The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-11-16

"And when you have finished your
book?" he asked.
"Oh, another book, perhaps; that's
the usual way, l believe"
"Alma, dear, don't think me unsym-
pathetic. I'm as proud of your sue
cess as you are, but some day the book
Of your own life must have its new
chapters written in. I've asked you
twice for the big role in that book,
and ! shall continue to ask you until
you confront me with rival more
formidable than your embryo books"
"We've been such good friends that
I truly wish we might be more, War
rem, but unless 1 felt that we must be
more 1t would be unfair to us both
to give you the answer you want now,"
said Alme gently.
"Goodby" said Warren, at the porch
steps. land remember that If you
ever want me or need me, III be wait
ing for your call"
The next day, Alma set out for lit
tie mountain village where she worked
throughout the summer on her book.
BY September, the book was finished,
and its first installment as serial was
going into type for the November issue
of a leading magazine. Alma went
from the village to ranch.
Books, letters and magazines reached
her In each semiweekly delivery, but
Warren's letters had gradually become
shorter and fewer.
"Ah, WE'LL" she said to herself one
afternoon, "it's like man to want to
be everything or nothing, but I'll climb
upon Eagle Rock with a new magazine
for company, and leave all men to
their fate"
She sat watching the clouds pass
below the highest point of a distant
mountain, but her thoughts were Of
Warren. She had unconsciously been
loosening a round rock with the rest
less movement of her foot, and was
surprised when the stone suddenly
bounded down the mountain side.
Alma got up and looked about for
another rock she could dislodge. She
found one larger and rounder, which
she loosened with considerable diff
Guilty.
"Tll name this rock for Warren"
she said to herself, land If it goes an
the way down to the gulch he loves
me; If it stops by the way he loves
me not"
She gave it push and it went
crashing down among the aspens with
such force that it struck sparks from
other stones as it drove surely and
rapidly to the gulch below, where it
embedded itself in the red sand.
HE loves me, even If he doesn't
write" Alma laughed at her childish
ness, but the incident made her feel
happy, and she descended the trail,
feeling strangely elated.
When she reached the ranch house
q large touring car stood at the yard
gate. Alma passed hurriedly into the
house. Then she heard the shrill voice
of the ranchman's wife trying to get
telephone connection with big hotel
at summer resort 40 miles away.
The voice came clearly through the
thin walls into Alma's room. "Here
they are, madam" it said, "here's the
Elkton house."
"Please let me speak to Mr.. Brown,
the desk clerk" said the woman's rich
voice that had familiar sound to
Alma. When the woman spoke again
Alma clapped her hand over her mouth
to smother an exclamation. 1t was the
voice of woman she knew and dis
liked, but q woman famed as q be-
witching widow. This is Mrs. At
will speaking, Mr.. Brown. We lost
our way and have just succeeded in To-
eating ourselves. I'm expecting some
friends from the East. Has Mr.. War
rem Dean of New York registered?" A
brief silence mo? Then he may ar
rive on the seven o'clock train. If so,
will you kindly tell him Of our delay,
and say we shall be there not later
than eight? Thank you"
Long after the, automobile went puff
fling on it's steep way Alma sat staring
at the ugly wall paper of her tiny
room, but for once she was uncon-
scious Of its ugliness.
The next morning she was ready to
laugh at herself for having spent a
sleepless night. Seated under q big
pine midway along path that led to
a deserted mining shaft, she looked
out upon the autumn glory of the
mountain sides.
"Good morning, Miss Mountaineer.
VIII you let weary traveller rest I'M
der your tree?" said q well-known
voice.
"Warren Deanw exclaimed Alma,
and by the time the name was pro-
nounced she was standing and War
rem was holding both her hands in his.
"The ranchman told me you had
started up this path" said Warren.
"You didn't call me, Alma, but I came
In the hope that by this time you might
want me or need me-"
"Then you didn't come at Mrs. At
willis calf" she asked.
"Mrs. Atwill? She's been almost
killing me with kindness because Of
her interest in my military brother
whose regiment - stationed at Fort
Lyon, near here. But / came craving
kindness from you my dear mountain
eer. Have you found an answer to
that question of mine3"
81 think I found II yesterday" she
answered.
(Copyricht, 1916, by the Mcclure Newspa-
Own -