The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-08-02

across the sky toward the other side
OF the canon and the mountain wall
A storm was brewing such as she
had never seen, such as she had no
experience to enable her to realize It's
malign possibilities. Nay, it was now
at hand. She had no clew, however,
OF what was toward, how terrible q
danger overshadowed her. Frightened
but unconscious of all the menace Of
the hour. her thoughts flew down the
canon to the camp. She must hasten
there. She looked for her watch
which she had lifted from the grass
and which she had not yet put ON.
The grizzly had stepped upon it. Il
was lrretrievably ruined. She judged
from her last glimpse OF the sun that
1t must now be early afternoon. She
rose to her feet and staggered with
Weakness; she had eaten nothing
since morning. and the nervous shock
and strain through which she had
gone had reduced her to a pitiabls
condition.
Her luncheon had fortunately ca.
capped unframed. In a big pocket OF
her short skirt there was a smalI
flask OF whiskey, which her Uncle
Robert had required her to take with
her. She felt sick and faint, but she
knew that she must eat If she was to
make the journey, difficult as 1t might
prove, back to the camp. She forced
herself to take the first mouthful OF
bread and meat she had brought with
her, but when she mad tasted she
needed no further incentive, she ate
to the last crumb; she thought this
was the time she needed stimulants.
too, and mingling the cold water from
the brook with little of the ardent
spirit from the flask, she drank. Some
OF the chill had worn ntf, some of the
fatigue had gone.
She rose to her feet and started
down the canon; her bloody sweater
Still lay on the ground with other
things of which she was needless. II
had grown colder, but she realized
that the climb down the canon would
put her stagnant blood IN circulation
and all would be we'll.
Before she began the descent Of the
pass, she cast one long glance back
ward whittier the man had gone!
Whence came he, who was he, what
mad ne seen, where was he now? She
thanked God for his interference In
one breath and hated him for his
presence in the other.
The whole sky was now black VITA
drifting clouds, lightning flashed above
her head, muttered peals of thunder
territcally ominous, rocked through
the silent hills. The noise was low
and subdued, but almost continuousI
With singular and uneasy feeling
that she was being observed, she
started down the canon, plungtng des.
perately through the trees, leaping tho
brook from side to side where it mar
rowed. seeking ever the easiest way.
She struggled on, painting with sud
den inexplicable terror almost as bad
as that which had overwhelmed her
an hour beforehand growing more
intense every moment, to such tragtc
pass had the day and its happenings
brought her.
Poor girl, awful experience really
was to be hers that day. The fates
sported with her-bodily fear. out.
ragged modesty, mental anguish and
now the terror of the storm.
The clouds seemed to sink lower.
until they almost closed abou. her.
Long gray ghostly arms reached out
toward her. It grew darker and dark.
er In the depths Of the canot. She
screamed aloud-in vain.
tTO BE CONTINUED