The Harrison times., 1912-11-02

| the landlng man.
On Monday morning Dunn had been
drinking more than common, and in
sisted on kissing Rita several times
before he would release her
Suddenly she was conscious Of a
stranger present, and looking up she
saw a tall young man standing in the
doorway sympathetically regarding
her
There was a quick step, and
clenched fist caught Dunn on the ear,
and he went down With a curse, he
was on his feet in an instant ugly as
a bull Dunn was a fighter, and Rita
trembled for the stranger; but her
concern was needless he just played
with Dunn; circling around him, and
when he wished he promptly knock
ed him down, until Dunn, acknowledg,
ed he had enough
Now said the stranger, standing
over the PROSTATE man, don't you
ever try to insult this girl again, or
you won't get Off 50 easy next time;
and remember she is to continue with
the scaling unmolested. | suppose
you may as well know, first as last,
that l am Ralph Orton, eldest son of
Arthur Orton, senior member Of the
Kilkenney Lumber company | shall
be here for some time, looking after
our interests; and II | hear Of any
more Of your deviltry, we shall dis,
pense with your services"
Finishing, with a cheerful nod to
Rita, he turned on his heel and walk
ed away.
Dunn painfully rose to his feet and
skunk away, a look Of concentrated ha'
tired on his brutalized face. Rita, trem'
bling with excitement, went into the
shack to think, and secretly cherish
something new and strange that
had entered her soul.
The days and weeks went by unin.
terrupted. Ralph Orton took up' his
abode at Tuttles home, and the old
man soon acquired distinct liking for
this energetic young man, Ralph
helped Rita with her work when he
was not on the mountain,
Dunn kept his place IN sullen, win.
dlctiye silence, Ralph and Rita soon
fell into The pleasant habit Of waiting
,Or each other at the landing, and
walking homo together in the twi'
light
It was q Saturday night in Febru'
Gry, The men had all come off the
mountain early, except Ralph and
Dunn. Anxiously Rita waited, but still
Chey did not come, The sun had drop
ped behind the western horizon IN q
deep red setting, tingIng the snow
blood red. She trombIed A lorebod
Ing Of danger reached out and closed
about her heart Suddenly she heard
a step on the snow Dartng behind a
tree, she waited, alert and eXpcotant.
Her quick ear told her It was Dunn
Presently he came IN sight and hei
heart sank like lead, Ills face car.
Ined a covert look Of triumph In
sunctiycly she know something had
happened to Ralph Soon ao his foot
stops had died aWCy she sprang into
the road and sped up the hard noun.
tain road like q startled fawn
Her one thought was Of the man
she loved better than life, She had
no definite idea where to look for
him, nor had It occurred to her to
alarm the man, She knew he was In
grave danger somewhere on that bleak
mountain side and on her rested the
task Of rosouing him; so, painting aud
trembling, she sped on, Every few
steps she stopped and called his name.
No answer como back, but the moan
Ing Of the light breeze through the
woods, On she pushed to tho top OF
q ridge, It had got quite dark now.
pau5lng on ledre almost on the top
OF the can't Bhc shouted
Ralph ltalph' where are you?"
.ILlac, Rita, at tho top OF the cant"
- \sn..H.Sxuu urIug reply with
no spruce stood
Nd her heart