The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-08-03

Maitland With the three mon ana Tho
three children. Joined thn ,Wrntctea
trio above the camp (, MAITLAND. wild
With excitement and appreA ensious
had pressed On ali cad OF tic req; \ Ii
wasSa aifased man indeed who ran
the last few step L the rough. way
and claSped his wife in his arms. but
as. be did So he noticed that one was
missing.
Great ,Gad,- he, cried. releasing h!a
wife. where Is Enldf"
she went down the canon early
this mornin, intendin' to stay all day..
slowly and reluctantly, answered old
Kirby. TAM"
He paused there. It wasn't ,neces-
sary for him to say anything more.
Maitland walked to the edge, Of the
trail and looked down into the valley.
i had, been swept, clean Of. the camp.
Rocks had been rolled over upon the
meadow land. trunks OF trees torn
up by the roots had lodged against
them. 1t was q scene OF desolate and
miserable confusion and. disaster.
oh. Robert, don't you think she
may be safe?'i asked Mrs. Maitland.
There's Just a chance. I think, that
she. ma5 have suspicioned the storm
an got. out of the canon" suggested
the old frontiersman.
"a slim chance" answered Matt
land gloomlly. God, I wouldn't have
had this happen for anything on
earth" ~
Nor me. I'd a, heap ruther It had
got me than her" said Kirkby slim
ply. ,..,, ..-s..,..'...
Il didn't zee It coming" continued
Maitland, nodding as II Kirkby's
statement were to be accepted as a
matter OF course, as indeed It was.
I'VE were on. the other slope OF the
mountain until 1t was almost over
head ~
''Nuther did l.. To, tell the truth I
was lynn down .nappln', wen Pete.
we're. who'd, been. down the canon
rounding up some OF the = critters,
came Dustin In on u.s."
II Amt saved but fourshosses. 2 said
Pete mournfully, "and there's only one
burro on the hog back,,et B
I'VE came back as fast as we
could" said Maitland: 81 pushed on
ahead. George. Bradshaw and Phillips
are bringing Bob. and. the girls. We
must search the canon ,..a
IT, cant be done tonight, old man."
said Kirkby.
u tell you We can't wait. Jack!'
We've got to, I'm as willln to lay
down my life for that young gal as
anybody, on earth, but in this yere
mist an as black. q night ,as Its ,goin'
to be. we couldn't go ten rod without
KILN ourselves an we. couldn't see
nothin' noways."
But she may be in the canon"
IF she's In the canon 'twon't make
no difference to her, w'ether we finds
her tomorrer or next day or, next
year, Bob" -.1
Maitland groaned in anguish.
~ can't stay here inactive" he per.
sisted stubbornly. 80
ITS hard thing. but we got to
wait till mornin'. Ell she got out, Of
the canon and, climbed up on the hog
back she'll be all right, she'll soon
find out she can't make no progress in
this mist and darkness. No, old
friend, we're up agin It hard. We Jest
got to stay the night were We are an
as long as we, got to walt we might
as well make ourselves as comfortable
as possible. For the wimmen an
children, anyway. fetched up, some
ham and some canned goods and 9th.
er eatfu's in these yere canvas sacks,
We might kindle fire
TITS hardly possible" said Malt
land. I'VE shall have to eat It cold"
"oh. Robert" pleaded his wife,
isn't It possible that she may have
escaped?"
Possible, yes. but"
I'VE won't give up hope, ma'am,"
said Kirkby, until tomorrer wen
We We had a look at the canon"
By this time the others Joined the
party. Phillips and Bradshaw showed
the stuff that. was in them. They i'm.
mediately volunteered to go down the
canon at once, knowing little or moth.
Ing Of its dangers and Indifferent to
what they did know, but as Ktrkby
had pointed out, the attempt was
clearly impossible. Maitland bitterly
reproached himself for having allow.
ed the girl to go alone. and in those
self,reproachess old Kirkby Joined q
They, were too wet and cold: to
sleep. There was no shelter and It
was not until early In the morning
they succeeded in kindling a fire,
Meanwhile the men talked the sltua.
ton over very carefully. They we're
two days journey from the wagons.
II was necessary that the women and
children should be taken back at once.
Kirkby hadn't been able to save much
more than enough to eat to get them
backto ranch or settlement; and on
very short rations at best. It was
finally decided that George. and Pete
and Mrs. Maitland. the two girls and
the youngster, should go back to the
UT L,tx A.