The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-20

there was something in the bold hardl-
hood of the man, something in the way
which he met the reckless challenge of
the mountains that the old man and
all the others felt that moved the in
most soul OF the hardy frontiersman
He threw an approving glance at him
81 tell him that it is absurd, impossi
BILE. that he risks his life for moth
ing, and I want you to tell him the
same thing. You know more about
the mountains than either of u.s."
"Mr. Kirkby," quavered Stephen Matt
land. ALLOW me. I don't want to in
fuence you against your better judg-
meut, but If you could sit here as /
have done, and think that maybe she
is there, and perhaps alive still, and
in need, you would not say word to
deter him"
Why, Steve" expostulated Robert
Maitland, surely you know I would
risk anything for Enid. Somehow, 1t
seems as If I were being put in the
selfish position by my opposition"
mo, no. said his brother. cit isn't
that. You have your wife and chill.
dren, but this young man
We'll, what do you say, Kirkby? Not
that it makes any difference to me
what anybody says. Come. we are
wasting time" interposed Armstrong,
who. now that he had made up his
mind, was anxious to be of.
Jim Armstrong" answered Kirkby,
decidedly. 81 never thought much o.
you in the past, an I think sence
you've put out this last projick of
yourn, that I'm entitled to call you a
damn fool, witch you are, and I'm an.
other, for I'm goin' into the mountains
with you"
ooh, thank Cod" cried Stephen
Maitland fervently.
II know you don't like me-" answer
ed Armstrong. That's neither here
nor there. Perhaps you have cause to
dislike me, perhaps you have not
don't like you any too well myself. but
| there's no man on earth I'd rather
have go with me on a quest of this
| kind than you, and there's my hand
| on it,
Kirby shook it vigorously.
''This amt committin' myself" he
said cautiously. $50 fairs I'm con
| cerned, you amt good enough for Miss
| Maitland, but I admires your spirit
Armstrong, an I'm goin' with you
'Tain't no good, 'twon't produce nothin'
most likely we'll never come back
agin; but jest the same, I'm goin
along. Nobody's goin' to show me the
trail. My nerve and grit, wen II
comes to helpin' a young female like
that girl, is as good as anybody's,
guess. You're her father" he drawled
on turning to Stephen Maitland, IAN
l amt no kin to her, but, by gosh,
believe | can understand better thar
any one else yere what you are feelin'.
"Kirkby," said Robert Maitland, smil
ing at the other two, "you have gone
clean back on me. l thought you ha6
more sense. But somehow l guess it!
contagious, for 1 am going along will
you two myself"
pleaded Stephen Maitland, eagerl.
drawing near to the other three.
mot much" said old Kirkby prompt
ly. You amt got the stren'th, oil
man. You don't know them mountains
nuther You'd be helpless on pair Q
snow shoes; there amt anything 20,
could do, you'd jest be a drag on us
Without sayin' anything about myself
witch I'm too modest for that, there
amt three better men In Colorado t,
tackle this job than Jim Armstron,
an Bob Maitland an Well, as
said, won't mention no other names
God bless you all, gentlemen" fal
tered Stephen Maitland. II think, per
haps, 1 may have been wrong, little
prejudiced against the west. You ar
men that would do honor to any family
to any society in Philadelphia or any
where else.''
Lord love We" drawled Kirkby, hi
eyes twinkling. There amt no thre
men on the Atlantic seaboard that xii
match up with two of US yere, to sa,
nothin' of the third"
"Well;" said Robert Maitland, eth
thing now is to decide on what's to b
DONE"
my plan," said Armstrong, sis to g
to the old camp.
YEP" said Kirkby, that's goo
point of departure, as my seafarin' fs
Their down Cape Cod way used to say
an wot's next?"
II am going up the canon instead @
down. said the man, with a fash @
inspiration.
THAT amt no bad idea, nuther,
assented the old man. 1--WE looked tn
; ground over pretty thoroughly dow
the canon. Mebbe we can find some
thing up it,
"And what do you propose to TAX
with you?" asked Maitland.
What we can carry on the backs @
men. We will make camp some
where about where you did. We can &c
enough husky men up at Morrison VIII