Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-20

his friend. The two men were not
alone there. Stephen Maitland sat In
low chair before another window
removed from the desk somewhat,
staring out at the range. The old
man was huddled down In his seat,
every line Of his figure spoke Of grief
and despair. OF all the places in Dem
yer, he liked best his brothers ONCE
fronting the rampant OF the noun
tains. and hour after hour he sat there
quietly looking at the SUBMITS, some
times softly shrouded in white, some
times swept bare by the fierce winter
gales that blew across them, some
times shining and sparkling 30 that
the eye scarce sustain their reflection
Of the dazzling sun of Colorado; and
at other times seen dimly through
mists Of whirling snow.
oh, yes, the mountains challenged
him also to the other side of the
range. His heart yearned for his
child, but he was too old to make
the attempt. He could only sit and
pray and wait with such faint and fad
ing hope as he could still cherish I'M
til the break up Of the spring came.
For the rest he troubled nobody; mo-
body noticed him, nobody marked him.
nobody minded him. Robert Maitland
transacted his business little more
softly, little more gently, that was
all Yet the presence Of his brother
was living grief and a living re-
proach to him. Although he was quite
blameless he blamed himself. He had
not known how he had grown to love
his niece until he had lost her. His
conscience accused him hourly, and
yet he knew not where he was at
fault or how he could have done diff
ferently. 1t was a helpless and hope
less situation To him, therefore, en-
tered Armstrong.
Maitland" he began, 'T can't stand
1t any longer. I'm going into the noun
tains."
you are mad!"
Il can't help 1t. I can't sit here
and face them, damn them, and re-
main quiet"
You will never come out alive"
"Oh. yes. 1 will; but If 1 don't, ]
swear to God I don't care"
Old Stephen Maitland rose unstead-
lily to his feet and gripped the back OF
his chair.
''Did hear Alright, sir?" he asked
with all the polished and graceful cour.
tesy of birth and breeding which never
deserted him in any emergency what
soever. do you say"
81 said / was going into the noun
tains to search for her"
at is Madness" urged Robert Matt
land.
But the old man did not hear him.
Thank Cod" he exclaimed witt
deep feeling 81 have sat here day aft
} er day and watched those mighty hills
and I have said to myself that II
had youth and strength as have love
; 1 would not wait"
you are right" returned Arm
strong. equally moved, and indeed
would have been hard to have hear,
, and seen that father unresponsively
land am not going to wait, either.
81 understand your feelings, jim
and yours. too, Steve" began Rober
, Maitland, arguing against his own emo
: lions, "even IL she escaped the food
, she must be dead by this time"
> you needn't go over the old arg,
: ment, Bob. I'm going into the mour
3 tains, and I'm going now. No. h
3 continued swiftly, as the other opene
4 his mouth to interpose further objet
4 tions, you needn't say another wore
q I'm a free agent, and I'm old enoug
: to decide what I can do. There is n
argument, there is no force, there
:. no appeal, there is nothing that wi
4 restrain me. l can't sit here and ca
q my heart out when she may be there
4 But it's impossible!"
a 'It is impossible. How do I kpo'
I that there may not have been som,
a body in the mountains; she may hav
= wandered to some settlement, som
y hunters cabin, some prospector's hut
q But we were there for weeks an
saw nothing, no evidence Of human
/, ity."
= Il don't care. The mountains al
filled with secret hooks you could pas
! by within a stones throw, and nevt
!. see into; she may be In one Of ther
II suppose she Is dead, and it's all foe
fish, this hope; but I'll never believe
until / have examined every squal
rod within a radius of 80 miles fro
. your camp. I'll take the long chanc
= the longest, even"
10 "Well, that's all right" said Ro
1t ert Maitland. "Of course, intend
- do that as soon as the spring opens
q but what's the use of trying to do
u now?"
u TITS use to me. I'll either go ms
u here in Denver, or l must go to SEX
20 for her there"
y "But you will never come back
y you once get in those mountains alone
III 81 don't care whether l do or nc
% It's no use, old man, / am going, al
:. that's all there is about it,
II Robert Maitland knew men. He re
II ognized fnality when he heard it,
or when he saw It, and it was quite e1
y dent that he was in the presence of
ID then. 1t was no use to say more.
c Very WELL" he said. Il honor u
for your feeling. even IL don't thir
h much of your common sense"
Is Damn common sense" cried Arr
n strong, triumphantly. Its love tn
le moyes ma now"