Middletown transcript., 1912-05-18

now ana LnSus IL We hurry hDOu1 ~.
"Ef we are goin' to do It, we might
as we'll git move on u.s." assented'
Kirkby, making ready to go.
Right" answered Robert Maitland
grimIy. when three men set out to
make fools of themselves, the sooner
they get at it and get over with
it the better. I've got some busi-
ness matters to settle. You two
get what's needed, and I'll bear my
share"
A week later little band of men on
snow shoes, wrapped in furs to their
eyes, every one heavily burdened with
"a pack, staggered into the clearing
where once had been pitched the Matt
land camp. The place was covered
with snow, of course, but on shelf o.
rock half way up the hogback, they
found a comparatively level clearing,
and there, all working like beavers,
they built a rude hut which they coY-
cred with canvas and then with tight
ly packed snow, and which would
keep the three who remained from
freezing to death. Fortunately they
were favored with a brief period Of
pleasant weather, and a few days
served to make sufficiently habitable
camp. Maitland, Kirkby and ARM
strong worked with the rest. There
was no thought of search at first; their
lives depended upon the erection of a
suitable shelter, and it was not until
the helpers, leaving their burdens be-
hind them, had departed, that the
| three men even considered what was
to be done next.
'We must begin systematic search
tomorrow" said Armstrong decisive
ly, as the three men sat around the
cheerful fire in the hut.
YES" assented Maitland. "Shal we
go together, or separately"
Separately, of course. We are all
1 hardy and experienced men. Nothing
is apt to happen to us. We will meet
here every night and plan the next
days work. What do you say, Kirk
by?"
The old man had been quietly smok-
ing while the others talked. He
smiled at them in way which aroused
their curiosity and made them feel
that he had news for them.
while you was putin the finishin'
touches on this yere camp, come
acrost a heap o. stuns that somehow
| the wind had swept bare, there was
| a big rift in front Of it which KEEP US
from seein' it afore; it was built up
in the open Were there was no trees,
an in our Iumberin' operations we
wasn't lookin' that away. came
acrost it by any chance an"
'Well, for Gods sake, old man."
cried Armstrong, impatiently, what
did you find, anything?"
"This," answered Kirkby, carefully
producing folded scrap of paper from
his leather vest.
Armstrong fell on it ravenously, and
as Maitland bent to him, they both
read these words by the freight.
''Miss Enid Maitland, whose foot is
so badly crushed as to prevent her
travelling, is safe in cabin at the head
Of this canon. I put this notice here
to reassure any one who may be seek
ing her as to her welfare. Follow the
stream up to its source.
"WM. BERKELY NEWBOLD."
''Thank God!" exclaimed Robert
Maitland.
"You called me fool, Kirkby." said
Armstrong, his eyes cleaning. What
do you think of it now?"
It's the fools, 1 find" said Kirkby
sapiently, that gener'ly gifts there.
Providence seems to be a-watchin'
over EN-"
''You said you CHANGED on this pa
per, Jack" continued Maitland. at
looks like the deliberate intention Of
Almighty God"
Il reckon So" answered the other,
simply. You see He's got to look
after all the fools on earth to keep 'em
from doin' too much damage to their
selves an to others in this yere crook
ed trail Of world"
Let us start now," urged Arm
strong.
"'Tain't possible" said the old man,
taking another puff at his pipe, and
only glistening Of the eye betrayed
the Joy that he felt; otherwise his
phlegmatic calm was unbroken, his de-
meanor just as undisturbed as 1t al
ways was. WED jest throw away our
lives a-wanderin' round these yere
mountains In the dark, We've got to
have light, an clear weather. Eff it
should be snowin' in the mornin' we'd
have to wait until 1t cleared"
Il won't wait a minute" said Arm
strong. "At daybreak, weather or no
weather, start"
whats your hurry, Jim?" continued
Kirkby, calmly. "The gals safe; one
day more or less amt goin' to make
no difference"
"She's with another man." answered
Armstrong quickly.
do you know this Newbold?" ask
ed Maitland, looking at the note again.
'No, not personally, but have heard
of him"
'1 know him." answered Kirkby
quickly, "an' you've see9-him too. Bob;
he's the feller that shot his wife, that
married Louise Rosser."
'"That mani"
-"The very same"
you say you never saw him, jim? p
asked Maitland.
81 repeat never met him." said
Armstrong, flushing suddenly; ''but I
knew him wife"
Eyes. you did that" drawled the
old mountaineer.
What do you mean?" flushed Arm
strong.
'I mean that you knowed her, that's
all" answered the old man with an in
nocent air that was almost childike.
When the others woke up in the
morning Armstrong; sleeping bag was
empty. Kirkby crawled out of his own
warm nest, opened the door and peer
ed out into the storm.
WELL" he said, 81 guess the damn
fool has beat God this time. 1t don't
look to me as If even He could save
him now"
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