Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-03-02

And Smnke staring af the parted
strand hre inches before bis eyes
knew rear in ar as weakness he
did nOt want 20 die lie rccolled from
the slimmerine abyss beneath him
and MS panic brain urged nli the pre-
pos,prous optimism OF delay 10 was
fear that prompted him to compro
mise
"All nght. he called up I'm wait
DO your best But J tell you. Carson
II we both start slipping again rm go
ing TO cut"
Huh Forget Il. When we start
old horse, we start up. I'm porous
plaster could stick here II II was
twice as steep. I'm getting sizable
hole for one heel already Now. you
hush. and let me work"
A gasp and a groan and an abrupt
slackening OF the rope warned him
He began to slip. The movement was
very slow. The rope frightened loyal
ly. but he continued TO slip. Carson
could not hold him and was slipping
with him. The digging toe OF his far
Their extended foot encountered vacan
cy. and he knew that IL was over the
straightaway fall. And he knew, too
that In another moment his falling
body would jerk Carson's after IT,
Blindly. desperately. all the vitality
and life love OF him beaten down In a
flashing instant by shuddering per
ception Of right and wrong, he brought
the knife edge across the rope. saw The
strands part, felt himself slide more
rapidly and then fall
What happened then ne did MOI
know. He was not unconscious uur u
happened too quickly and it was uuex
pected Instead OF falling 10 his deatt
his feet almost Immediately struck IA
water. and he sat violently down o.
water that splasheu coolingIy Oh nis
face
His hrst Impression was that th,
crevasse was shailower than ne bad
INA gii~sl ana that he had safely tetch
ed BOTTOM Hut Of this hc ua~ quick
~ disabused The opposite wal was Q
dozen feet away He lay no a uasu
formed Ina an outjut of the ice wall ut
melting water that dribbled and trick
led over the bulge above aud fel
sheer down a distance or dozen fcel
This had followed oui the basin
Where he sat the water was two feet
deep. and IL was flush with the rim
He peered over the rim and looked
down the narrow chasm hundreds OF
feet TO the torrent that foamed along
the bottom
"Oh. why did your" he heard wal
from above.
Listen he called up. I'm perfect
~ safe, sitting In a pool of water VI
to my neck And here's both ouI
packs. I'm going 10 sit .on them
There's room for half dozen here
II you slip stick close and you'll land
In the meantime you hike up and get
out. Go TO the cabin. Somebody
there saw the smoke. Get a rope
Or anything that will make rope. and
come back and fish for me-
Honesty" came Carson's incredu
ious voice
Gross my heart and nope 10 die.
Now, get a hustle on OF I'll catch my
death OF cold"
Smoke kept himself warm by kick.
ing channel through the rim with
the heel OF his shoe By the time he
had drained of the last OF the water a
call from Carson announced that he
had reached the top.
After that Smoke occupied himself
with drying his clothes. The late aft.
ernoon sun beat warmly In upon him,
and he wrung out his garments and
spread them about him.
Two hours later, perched naked on
the two packs, be heard a voice above
that he could not fail to identify.
"Oh, Smoke. Smoker
"Hero, Joy Gastelll" he called back
"Whered you drop from
Are you hurty'
"Not even any skin OF"
Fathers paying the rope down now
Do you see it?"
Yes. and I've got it, he answered.
Now, wait couple OF minutes,
please"
whats the matter?" came her anx
ious query after several minutes "Oh
| know you're hurt"
mo, I'm not Pun dressing"
"DressingY
Yes. I've been In swimming. Now.
Ready? Hoist awayr
He sent up the two packs on the first
trip. was subsequently rebuked by Joy
Gastell and on the second trip came
up himself.
Joy Gastell looked at him with glow.
ing eyes while her father and Carson
were busy coiling the rope. How
could you cut loose In that splendid
wsyr she cried. 1T was-it was glo-
rious, that's ALL"
Smoke waved the compliment away
with deprecatory hand
81 know all about it." she persisted.
Carson told me. You sacrificed your