The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-07-23

search party. AS she watched these
she could hear the desultory CONVEX
sation behind her, the actors COM
ments delivered with an unctuous,
elaborate politeness which, contrasted
with her fathers gruff brevity, made
her smile furtively to herself.
Supper was an animated meal that
evening The suddenly tragic interest
that had developed drew the little
group Of guests together with the
strands Of a common sympathy. The
Judge and the actor moved their seats
to the Cannons' table. Cora was sent
to request the doctor-a young man
fresh from his graduation in San Fran
cisco who took his meals at the bach
elor's table-to join them and add the
weight Of medical opinion to their
surmises as to the travellers chances
Of survival. These, the doc or
thought, depended as much upon the
mans age and physical condition, IS
upon the search party's success in
finding him.
After supper they retired 10 the par
lor piled the fire high and sat
grouped before it, the smoke Of cigars
and cigarettes lying about their heads
in white layers. 1t was but natural
that the conversation should turn on
stories Of the great storms Of the past.
Rose had heard many such before, but
tonight, with the wind rocking the
old hotel and the thought of the lost
man heavy at her heart, she listened,
held in a cold clutch of fascinated
attention, to tales Of the emigrants
caught in the passes Of the Sierra, OF
pioneer mining-camps relieved by
mule trains which broke through the
snow blockade as the miners lay dying
in their huts, of men risking, their
lives to carry suecor to comrades lost
in their passage from camp to camp
on just such a night as this.
The clock hand passed ten, and the
periods Of silence that at intervals had
fallen on the watchers grew longer
and more frequent, and finally merged
into a stiffness where all sat motion
less, listening to the storm.
1t was nearly eleven, and for fifteen
minutes no one had spoken a word.
Two Of the dogs had come in and lain
down on the hearth-rug, their noses
on their paws, their eyes fixed bright
ly and ponderingly on the fire. In
the midst Of the motionless semicircle
one Of them suddenly raised it's head,
its ears pricked. With its muzzle ele-
waited, it's eyes full Of awakened in
telligence, 1t gave a low, uneasy whim-
Almost cfpor1fo Rose
started and drew herself up, exclaim-
ing, "Lsten!" The sound Of sleigh
bells, faint as a noise in a dream,
came through the night.
In a moment the lower floor was
shaken with movement and noise. The
bar emptied itself on to the porch and
the hall doors were thrown wide.
The sleigh had been close to the no.
tel before it's bells were heard. and al
most Immediately its shape emerged
from the swirling wilderness and drew
up at the steps. Rose. standing back
In the parlor doorway, heard a clamor
Of voices, rising surge Of sound from
which no ineligible sentence de.
tached itself, and a humping and
stamping Of feet as the searchers
staggered in with the lost traveller
The crowd separated before them and
they entered slowly, four men carry.
ing a fifth, their bodies incrustet
with snow, the man they bore an un
seen shape covered with whiteneG
rugs from which an arm hung, linn
hand touching the floor. Questions
and answers, now clear and sharp, fol
lowed them, like notes upon the tex
of the inert form:
'Where'd you get him."
About five miles below on the
main road. One of the horses almos
stepped on him. He was right in the
path, but he was all sprinkled ovel
with snow"
Hes not dead, is he?"
Pretty near, guess. We've pumped
whisky into him, but he amt shown 6
sign of life"
who is he?"
Search me. / amt seen him my
self yet Just as we got him the Ian
tern went out"
There was a sofa in the hall anG
they laid their burden there, the
crowd edging in on them, Mortified, in
terested, hungrily peering. Rose
could see their bent, expressive backs
and the craning napes Of their necks
| Then a sharp order from the doctor