Putnam patriot., 1916-07-14

SioH HoDf dIier hour they strained against the current until the ropes bit into their aching flesh bringing raw places out on neck and palm. Hour after hour the ice went churning past. and through it all came the intermit- teut echo of the caving glaciers ahead # them.
 Dan Appleton realized very soon whittier the journey was leading, and at thought of actually facing those ter Tors which loomed SD large ill confec- ture his pulses began to leap. He had a suspicion of O'Neirs intent. but dared not voice it. Though the scheme seemed mad enough. its very audacity fascinated him. It would be worth while to take part in such an under taking. even if it ended in failure And somehow, against his judgment he felt that his leader would find a way.
 For the most part O'Nei was as si lent as man of stone. and only on those rare occasions when he craved relief from his thoughts did he encour- age Dan to talk. Then he sometimes listened, but more frequently he did not Slater had long since become dumb draft animal. senseless to dis comfort except in the hour of relaxa tion. when he monotonously eata- logued his ills.
 Are you a married manF' O'Neil in- quired once of Dan.
 ''Not yet. sir"
 "Family?'
 Sure, X great big, fine one, con sisting of sister. But she's more than B family-she's religion" Receiving encouragement from his employers look of interest, he continued: We were wiped out by the San Francisco earthquake and stood ill the bread line for awhile. We managed to save S4.o00 from the wreck, which We divided equally Then we starred out to make our fortunes It was her idea"
 You came to Cortez:''
 Yes. Money was so easy for me that lost all respect for it. The town rang with my nlirth for Sghile. 1 was an awful fool-''
 "Education,'
 Now. it's my ambition to get settled and have her with me. l haven't had good laugh. hearty meal or Chris tian impulse since left her
 What did she do with her half of the fortuneT'
 invested it wisely and went to work. l bought little round celluloid disks with mine: she bought land of some wit hns m VsI1a 1a Tkar man. and the best ill the world-or at lease the best in Seattle. She wrote that big snoWslide story for the Review last fall. She tells em how to raise eight babies on S7 week or how to make full set of library furniture out If three beer kegs. q packing case and Hn epileptic iceboX. She runs the Do mestic Economy column, and she's the sweetest, the cleverest, the most stun ming
 Appleton's enthusiastic tribute eeas- ed suddenly. for he saw that O'Neil was once more deaf and that his eyes were fixed dreamily upon the canyon far ahead.
 On the evening of the sixth day a splintered battered po.iug boat wifi Its seams open swung in to the bank where O'Nel's men were encamped ard it's three occupants staggered out They were gaunt and stiff and heaT eyed. Even Tom Siater's full check. hung loose and flabby. But the leade was alert and buoyaut: his face was calm. bis eyes were smiling.
 ''Youll take the men cI to the coa fields and finish the work he told his boss packer later that night Apple ton and will start back to Cortez il the morning When you have inishe, go to JqVeau and see 10 the recording.
 "Aint that my lu k" murmGred tn dyspeptic. Me for Ityak. where ther, aint a~sf9re. and my gum all wet
 Chew it. paper and all." advised AZ pleton cheerfuiiy.
 .Oh. tue good has all gone out of now" Slaler explained
 Meet me iil Seattle on tlie lith uext month" his employer directed
 The clerk cf .the leading ho;el in Se attle ~hir'ed lii5 register ahoat as man deposited a .We.Haer hea,cn Wa bag on fae marble f0or and ieant over the coslnter to inquire:
 .'Is Murray D,Neil bere:
 This question had been a~ked r. peatedly withiH fhe Ias; two hours. but heretofore by people totally diGerel in appearante e froIs tue one who spoke now. The man bebtad tAe dess rieas uned the stranger wirb a suspicious eye before answering He saw ras, ged loose hung. fat person 0f lnelan- chuly coumtenance who was booted to the knee and chewing gum. Mir. G'Neil is not here The fat man stared al his informant accuSingly. "Aint this the i5thgs he asked
 eIt is
 Then he's here. all right" "aIr. O'Nel is not in." the clerk re- peate8. gazing nSedly over NIT. Skaters left shoulder
 Well. guess his room will do for ne. ain t particular. His room is occupied at present. If you care to wait yoa yviil ind
 Precisely what it was that he was to find Tom never learned. for at that i moment the breath was driven os- of his lungs by q tremendous whack. and 1 he turned to Aehold Dr. Stanley Gray towering over him. an expansive smile 1 upon his faes.
 Hes around somewhere"
 4s4N .4 INallsF