The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-01

that there WAS no PROVISION. nor me;i rs
of making camp. But unlucldly. the
Innocent met this objection by assur-
ing the party that he was provided
with ali extra mule loaded with pro-
visions and by the discovery of rude
attempt ut Il Lighthouse near the trail.
"Piney can stay with Mrs Oakhurst.
said the Innocent. pointing to the
Duchess. ''and l can shift for. myself.
Nothing but Mr.. Oakhurst's admon-
ishing foot saved Uncle Billy. from
bursting into roar of laughter. As II
was. he felt compelled to retire up the
canyon until he could recover his gray
ity. There he contided the joke to til.
tall pine trees. with many slaps of his
leg. contortions of his face and the
usual profanity. But when he returned
to the party he found them seated by
a fire-for the air had grown strangely
chill and the sky Overcast-in appar-
emily amicabie conversation. Piney
was actually talking in an impulsive.
girlish fashion to the Duchess, who
was listening with an interest and ami
nation she had not shown for mGny
days. The Innocent was holding forth.
apparently with equal effect. to Mr..
Oakhurst and Mother Shipton. who
was actually relaxing into anliability.
is this yer a id picnic?" said Uncle
Billy, with inward scorn. as he sur
veyed the sylvan group, the glancing
freight and the tethered animals i'll
the foreground. Suddenly an idea min
gled with the alcoholic fumes that dis
turbed his brain. 1t was apparently of
q jocular nature. for he felt impelled to
slap his leg again and cram his fist
into his mouth.
As the shadows crept slowly up the
tops of the pine trees and moaned
through their long and gloomy aisles.
The ruined cabin. patched and covered
with pine boughs. was set apart for
the ladies. As the lovers parted they
unaffectedly exchanged kiss, so hon
est and sincere that it might have been
heard above the swaying pines. The
frail Duchess and the malevolent
Mother Shipton We're probably too
stunned to remark upon this last evil
dence of simplicity, and SO turned
without word to the hut. The fire
was replenished. the men lay down be-
fore the door and in a few minutes
were asleep.
Mr. Oakhurst was a light sleeper
Toward morning he awoke benumbed
and cold. AS he stirred the dying fire
the wind. which was now blowing
strongly. brought to his cheek that
which caused the blood to leave it
snow!
He started to his feet with the inten-
ton of awakening the sleepers. for
there was no time to lose. But. turn
ing to where Uncle Billy had been ly-
ing. he found him gone. A suspicion
leaped to his brain and curse to his
lips. He ran to the spot where the
mules had been tethered. They were
no longer there. The tracks were al
ready rapidly disappearing in the snow.
The momentary excitement brought
Mr.. Oakhurst back to the fire with his
usual calm. He did not waken the
sleepers. The Innocent slumbered
peacefully. with smile on his good
humored. freckled face; the virgin Pr
ney slept beside her Trailer sisters as
sweetly as though attended by celestial
guardians. and Mr. Oakhurst. drawing
his blanket over his shoulders, stroked
his mustache and waited for the
dawn. 1t came slowly in whirling
mist Of snowf1akes that dazzled and
confused the eye. What could be seen
Of the landscape appeared magically
changed. He looked over the valley
and summed up the present and future
In two wordS-''Snowed inr'
A careful inventory of the provi-
sions. which fortunately for the party.
had been stored within the hut and SO
escaped the felonious fingers of Uncle
Billy disclosed the fact that with care
and prudence they might last ten days
longer. That isl said Mr.. Oakhurst
soto voce to the Innocent. IF you're
willing to board us. If you ain't-and
perhaps you'd better not-you can wait
till Uncle Billy gets back with provi-
sions." For some occult reason Mr..
Oakhurst could not bring himself to
disclose Uncle Billy's rascality and so
offered the hypothesis that The had
wandered from the camp and had acct
dentally stampeded the animals. He
dropped warning to the Duchess and
Mother Shipton. who. of course, knew
the facts of their associates detection.
They'll find out the truth about us all
when they find out anything he add
ed significantly. land there's no good
frightening them now.
Tom Simson not only put all his
worldly store at the disposal Of Mr..
Oakhurst. but seemed to enjoy the
prospect of their enforced seclusion.
We'll have good camp for a week,
and then the snow'll melt. and we'll all
go back together" The cheerful gay
ETY. Of the young man and Mr.. Oak
bursts calm infected the others The
Innocent. with the aid of pine boughs
extemporized Il thatch for the roofess