The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-20
tCopyright 1911. by W. q. Chapman


child, but he was too old to make
the attempt. He could only sit and
pray and wait with such faint and fad
ing hope as he could still cherish I'M
til the break up Of the spring came.
For the rest he troubled nobody; no
body noticed him, nobody marked him,
nobody minded him. Robert Maitland
transacted his business a little more
softly, a little more gently, that was
all. Yet the presence of his brother
was q living grief and living re-
proach to him. Although he was quite
blameless he blamed himself. He had
not known how he had grown to love
his niece until he had lost her His
conscience accused him hourly, and
yet he knew not where he was at
fault or how he could have done diff
ferently. It was helpless and hope
less situation. To him, therefore, en-
tered Armstrong.
Maitland" he began, 81 can't stand
it any longer. Pm going into the noun
| tains."
"You are madi"
81 can't help it. / can't sit here
and face them, damn them, and re-
! main quiet
"You will never come out alive"
"Oh, yes, 1 will; but If I don't,
kswear to God l don't care"
Old Stephen Maitland rose unstead.
lily to his feet and gripped the back OF
| his chair.
did i hear Alright, sir?" he asked
with all the polished and graceful cour-
| tesy Of birth and breeding which never
deserted him in any emergency what
| soever. do you say"
Il said l was going into the noun
tains to search for her"
cit is Madness" urged Robert Matt
land.
But the old man did not hear him.
Thank God!" he exclaimed with
deep feeling. 81 have sat here day aft
er day and watched those mighty hills
and I have said to myself that IL
had youth and strength as have love
1 would not wait
/ "You are right" returned Arm
strong, equally moved, and indeed i
would have been hard to have heard
|
land I am not going to wait, either.
j 81 understand your feelings, Jim
and yours, too, Steve" began Rober
Maitland, arguing against his own emo
lions, "even II she escaped the food
she must be dead by this time"
"You needn't go over the old argu
: ment, Bob. I'm going into the noun
tains, and I'm going now. No. h1
continued swiftly, as the other opened
his mouth to interpose further objec
lions, you needn't say another word
I'm a free agent, and I'm old enough
to decide what I can do. There is NJ
argument, there is no force, there il
no appeal, there Is nothing that will
restrain me. | can't sit here and ca
my heart out when she may be there.
But it's impossible!"
''It is impossible How do I know
that there may not have been some
body in the mountains; she may hav
wandered to some settlement, som
hunters cabin, some prospector's hut.
But We were there for weeks an
saw nothing, no evidence of human
ity."
II don't care. The mountains ar
filed with secret hooks you could pas
by within a stones throw, and neve
see into; she may be in one of them
I suppose she is dead, and it's all foo
ish, this hope; but I'll never believe
until I have examined every squar
rod within q radius of 80 miles fror
your camp. I'll take the long chance
the longest, even"
well, that's all right" said Rot
ert Maitland. "Of course, l intend t
do that as soon as the spring opens
but what's the use of trying to do
now?'
TITS use to me. I'll either go ma
for her there"
"But you will never come back
you once get in those mountains alone.
Iii 81 don't care whether l do or no
It's no use, old man, 1 am going, an
that's all there is about it,
III Robert Maitland knew men. He ret
/ ognized flnality when he heard it, @
when he saw 1t, and 1t was quite ev
dent that he was in the presence of
then. 1t was no use to say more.
Very WELL" he said. Il honor 20
for your feeling, even If don't thin
much of your common sense"
Damn common sense" cried Arm
strong, triumphantly. Its love tha
moves me now"
At that moment there was tap o
the door. clerk from the outer o
fee hidden to enter, announced tia
old Kirkby was in the ante room
Bring him in" directed Maitlant
eager to welcome him.
He fancied that the newcomer woul
undoubtedly assist him in dissuadin
Armstrong from his foolhardy, useles
enterprise
"Mornin', old man. drawled Kirkb.
"Howdy, Armstrong, my respects
you, sir" he said. sinking his voice
little as he bowed respectfully towar
Mr.. Stephen Maitland, very symp;
thetic look in the old frontiersman
i eyes at the sight of the bereaved Fl
| Their
'Kirkby, you've come in the yer
nick of time at once began RobeI
Maitland
/ '.Allus glad to be Johnny-on-th
spot" smiled the older man.
Armstrong here continued ii
other, intent upon his purpose, SAY
he can't wait until the spring and ii