Gilpin observer., 1917-06-07

LIS luSh DcCuuSc VI VdThutSSs Already
the trunk was cut quarter of the
way through. He could feel it reel
and culver in the bowling gale.
wouldn't take much to send It
over" thought Holmes.
Suddenly he stopped. Supposing
that weakened tree should strike the
house, wouldn't that solve his prob
lem? The people whom he most
dreaded were in that house, and the
falling tree would, he knew, IL prop
erly directed, crush the roof as though
1t were an eggshell. An hours work
by skilled axman and Well, he
was skilled axman, or had been. once
upon time. And could anything
be safer? The tree was already cut
partly through. Should it fall 1t would
be attributed to the storm. And the
storm would drown the sound of the
ax-strokes. The whistle of q locomo-
tive could not be heard in such gale.
He threw off his mackinaw, his coat
and vest. He swung the ak above his
head, and the keen blade came whist
ling down to bite deep into the tree
trunk-but this time on the side near
est the house. The blows fell faster
now, as his old-time skill returned:
faster flew the chips. So engrossed
was he in the task that he never
paused to look again within the room:
never saw Dawson and his visitors
take their departure; never knew that
virginia Holmes was left alone in the
cottage. For an hour he labOred be-
fore his keen woodman's sense told
him that his task was all but finished.
Half-a-dozen more rapid strokes he
gave, planting them as accurately as
skilled boxer plants his blows; then.
warned by an ominous creak that the
tree was toppllng, he snatched up his
discarded garments and took to his
heels.
| ITS one terror Of night, Little
Bear" remarked Tom Dawson to his
Indian fireman, as, struggling against
the gale, they approached the Dawson
house. Hardly had he spoken when,
high above the howl Of the wind, came
| splitting, rending crash; a great dim
mass plunged downward through the
darkness, and, as the two young men
| stared horror-stricken, the whole end
| of the cottage seemed to crumple up
beneath that falling mass and disap-
pear. For an instant they stood as
though rooted, then started for the
wrecked house on run. AS they
burst open the door and struck light,
they were confronted by a scene of in
describable confusion, for the falling
rvt
poker would smash through the side
Of cardboard box. In the midst of
the wreckage, pinned amid the debris
by great branch of the tree, lay q
slender. black-gOwned figure, softly
moaning. 1t was Virginia Holmes. To-
gether the two young men managed to
extricate her; then laid her gently on
bed in another room.
"She's badly hurt" said Tom, after
hasty examination. "Her back is
| injured, I'm afraid. You look after
her, Little Bear, while run for the
doctor and break the news to mother
and Helen. They're over at the Morris
sey's." Il
When Virginia Holmes opened her
eyes, Little Bear was gently bathing
her head.
"Where am II" she whispered.
What has happened2"
You're in your own house, Mrs.
Holiness" the young Indian answered. |
"A tree came through the roof-blown |
over by the storm. You've been hurt, |
but Toms gone for Helen and the doc |
tor"
There was moments silence. |
Then. "Is it you, Little Bear?" the IN
jured woman whispered.
"Yes, Mrs. Holiness" he answered.
Little Bear" said Virginia Holmes,
speaking with difficulty, I'm not going
to get well / know 1t Il
my head hurts me -. and my
back. 1 knew your father i
Chief Sleepy Dog. He was kind to me
{. and to my baby. He brought
her doll once I've never for
gotten it, Little Bear. That's why
want to tell you something be-
fore it's too late. Listen, Little Bear.
Rupert Holmes is my husband i
l saw him today the first time
In more than twenty years he
Is Helen's father and Rupert
Holmes cheated and murdered your
father. He made tbs braves drunk
p. and when your father accused
him of 1t he threw hin, over the cliff
know l saw 1t done.
The timber lands that RUPERT Holmes
holds on the Calapooia really belong
to you and your people, Little Bear
/ hope you can get them back.
I've told you this because
your father :. d. wbs kind Il
to my little girl. He Il
brought :. . her a. u
doll. :"
Virginia Holmes voice had gradual
ly weakened, until the Indian could