The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-05-29

Alan Came Crashing Down.
a sitting posture. Clay had regaine
his feet and was staring about in
bewildered way, his clothing in rag
and his lacerated hands twitching con
vulsively. Il have rested and now
am going to get her" he said in
strange voice II told her that love,
her better than all else and that
would sacrifice my life for her II i
should come to the test. Well, thu
test has come and am going to her
come what may" He started OF upor
hobble and March. struggling to hi
feet. called after him:
"Clay!"
He paused and faced about, his brow
wrinkled, staring at Alan as though
at a stranger. His tense face though
deeply drawn by fatigue and suffering
was no longer distorted as it had
been earlier in the day, but his eyes
ieeply sunken and circled by rings ~
dark as though made by blows from a
fist, glowed unnAturally. Yes" he
said after q moment. II know you
now You are March. What are you
doing here?" Alan, who had often
thought as he looked into the Others
eyes that some latent disorder slum.
eered there, now knew that the man
was unmistakably mad. Yet undoubt.
eddy some reason remained, and such
RS it was he would try and appeal to
It.
Where are you going" he asked
quietly.
Going" He passed his hand swift.
~ in front Of his eyes as though to
sweep something from in front OF
them-"why, l am going to get her, Of
tourse. Where else should l be going
1t such timer" He turned as If to
ttart away again, but once more Alan
halted him. l...
DO YOU know II there is a way up?"
Most certainly, else how would I
know where to 60? l scaled it once
three years ago when l was hunaing
lheep. There is a way, an awful way,
ind nearly lost my life upon it. But
! climbed 1t once and l shall again"
March watching him closely knew not
what to think. Mad as the other un-
doubtedly was, there was q calm con.
viction in his manner that left the lis.
tener greatly puzzled as to whether
his disordered mind but imagined the
prior feat, or whether the remnant Of
bis orderly INTELLECT still remembered
It as Z TACT. re That AZ II mlgne, nd
well knew that Clay was an enthusi.
lstic and daring hunter who had spent
many weeks among these cliffs, and Il
Was not at all improbable that he was
lpeaking Of actualities. At any rate
It would do no harm to accompany
! i'm. The Cliff WAS hopeless Of ascent
where they stood, and even though his
companion was laboring under q delu-
zion they might stumble across sons
Place where they could drag them.
selves up. He once more nerved him.
eelf to physical effort and stepped for
ward, but at his first pace the face Of
The other underwent = violent change.
Once more the features worked and
the mouth twitched. while his eyes
blazed like an angry Wildcats.
Halt" he commanded fiercely.
March paused. What insane fear OF
hatred had suddenly taken possession
pf the others twisted mind he had no
idea, therefore he must question him
quietly, ascertain. and then strive to
reason with him. He eyed him stead
ily. well, what is it," he demanded.
"I am going alone. You must re-
main behind" ..
March slowly shook his head mo,
YOU must not say that. l may be Of
assistance to you, and is this not a
matter for both OF us as men," The
question seemed to infuriate the other
beyond self control.
For both of u.s." he fairly yelled.
mo. it Is a matter for me alone-for
me who loves her in way that such
as you can no more conceive than you
can conceive Of pain and agony and
weeks OF sleepless wretchedness
passed in calling aloud to her through
the endless hours OF torturing nights.
And always you stood between 'us
with your silly attentions and school
boy declarations OF puppy love. Yet
what did 1t gain you? Nothing but 70
lusal upon refusal. She loves you not
1T all and you shall not accompany
me up the path which learned at the
risk Of my own life for she Is mine.
promised to me BY bstr0thal-my If.
hsnced wife. II you 20 to her And Z
way Of your own, but this way 10 mina
and mine alone.
Clay" said March sternly a. hs
took a forward step with chin thrust
out, his heart sinking nevertheless al
the Other's words. Il DO not believe