The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-06
CHAPTER VIII.
The Incredible 1hino.


Broad daylight, the top of morn
ing as rare as ever broke upon the
north country: Alan Law opening be-
wildered eyes to realize the substance
of dream come true.
True It proved itself, at least. in
part. He lay between blankets upon a
couch Of balsam fans. in a corner Of
somebody's camp-a log structure,
weather-proof, rudely but adequately
furnished. His clothing, rough-dried
but neatly mended, lay upon a chair
at his side
He rose and dressed in haste, at
once exulting in his sense of complete
rest and renewed well-being, a prey
to hints of an extraordinary appetite,
and provoked by signs that seemed to
bear out the weirdest flights OF his de-
lirious fancies.
There were apparently indisputable
evidences of woman's recent pres.
ence in the camp: blankets neatly
folded upon a second bed Of aromatic
balsam in the farther corner; an effect
OF orderlineSS not common with
guides; pair Of dainty buckskin
gauntlets depending from nail in the
wall; and-he stood staring witlessly
at 1t for more than a minute-in an
old preserve jar on the table, a single
rose, warm and red, dew upon its
petals!
There was also fire in the cook
stove, with 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 loon that sported far up
the river and saluted him with
SHREK of hooking laughter.
The place was q cleft in the hills.
a table of level land some few acres
in area, bounded on one hand. be-
meath the cliff from Which he had
dropped, by rushing river fat with
recent rains; on the other by a second
1
water curved round the shoulder of a
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 il widened into deep. dark
poor. two canoes were drawn up. bot
toms to the sun. Dense thickets of
pines, oaks, and balsams hedged In
the clearing.
lie 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 lunchsou
than to explore this pocket domain.
He feasted fanously again at noon;
whiled away several hours vainly whip.
ping the pools with rod and tackle
FOUND in the camp, for trout that h6
really didn't hope would rise beneath
tnat blazing sun; and toward three
O'Clock lounged back to his aromatic
couch for nap.
The westering sun had thrown a
deep. cool shadow across the cove
when he was awakened by Emporium
ate hands and a voice of magic.
Rose Thine was kneeling beside him.
clatehing his shoulders, calling on him
by naEie-distracted by an inexplica.
BILE anxiety.
lie wasted no time discriminating
between cream and reality, but gath
cred beth into his arms. And for a
moment she rested there unresisting,
soothing quietly.
What is it3 What is Il, dearest7"
he questioned, kissing her tears away.
ITO find you all right I
was so afraid!" she cried brokenlv.
80 'v'sr? V1er't ! az ,-ht vie,
yca let ne here tu.a mo-a.a5.s
she diseagsCeI with an e-ort. rose.
and looked down strangely at him.
I did not leave you here this morn.
lns, Alan. l wasn't here"
That BROUGHT him to his own feet