,
| There came a sickeniag crash, and
the great numbering form went down
into the gorge.
over and over Nick shouted his
name There was no response, and
he stumbled ahead. seeking a way to
cross. Suddenly he heard a call. and
saw Lou. her hair blowing il the
wind, her pony trailing after her
coming down the old trail.
You" she cried. Nick, Nick, why
did you come after me' There isn't
| one chance in the world Of getting
| out safely unless the wind should
! change"
Wen go together thea, Nick
said grmly as he took her close in
his arms without resistance. You
knew I'd come for you, didn't you,
! Lou"
He did not tell her of old Nor
tooth gulch Hand In hand. like two
! children the pony stealing after they
+ made their way down the old forgot
ten trail, down out of the smoke and
/ whIriing leaves, into the cool green
1 depths Of the gulch Suddenly Lou
i cried out in alarm. and dropped to
/ her knees Face upward where he
! had fallen near the ledge Of rock was
/ old Morrissey. comfortably hung in
! some spruce boughs between land
/ and sky Leaning over the edge or
! the trail Lou could see him, face up
turned.
And I'm not dead yet. Nick. lad.
he called feehly, Me legs hurting
me, and me shoulders splintered, but
| I've found me way down Sawtooth
after ten years, and I've found me
lost trail again" He patted the ledge
of rock beside him. "Iift me down
from this tree, and I'll show you
where the gold grows in nests like