The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
THE EVENING STORY
SauwtoOth's Secret.

| shes lived up here on SaWtoOto
for six months, ever since she got her
| claim, and she says she'll stick until
she's all proved up
| Nick Alden squatted by the camp
| fire frying fresh-caught rainbow trout,
| Morrissey swung one booted foot to and
fro and patted his pipe bowl reflective
| ly.
| The freight cast fantastic shapes
| about-vast, grotesque forms which
| seemed to dance back and forth IN
the shadows of the towering pines like
| palpable preSences. Nick felt friendly
! and communicative. 1t was rarely a
| guest spent the night on SawtOOth. He
| felt a yearning toward even the old
light-hearted Irish trapper. The last
| three years in the wilderness had left
him with a keen appetite for human
! companionship. And only the girl and
| himself lived on Sawtooth.
| Ills no place for a woman" Nor
rissey objected
| Haven't 1 told her so, Andy, owe
and over. and got turned down for
my trouble?"
Eth, lad; there's a way in the tell
ing of it, Are you fond of her?'
| Nick burned some of the fish reck-
| lessly, heedlessly.
Have I? Say, does a. fellow live
up here in this forsaken hole in the
| hills for three years then suddenly
| meet a girl like Lou Varney, and not
the edge of SaWtooth gulch for her. >
But have you told her SOP Nor
rissey's huge shoulders shook with ST.
lent enjoyment. THE sex cannot read
your mind
Seven hundred times. She says
were couple of hard-up Chalmers,
with hardly grub stakes between us,
and she's too busy to get married"
"A lad with your muscle and a
hundred and fifty acres on Sawtooth
can win the grubstakes. Look at an
old trapper tramp like meself. I'm
thinking you've been too easy going
with her.
You don't know, Andy. I've done
my best. L know how it was going
the first time she ever rode down
here on her pony, to ask would I mail
letters for her in Racket. Would T.
I'd have taken them towel, that's
all right. I took them to Racket.
Her place is only three miles from
here. She's fixed it up the way wo-
men always do; muslin window cur
ta1ns, flowers growing round, and
even a few chickens. And work? Why,
TO-DAY she was out stacking brush by
herself. Says she'll clear up the whole
claim. She's afraid of fire sparks from
the trains starting the whole timber
stretch going"
Morr1ssey blinked at the fire.
SO they will some day, lad I've
tramped the whole Sawtooth range for
twenty odd years, first as prospector,
then as trapper. Now the bows cali
me old Morrissey, the tramp, don't
they, now? L know every step of these
follow any trail blindfolded, except
my own trail. 1 lost that ten years
ago. Eth, they say the old Lad don't
know what he's talking about. You're
and given me a blanket to wrap in and
lie down by your fire there. 1 don't
forget II: Don't be burning the fish
MI 1T isn't burning; That's smoke"
lifted, shifting like an animal at the
night air. Above them was a patch
of sky showing above the tall. taper
ing tops of the hemlocks and pines. 1t
there came the vague scent of burn
ing timber:
on" gasped Nick.
Outside the circle of freight the
ponies were hobbled. While Nick
saddled them, Morrissey stamped out
their own fire and threw earth on it,
Nick led afterward in the dead gallon
on a piney knoll above the rushing
torrent of the mountain brook. The
trail was rocky and dangerous. Twice |
Nick's pony stumbled and nearly lost
stones ratified down in the gully
Never mind picking Their. up. lad"
breathed Morrissey.
Another mile and the roar of |
flames came to them on the night !
wind. The air was heavy with the !
fragrant suffocating smoke and burn |
Ing pine and spruce. Great rolling |
clouds of gray moved slowly over
Sawtooth's breast. Somewhere down |
in the heart of the pine forest was
Louis little shack.
you'll never make it, lad shouted |
Morrissey: Ahead of them great
masses of fallen timber blocked the
trail. The air was full of burning
leaves and stray wind blown branches !
The horses had begun to fail. Neck,
ears and jaw were dripping with white
foam. Nick halted, desperate and ex-
cited.
''I must get through it to her"
"Wait Bit cautioned the old trap
per. There used to be the old trail
through the gulch. No mans eyes but
me own and the Indians have looked
at it. Do you mind? But tonight I'll
ride you down it, and we'll get the |
girl Hold back I'll lead now
Never once in that terrible ride did
Nick question. Unerringly Andy Nor
rissey led the way over the old trail
into the secret heart of Sawtooth's will
derness When they came to the rocky
edge of the vast gulch they left the
ponies behind, fastened to trees. out
of the danger zone.
his mountain trained eye measuring
it's strength but Andy strobe ahead.
There came a sickening crash, and the
great lum bering form went down into
the gorge. |,
Over and over Nick shouted his
name. There was no response. and heI
stumbled ahead seeking way to
= 10 nd 1