The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-08-14

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through Which Armstrong struggled
forward; AS he followed the NindlnSa
Of the canon, not daring to sfeefid To-
the summit on eisher Fsil and seer
short cuts across the range. he was
sensfble that he wfs constantly fisinE.
There were, many Indications 10 bis
experienced mind; the dectease IN ne
height OF the Surrounding pines. tn
increasing rarity Of the Icy air, tho
growing difficulty in breathing nRder
the sustained exertion no was mai king.
theNquick throbbing Of, hiSsaceeierated
heart, all told him he was approaching
his journeys end. !.
Z He Judged that he must. now be
drawing. near the source OF the stream,
and that; he would nresenuy come
upon the shelter. He had no means Of
aseertalning the time Re would not
have dared 70 ;un6uttcn his coat to
glance at Ills watch. and Ii Is dlmcnlt3
70 measure the flyingsinintiies In such;
,seenes Ms those through which he paus.
I'D. ahut he thought he must have gone,
at least seven miles In perhaps three
Iliotirs, which he .ianeied had ,elapsed,
his progress IN the last twos having
been frightfully slow. Every foot ci
advance he had had to fight;for. Il n
Suddenly a quick turn in the canon;
a passsge through a marrow entrance
between lofty cliffs, and he found Him.
selfelpS q sppcketsor q circular amphl
theater which he could see was closed
on he,farther side. Tho bottom OF this
enclosure or valley was covered with
pines, now dropping under tremendaas
burdens oftsnow. In the midst of!the
pines lakelet vas frozen solid !, the
ice was covered with the same dar.
cling carpet Of white.
He could have seen nothing OF this
had not the sudden storm now stopped
as ptecipitately almost as Il had be.
gun. Indeed. accustomed to the gray
ness Of the snow fallS his, eyes ware
fairly dazzled by the bright light Of
the sun, now quitel high over the
range, which struck him full In the
face. ~ az ~
He stopped, painting, exhausted, md
leaned against the rocky wall of the
,Gannn,s mouth which here rose sheer
ydver, his head. This certainly was the
,dpds OF the trail, the lake was the
source off, the ,frozenS riyutet 4 along,
whose rocky and torn banks he hai
tramped since dawn. Here. II any.
where, he would find the object Of Ills
quest. -. ~, =. go.
Refreshed by a brief pause. ana
encouraged by the sudden shilling Of,
the storm, he stepped out OF the canon
.and ageanded q little knott whence be.
had q full view Of the pocket over the
tops of the pines. Shading his; eyes
from the, light with, his hand as besthe,
could, he slowly swept the; clrcumfer.
ense with his eager gglance6 ,neeinS,
nothing until his eye fell hpsiisa ShuRe;
brokenttrail 81 rocks pro Iectilg from.
the snow, fndiaating the ascent To q
btoad shelf pssthe tmpuntaina across
the lRka{to the3Eight SFpllowipg thia,
he say n huge block d annR which
spggested dlmly. the outlines Of a,
hui! LEI aiS : "a. !: 3 &. u. 81
Was that theplaceasWas ME theref
He stared fascinated and nst hegdld 80
? thin curl of smoke roso above TIC
snow heap and yayered up, In the cold,
quiet air! That was % human hablta-
tion, then. It could be none other.
than the hut referred TO IN the note.
Enid Maitland must be there; and
Eewboldl \ - - ri .Gs,Ns.s
1 The lake lay directly in front ofihim
beyond the, trees at the foot Of THE
knoll, andtbetYsen him and the slope
that! led ppsto the hut If.it had been,
summer, he wonld have been compeljk
ed to follow. the waters edge. to Tie
right or to the left: both jourseys
would have led over difiicult trails,
with little to choose between them,
but the lake, was now frozen hard and
covered with snow. He had,no doubt
that the snow would bear him, but to
make sure he drewShtsf Rnow shoes
from his shoulder, slipl FED his fest In
the straps. and spels straight on
through the trees aud across. It like an
arrow from a bow. -ga..ss- 3.
| l In Ave minutes he was nj fhe snnt8