The Taney County republican., 1912-06-20
CHAPTER ~.

Long after the others IN the camp
had sunk into the profound slumber
OF weary bodies and good consciences,
a solitary candle in the small tent oc-
cupied by Enid Maitland alone gave
evidence that she was busy over the
letters which Klrkby had handed to
her.
1t was a very thoughtful girl in
deed who confronted the old frontiers
man the next morning. At the first
convenient opportunity when they
were alone together she handed him
the packet of letters.
Have you read 'em?" he asked.
Yes"
wall, you keep en-" said the old
man grayely "Mebbe you'll want to
read 'em agin,"
but | don't understand why you
want me to have them"
Wall, I'm not quite sure myself
why, but leastways | do an"
II shall be very glad to keep them"
said the girl still more gravely, slip.
ping them into one of the pockets of
her hunting shirt as she spoke.
The packet was not bulky, the let
ters were not many nor We're they OF
any great length She could easily
carry them on her person and in
some strange and uneXplicable way
she was rather glad to have them.
She could not, as she had said, see
any personal application to herself In
them, and yet in some way she did
,eel that the solution Of the mystery
would be hers some day. Especially
did she think this on account OF the
strange hut quiet open emphasis OF
the old hunter.
There was much to do about the
camp in the morning Horses and
burros to be looked after, fire wood to
be cut, plans for the day arranged,
excursions laid out, mountain climbs
projected. Later on unwonted hands
must be taught to cast the fly for the
mountain trout which filled the brook
and pool, and all the varied duties, de-
tails and fascinating possibilities OF
camp life must be explained to the
newcomers.
The first few days were days OF
learning and preparation. days Of mis-.
hap and misadyenture. Of Joyous
laughter over blunders IN getting set.
tied, or learning the mysteries Of rod
and line, or becoming hardened and
acclimated. The weather proved per.
feet; 1t was late October and the
nights were very cold, but there was
no rain and the bright sunny days
were invigOrating and exhilarating to
the last degree. They had huge fires
and plenty of blankets and the colder
1t was in the night the better they
slept.
It was an intensely new experience
for the girl from Philadelphia, but she
showed a marked interest and adapt
ability, and entered with the keenest
zest into all the opportunities of the
charming days. She was good sports
woman and she soon learned to throw
fly with the best Of them. Old Kirk.
by took her under his especial pro-
lection and as he was one of the best
rods In the mountains. she had every
advantage.
She had always lived In the midst
OF life. Except In the privacy OF her
own chamber she had rarely ever
been alone before--not twenty feet
from man, she thought whimsically,
but here the charm OF solitude at.
tracted her, she liked to take her rcd
and wander off alone. She actually
enjoyed IT,
The main stream that flowed down
the canon was fed by many afluents
from the mountain sides, and in each
OF them voraclous trout appeared. She
explored them as she had opportunity,
sometimes with the others. but more
often by herself. She discovered
charming and exquisite nooks. little
stretches OF grass, the size perhaps OF
q small room, flower deckod, fcrny
bordered. overshadowed by tall giant
pine trees, the sunlight flltering
through their thin foliage, chechering
the verdant carpet beneath. Huge
moss covered boulders, wet with the
everlasting spray OF the roaring
brooks, lay in midstream aud with
other natural stepping stones hardly
invited her to cross to either shore.
Waterfalls laughed musically in her
ears. deep still pools tempted her skill
and address.
Sometimes leaving rod and basket
by the waterside, she climbed some
particularly steep acclivity of the
canon wall and stood poised, wind
blown, a nymph Of the woods, upon
some pinnacle Of rock rising needle
Ike at the canon's edge above the
sea OF verdure which the wind waved
to and fro beneath her feet. There in
the bright light, with the breeze blow
ing her golden hair, she looked like
some Morse goddess, blue eyed, ex-
ti..rated. Triumphant.