Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
CHAPTER Xxx.
III. Converting Trails.

mat IAOo was ABOUT 10 play MIN the i
meanest and most fantastic Of tricks. |
Many times before in his crowded life |
he had loved other women, or 80 he |
characterized his feelings. but his pas
sion for Louise Rosser Newbold had
been In q class by itself until he had
met Enid Maitland. Between the two
there had been many women, but these
two were the high points, the rest was
lowland.
Once before, therefore, this Newbold
had cut in ahead Of him and had won
the woman he loved. Armstrong had
cherished hard grudge against him
for q long time. He had not been Of
those who had formed the rescue
party led by old Kirkby and Maitland
which had buried the poor woman on
the great butte in the deep canon.
Before he got back to the camp the
whole affair was over and Newbold
had departed. Luckily for him, Arm
strong had always thought, for he
had been so mad with grief and rage
and jealousy that IL he had come
across him, helpless or not, he would
have killed him out Of hand.
Armstrong had soon enough forgot.
ten Louise Rosser. but he had not
forgotten Newbold. All his ancient an.
imosity had famed into instant life
again, at the sight Of his name last
night The inveteracy Of his hatred had
been in no way abated by the lapse
OF time. It seemed.
Everybody in the mining camp had
supposed that Newbold had wandered
on and persisted in the mountains, else
Armstrong might have pursued him
and hunted him down. The sight OF
his name on that piece Of paper was
outward and visible evidence that he
still lived. 1t had almost the shock
Of a resurrection, and a resurrection
to hatred rather than TO love. II
Newbold had been alone in the world
II Armstrong had CHANGED upon him in
the solitude, he would have hated him
Just as he did, but when he thought
that his ancient enemy was with the
woman he now loved, with a growing
intensity beside which his former re.
sentiment seemed weak and feeble he
hated him yet the more.
He could not tell when the notice,
which he had examined carefully. was
written; there was no date upon It,
but he could come to only one conclu.
sion. Newbold must have found Enid
Maitland alone in the mountains very
shortly after her departure, and he
had her with him in his cabin alone
for at least a month. Armstrong
gritted his teeth at the thought. He
did not undervalue the personality OF
Newbold. He had never happened tc
see him, but he had heard enough
about him to understand his quail
ties as a man. The tie that bound
Armstrong to Enid Maitland was q
strong one. but the tie by which h
held her to him, il indeed he held hel
at all, was very tenuous and easily
broken; perhaps Il was broken al
ready. and SO he hated him still more
and more.
Indeed, his animosity was so grea
and growing that for the moment b,
took no Joy in the assurance OF tn,
girls safety: yet he was not altogethel
an unfair man. and in calmer moments
he thanked God in his own rough wa,
that the woman he loved was alive ant
well, or had been when the note wal
written. He rejoioed that she had no
been swept away with the flood or tina
she had not been lost in the mountains
and forced TO wander on finally Il
starve and freeze and die. In one mo
ment her nearness caused his heart Il
throb with joyful anticipation. Thu
certainty that at the first fiush of da,
he should seek her again sent tn,
warm blood to his cheeks. But thos,
thoughts would be succeeded by tn,
knowledge that she was with his en-
envy. Was this man TO rob him Of tn.
latest love a. he had robbed him o
the first? Perhaps the hardest tasl
that was ever laid upon Armstron,
was to lie quietly In his sleeping bal
and walt until the morning
So soon as the first indication o
dawn showed over the crack OF tn,
door. he slipped quietly out Of hi
sleeping bag and without disturbing
the others drew on his boots, put OF
bis heavy fur coat and cap and gloves
slung his Winchester and his snow
shoes over his shoulder. and withou
stopping for a bite to eat. softly open
cd the door. stepped out and closed q
after him. II was quite dark in tn,
bottom OF the canon. although a few
pale CLEANS overhead indicated III,
near approach OF day. II was quit.
still. too. There were clouds on tn,
mountain. top heavy with threat o
wind and snow.
The way was not dificult, the direc
lion OF IL, that is. Nor was the goin,
Very difncult NJ nrst: the snow wa
rozen and the crust was strong enouKl
TO bear him. He did not need hi
NOV shoes, and. indeed. would hav
aad little chance TO use them IN tn
harrow. broken, rocky pass. He ha
dipped away from the others becaus
he wanted TO be first to see the ma
and the woman. He did not want an
Witnesses to that meeting. The
would have come on later, OF course
sut be wanted an hour or two in DR.
ate with Enid and Newbold vithou
any interruption. His conscience Wa
ict Gear. Nor could he settle upon