The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-04
Copyright. 1911. By W. q. Chapman.)
CONTINUED from Page 81


tered Armstrong.
Maitland" he began, II cent stand
It airy longer. I'm going into the noun
tains."
You are mad!"
81 can't help it. I can't sit here
and face them, damn them, and re-
main quiet"
"You will never come out alive"
ooh, yes. I will; but if l don't. !
swear to God | don't care"
Old Sterhen Maitland rose unstead.
lily to his feet and gripped the back OF
his chair.
did | hear Alright, sir?" he asked,
with all the polished and graceful cour-
tesy OF birth and breeding which never
deserted him in any emergency what.
soever do you say"
81 said | was going into the noun
tains to search for her"
ut is Madness urged Robert Matt
land.
But the old man did not hear him.
THANK Cod" he exclaimed with
deep feeling. II have sat here day aft
er day and watched those mighty hills,
and | have said to myself that If |
had youth and strength as l have love,
l would not wait"
"You are right" returned Arm
strong. equally moved, and indeed 1t
would have been hard to have heard
and seen that father unresponsively;
land am not going to wait, either"
Il understand your feelings. jim,
and yours, too. Steve" began Robert
Maitland. arguing against his own emo.
lions, "evcn II she escaped the flood.
she must be dead by this time"
"You needn't go over the old argu'
ment, Bob. I'm going into the noun
tains, and I'm going now. No." he
continued swiftly. as the other opened
his mouth to interpose further objcc'
lions, you needn't say another word
I'm free agent, and I'm old enough
to decide what | can do. There IS nc
argument, there is no force, there Is
no appeal, there is nothing that VIII
restrain me. | can't sit here and eat
my heart out when she may be there. ="
"But it's impossible!"
1T is impossible. How do I know
that there may not have been some
body in the mountains; she may have
wandered to some settlement, some
hunters cabin, some prospector's hut
"But we were there for weeks and
saw nothing, no evidence Of human
ity."
| II don't care. The mountains are
filled with secret hooks you could pas!
by within a stones throw, and never
see into; she may be in one Of them
l suppose size is dead, and it's all fool
ish, this hore; but I'll never believe !
until | lave examined every square
rod within raGius of so miles from
your camp. I'll t-,ke the long chance
tco longest, even"
"Wc.l, that's all right" said Rob
eft Maitland. "Of course, intend t
20 that as soon as the srr'nG opens
but what's the use Of trying to co
now?"
ITS use to ne. I'll oi.ler 60 ma
here in Denver, or | E!p3t go to see
for her there
Put you will never come back
you cnco get in those mountains alone.
81 cont care Whether | Go or 70
It's no Use, Old man, am gong. an
that's all there is about it."
.2obert Maitland knew lnen. He re-
ognized fnality when he heard 1t, c
when he saw II, and it was quite ev
cent that he was in the presence of
then. 1t was no use to say more.
Every wei" he said Il honor 20
for your feeling even II don't thin
much of your common sense"
Damn common sense" cried Arm
stfccg. triumrhantly. cts love thu
moves ne now"
At that moment there was tap
the door. 4 clerk from the outer o
fee hidden to enter, announced ths
old Kirkby was in the ante room.
Bring him in" directed Nathan
eager to welcome him.
He fancied that the newcomer wou'
undoubtedly assist him in dissuad'r
Armstrong from his foolhardy, usele'
enterprise.
"Mornin', old man." drawled Klrkb
"Howdy, Armstrong, my respects
you sir" he SAID, s.4k!r g his voice
little as he bowed respectfully iowa
Mr.. Sterhen Maitland, YER, symp
thetic look In the Old front!ersman
eyes at the sight Of the bereaved !
Their.
"Kirkby, you've come in tt We
nick of time" at once began Robe
Maitland.
"Amus CAD to be Johnny-on-th
spot" smiled tie oder man.
Armstrong t1re" continued I
ether, intent urcn his purpose, "sa
lie cant wait unfii the spring and +
s-ow melt. he Is goi-s into the m0u
tains now to lcok for Enii."
E.rlby q. Mt love Arrcs ronC, ]