Middletown transcript., 1912-05-18

4
do that as soon as the spring opens;
but what's the use of trying to do it
now?"
Its use to me. I'll either go mad
here in Denver, or 1 must go to seek
for her there"
'But you will never come back If
you once get in those mountains alone"
81 don't care whether 1 do or not.
It's no use, old man, l am going, and
that's all there is about It,"
Robert Maitland knew men. He rec
ognized hnalitY when he heard it, or
when he saw it, and It was quite evil
dent that he was in the presence Of It
then. It was no use to say more.
Very WELL" he said 81 honor you
for your feeling, even if I don't think
much Of your common sense"
Damn common sense" cried Arm
strong, triumphantly. IT'S love that
moves me now"
At that moment there was tap on
the door. A clerk from the outer Of
fee hidden to enter, announced that
old Kirkby was in the ante room.
Bring him in," directed Maitland,
eager to welcome him.
He fancied that the newcomer would
undoubtedly assist him in dissuading
Armstrong from his foolhardy, useless
enterprise.
''Mornin', old man." drawled Kirkby.
"Howdy, Armstrong, my respects to
you, sir" he said, sinking his voice
little as he bowed respectfully toward
Mr.. Stephen Maitland very sympa-
thetic look in the old frontiersman's
eyes at the sight of the bereaved IA
ther.
"Kirkby, you've come in the very
nick of time," at once began Robert
Maitland.
"AIlus glad to be Johnny-on-the-
spot" smiled the older man.
Armstrong here" continued the
other, intent upon his purpose, "says
he can't wait until the spring and the
snow melt, he is going into the noun
tains now to look for Enid"
Kirkby didn't love Armstrong. He
didn't care for him a little bit, but
there was something in the bold hardi-
hood of the man, something in the way
which he met the reckless challenge Of
the mountains that the old man and
all the others felt that moved the in
most soul Of the hardy frontiersman.
He threw an approving glance at him.
Il tell him that it is absurd, impossi-
BILE, that he risks his life for moth
ing, and want you to- tell him the
same thing. You know more about
the mountains than either Of u.s."
''Mr. Kirkby," quavered Stephen Matt
land, "allow me. / don't want to in
fuence you against your better judg-
ment, but if you could sit here as 1
have done, and think that maybe she
is there, and perhaps alive still, and
in need, you would not say word to
deter him.
''Why, Steve" expostulated Robert
Maitland, surely you know I would
risk anything for Enid. Somehow, it
seems as if I were being put in the
selfish position by my opposition"
mo, no. said his brother. 1T isn't
that. You have your wife and chill
dren, but this young man"
well, what do you say, Kirkby? Not
that it makes any difference to me
what anybody says. Come, we are
wasting time" interposed Armstrong,
who, now that he had made up his
mind, was anxious to be off.
Jim Armstrong" answered Kirkby,
decidedly. 81 never thought much O.
you in the past, an l think sence
you've put out this last projick Of
yourn, that I'm entitled to call you a
damn fool, witch you are, and I'm an
other, for I'm goin' into the mountains
with you.'
"Oh, thank God!" cried Stephen
Maitland ferVently.
'I know you don't like me-" answer
ed Armstrong. ''That's neither here
nor there. Perhaps you have cause to
dislike me, perhaps you have not.
don't like you any too well myself, but
there's no man on earth I'd rather
have go with me on a quest of this
kind than you, and there's my hand
on it."
Kirby shook it vigorously.
''This amt committin' myself" he
said cautiously. $50 fars I'm con-
cerned, you amt good enough for Miss
Maitland, but 1 admires your spirit,
Armstrong, an I'm goin' with you.
'Tain't no good, 'twon't produce nothin'
most likely well never come back
agin; but jest the same, I'm goin'
along. Nobodys goin' to show me the
trail. My nerve and grit, wen it
comes to heIpin' a young female like
that girl, is as good as anybody's, l
guess. You're her father" he drawIed,
on turning to Stephen Maitland, IAN
1 amt no kin to her, but, by gosh,
believe 1 can understand better than
any one else yers what you are feelin'."
'sKirkby," said Robert Maitland, smil-
ing at the other two, you have gone
clean back on me- thought you had
more sense. But somehow guess it's
contagious, for 1 am going along with
you two myself"
"And I, cannot I accompany your"
pleaded Stephen Maitland, eagerly
drawing near to the other three.
Not much, said old Kirkby prompt
1y. ''You amt got the stren'th, oil
man. You don't know them mountains,
nuther. You'd be helpless on pair O.
snow shoes; there amt anything you
could do, you'd Jest be drag on US.
Without sayin anything about myself,
witch I'm too modest for that, there
amt three better men in Colorado to
tackle this job than Jim Armstrong
an Bob Maitland an Well, as I
said, 1 won't mention no other names" "
God bless you all, gentlemen" fall
tered Stephen Maitland. 81 think, per
haps, may have been wrong, little
prejudieed against the west. You are
men that would do honor to any family,
to any society in Philadelphia or any
where else"
Lord love ye," drawled Kirkby, his
eyes twinkling There amt no three
men on the Atlantic seaboard that kin
match up with two Of us yere, to say
.nothin' Of the third"
WELL" said Robert Maitland, "the