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

sleeping bags and equipment between
now and then. il we hurry about It"
''Ef we are goin' to do 1t, We might
as well git move on us" assented
Kirkby. making ready to go.
Right" answered Robert Maitland
grimly. when three men set out to
make fools Of themselves, the sooner
they get at 1t and get over with
1t the better. I've got some bust
ness matters to settle. You two
get what's needed, and I'll bear my
| share"
A week later little band Of men on
snow shoes, wrapped in furs to their
eyes, every one heavily burdened with
a pack, staggered into the clearing
where once had been pitched the Matt
! land camp. The place was covered
with snow, OF course, but on q shelf OF
rock half way up the hogback, they
| found comparatively level clearing,
and there, all working like beavers,
they built rude hut which they COW
cred with canvas and then with tight
~ packed snow, and which would
keep the three who remained from
freezing to death. Fortunately they
were favored with brief period of
pleasant weather, and a few days
served to make sufficiently habdtable
camp. Maitland, Kirkby and Arm
strong worked with the rest. There
was no thought of search at first: their
lives depended upon the erection of q
suitable shelter, and 1t was not until
the helpers, leaving their burdens be-
hind them, had departed, that the
three men even considered what was
to be done next
I'VE must begin a systematic search
tomorrow" said Armstrong decisive
ly, as the three men sat around the
cheerful fire in the hut.
Yes" assented Maitland. "Shall we
go together, or separatelyr
Separately, of course. We are all
hardy and experienced men. Nothing
Is apt to happen to US. We will meet
here every night and plan the next
days work. What do you say. Kirk
by?"
while you was putin the finishin'
touches on this yere camp. come
acrost heap O. stuns that somehow
the wind had swept bare, there was
big rift in front OF it which KEEP us
} from SEEM 1t afore; 1t was built up
in the open were there was no trees,
an in our lumberin' operations we
wasn't lookin' that away. I came
acrost 1t by any chance an
well, for Gods sake. old man.
cried Armstrong, impatiently, what
did you find, anything"
This" answered Kirkby, carefully
producing folded scrap of paper from
his leather vest.
Armstrong fell on It ravenously, and
as Maitland bent to him, they both
read these words by the freight.
miss Enid Maitland, whose foot is
/, so badly crushed as to prevent her
travelling, Is safe in cabin at the head
of this canon. I put this notice here
, to reassure any one who may be seek
! ing her as to her welfare. Follow the
stream up to its source.
"WM. BERKELY NEwBOLD."
y, THANK Godl" exclaimed Robert
Maitland.
you called me fool, Kirkby." said
Armstrong, his eyes cleaning. What
do you think OF 1t now?"
ITS the fools, l fnd," said Kirkby
sapiently, that generly gifts there.
Providence seems to be a-watchin'
over EN-"
"You said you CHANGED on this pa
per, Jack" continued Maitland 'It
looks like the deliberate intention of
Almighty God"
Il reckon So" answered the other,
| aipnnIu IT,
1 after all the fools on earth to keep 'em
from dom too much damage to their
| selves an to others in this yere crook
ed trail of world
y Let us start now" urged Arm
strong
"'Tain't possible" said the old man,
taking another puff at his pipe, and
only glistening Of the eye betrayed
the Joy that he felt; otherwise his
phlegmatic calm was unbroken, his de-
\ meanor Just as undisturbed as 1t al
ways was. Wed jest throw away our
lives a-wanderin' round these yere
mountains in the dark. We've got to
have light, an clear weather Eff it
should be snowin' in the mornin' we'd
have to wait until 1t cleared"
T. II won't wait a minute" said Arm
5. strong. "At daybreak. weather or no
D weather, l start"
u What's your hurry, JIM" continued
s. Kirkby, calmly. 1.-THE gals safe: one
(. day more or less amt goin to make
q no difference"
o shes with another man." answered
z Armstrong quickly.
/ ~Do you know this Newbold?" ask
:" ed Maitland. looking at the note again.
i mo, not personally, but have heard
r Of him"
s 81 know him." answered Kirkby
e quickly. IAN you've seed him too. Bob;
'. he's the Teller that shot his wife. that
y married Louise Rosser."
THAT mani"
Is "The very game"
u You say you never saw him, Jim?'
N asked Maitland.
y Il repeat / never net him." said
Armstrong, flushing suddenly; ''but
q knew him wife"
. Eyes. you did that" drawled the
old mountaineer.