Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-06-15

late. for at times he seemed
up in Natalie, and at other times he
actually showed Il preference for Eliza's
own company. He was so impartial in
his attentions that at one the
girl would WAIVER in her determination
and i'll the next would believe herself
succeeding beyond her hope. The game
confused her emotions curiously. She
accused herself of being OVERLOAD, and
then she noted With horror that she
was growing us sensitive to his aDpar-
ent coldncss as il she were really in
earnest. She had not supposed that
the mere acting of IL sentimental role
could so ObSeSS her.
TO counterfeit this tendency she as
Sumed Il very professional air when
they set out on the following morning.
She was once more Eliza Appleton. he
reporter. and O'Neil in recognition of
this fact explained rapidly the difficult.
ties of construction which he had mot
ana overcome. Ms she began to undcr-
stand there came TO her Il fuller aDprr-
cation of the man and the work he
was doing, Natalie, however, could
not seem to grasp the significance o.
the enterprise. She saw nothing be-
yond the even gravel roadbcd, the nm
Interesting trcstics and bridges and
cuts and fills. the like of which she had
seen many times before, and her com
ment was childlikc. O'NciI, however,
appeared to find her naivctc charming
and Eliza reflected bitterly:
III my nose was perfectly chisclc6
and my eyebrows nice he wouldn't care
if my brain was tho size of Il rabbits,
Here am !. talking like Il human being
and really understanding him. while
she sits like Il Crock goddess, wonder
ing if her hat is on straight. If ever I
find a girl uglicr than / am I'll make
her my bosom friend" She iabbcd her
pencil ~viciously at her notebook.
The engine finally stopped. 1t was in
the midst of q tent village beside which
flowed one of the smaller branches of
the Salmon. In the distance the grade
stretched out across the level SWamDS
like a thin, lately healed scar, and
along its crest gravel trains were SLOW
ly creeping. An army of men like a
row of ants We're toiling upon it. and
still farther away shone the white
sides of another encampment.
oh. That's Gordon's track" Eliza
cried quickly, why, you're nearly up
to him. How do You intend to get
acroSs?'
ONcil nodded at the long thin line of
moiling men in the distance.
There's Il loose handle i'll each one
Of those picks" he said.
"Somebody will be killed in that
kind of Il racket"
That rests With Gordon. I'm going
through"
Suppose he had said that when
Dan stopped him at the canyon?"
IF he'd said it ana meant it he'd
probably have done it. lie bluffs, l
don't. l have to go on, he didn't.
Now lunch is served, and since this is
our last glimpse of civilization l advise
you to fortify yourselves. From here
on we shall see nothing but the wilder
ness"
Tic lcd them to q Spotlcss tent which
had been newly erected at the edge of
the spruce. 1t was smoothly stretched
upon a framework of timber, its walls
and floor We're of dressed lumber, ana
within were two cots, all in clean lin
en-. There were twin wristbands also,
and drcssers and rocking chairs, a Ia
bic and q stove. On the floor beside
the beds lay a number Of deep, soft
bear rugs. A meal was spread amid
glass and figured china and fresh now
napery.
'IIow cozy! Why, it's Il perfect dear
of Il house," exclaimed Natalie.
"1ou will leave everything but your
necessarics here, for we are going
light Murray told them. "You wild
stop here on our way back to Kyak,
and I'll warrant you'll be glad to see
the place by that time"
"Iou built this just for u.s." Eliza
said, accusingly.
Yes; but it didn't take long. l
phoned this morning that you were
coming lie ran Il critical eye over
the place to see that its equipment
was complete. then drew out their
chairs for them.
y white coated cook boy served a
luncheon i'll courses, the quality OF
which astonishcd the visitors, fol-
there WAS soup. Il roast, delicious vege-
tables, crisp salad, a camembcrt which
ONcil had imported for his own pri-
waite use, and his own particular blend
of coffee.
i Il y i s.
At last the party reached Jackson
glacier. Murray O'Neil had seen the
glacier many times, but always he ex.
pcrienced the same feeling of awe. of
personal insigni1icance, as when he
first came stumbling up that gorge
more than 4 year before.
For q long time the girls stood gazinc
without q word. They seemed to have
forgotten his presence.
"Well?' he said at last.
isn't it big" Natalie faltered. Will
round pVpS CIVIL If fo1J " -, 400,