Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-09-19
cHAPrER I.-fcontinued.A

Entering the main room, he led her
gently to one of the chairs near the
table and Immediately thereafter light
ed the fire which he had taken the
precautfon to lay before his departure.
1t had been dark In the cabin, but the
fire soon filled 1t with glorious light.
She watched him at his task and al
he rose from the hearth questioned
him:
Nov reli me-" she began, you
found"
First you supper, and then the
story" he answered, turning toward
the door of the other room.
mo" pleaded the girl, cant you
e that nothing is of any Importance
to me but the story? Did you find the
camp?"
Il found the place where it had
been"
Where 1t had been!"
There wasn't a single vestige Of it
left. That whole pocket, l knew it
well. had been swept clean by the
dood."
But Kirkby. and Mrs. Maitland
and"
They weren't there"
did you search for them?"
Certainly"
But they can't have been drowned"
she exclaimed piteously.
"Of course not" he began reassur-
mgly. "Kirkby is a veteran Of these
mountains and"
But do you know him?" queried the
girl in great surprise.
Il did once" said the man, flushing
darkly at his admission. Il haven't
seen him for FIVE years."
So that was the of his iso-
lation, thought the woman, keen for
the slightest evidence as to her COM
panion's history, Of which, by the way.
he meant to tell her nothing.
"Well?" she asked, breaking the
pause.
"Kirkby would certainly see the
cloud burst coming and he would take
the people with aim In the camp up on
the hogback near 1t. 1t is far above
the food line; they would be quite safe
there"
And did you look for them there?'
II did. The trail had been washed
out. but l scrambled up and found un'
disputed evidence that my surmise
was correct. I haven't a doubt that
all who were in the camp were saved
Thank God for that" said the girl
greatly relieved and comforted by his
re~assuring words. "And Robert Matt
land and the rest on the mountain
what do you think Of them?"
II am ure that they must have
escaped, too. I don't think any Of
them have suffered more than a thor
ough drenchtng in the downpour ant
that they aHe all safe and perhaps or
their way to the settlements now"
But they wouldn't go back without
searching for me, would theyf" criet
the girl.
Certainly not. suppose they arr
searching for you now"
well then"
WAIT" said the man. "You start
ed down the canon, you told every
body you were going that way. The,
naturally searched In that direction
they hadn't the faintest idea that 70,
were going up the river.
mo-" admitted Enid, that Is true
did not tell anyone. / didn't dream
of going up the canon when | started
out in the morning, 1t was the resul
Of q sudden impulse"
God bless that. burst out III,
man, and then he checked himself
flushing again darkly.
What had he been about to say
The question flashed cross his owl
mind and into the woman's mind a
the same time when she heard tn
rincompleted sentence; but she, toe
checked the question that rose to he
lips
This is the way / f1gure IT," cor
tinued the man hurriedly to cover u
Ms confusion. ''They fancy then
selves alone In these mountains
which, ave for me, they ares they b
lAva yon 70 have gene down the car