The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-12-17

furnished. His clothing, rough-driet
but neatly mended, lay upon a chat
at his side. -.
He rose and dressed in haste, al
once exulting In Ills Sense Of complete
rest and renewed well.being, prey
to hints of an extraordinary appetite
and provoked by signs that seemed te
! bear out the weirdest flights Of his de
lirious fancies.
There were apparently indisputable
evidences of a woman's recent pres
ence in the camp: blankets neatly
folded upon second bed Of aromatic
balsam in the farther corner; an effect
of orderliness not common with
guides; a pair Of dainty buckskin
gauntlets depending from nail in the
wall; and-he stood staring witlessly
at it for more than a minute-in an
old preserve jar on the table, single
rose, warm and red, dew upon its
petals!
There was also fire in the cook
stove, with a plentiful display of
things to cook; but despite his hunger
Alan didn't stop for that, but rushed
to the door and threw it open and him.
self out into the sunshine, only to
pause, dashed, chagrined, mystified.
There was no other living thing In
sight but a loon that sported far up
the river and saluted him with q
shrek of hooking laughter.
The place was a cleft in the hills,
q table of level land some few acres
in area, bounded on one hand, be.
meath the cliff from which he had
dropped, by a rushing river fat with
recent rains; on the other by second
cliff of equal height. Upstream the
water curved round the shoulder Of
towering hill, downstream the cliffs
closed upon it until it roared through
a narrow gorge
Near the camp, upon a strip of
shelving beach that bordered the river
where it widened into a deep, dark
pool two canoes were drawn up, bot
toms to the SUM- Dense thickets of
pines, oaks, and balsams hedged In
the clearing.
He was, it seemed, to be left severe
ly to himself, that day; when he had
cooked and made way with an enor-
nous breakfast, Alan found nothing
better to do till time for luncheon
than to explore this pocket domain.
He Toasted famously again at noon;
whiled away several hours vainly whip
ping the pools with rod and tackle
'ound in the camp, for trout that he
'eally didn't hope would rise beneath
hat blazing sun; and toward three
o'clock lounged back to his aromatic
,ouch for a nap.
The westering sun had thrown q
1eep, cool shadow across the cove
when he was awakened by Emporium
tie hands and voice of magic.
Rose Trine was kneeling beside him, !
his shoulders, calling on him
BY name-distracted by an inexpica-
ole anxiety.
He wasted no time discriminating
between dream and reality, but gath.
ered both into his arms. And for .
moment she rested there unresisting,
Iobbing quietly.
What is it? What is it, dearest?"
10 questioned, kissing her tears away.
To find you all right.
vas so afraid" she cried brokenly.
"Of what? Wasn't all right wien !
you left me here this morning?"
She disengaged with an effort, rose,
and looked down strangely at him.
II did not leave you here this morn.
ing, Alan. I wasn't here"
That brought him to his own feet
n jiffy. "You were mott" he STAN.
nered. "Then who-?"
Judith" she stated with conviction.
Impossible! You don't under.
,tand.'
The girl shook her head. "Yet I
know: Judith was here until this