Gilpin observer., 1917-06-21


Reeston, and
"Sam." he cried, ''save yourself! Cut
the rope and save yourself!"
"Save your grandmother" replied
ReestOn hoarsely. "And keep still !"
But the desperate nature of the situx
alton was now palmer than ever to
Oakley. The more Reeston tried to
work the lever of his planted ax. the
more certainly could he see the ap-
proach Of the doom of both of them.
He felt for his knife, found it, and
opened blade.
"Sam," he cried, II told Ruby you
loved another woman! deserve it
alli"
"Shut up!" hissed Reeston.
"But must tell you. can't die with
this on my soul. She wouldn't believe
it at first, but persuaded her. Good
byw
He hacked at the rope while he
spoke, and with the "Good-by!" on his
lips he beheld the last strand part be-
fore him. Shutting his eyes, he fell.
Almost at the same instant Reeston
perceived that he could do no more
that he, too, was going inevitably. He
felt the relief from below, but that did
nothing for him. The hanging mass Of
snow gave way, and the gap received
him into its depths only moment or
two after Oakley dropped.
Some two hours later they both
emerged from the lower end Of the
crevasse-the worse for work and wear,
but otherwise in sound condition.
Instead of being an immeasurable
abyss. 1t was less than 40 feet deep,
with their own disturbed snow to alight
upon. Oakley had come down without
scratch, and was just in time to
dodge Reeston's hobnailed boots, when
he understood that he was by no
means dead.
ReestOn fell more awkwardly, and
had cut face-nothing worse. With
all his wits soon in the ascendant
again, and his ak safe, he saw plenty Of
hope in the situation. And Oakey's ak
having been recovered, though not
without a search, they set to work
in grim earnest.
"We're a couple Of lucky beggars,"
Reeston said, early in the endeavor.
'At least, I think So"
Ere they were out, he said some
thing else:
"DO you know, old chap. that was
plucky thing to do-to cut loose like
that? You'll forgive me. Dick; but I
hardly gave you credit for that kind
of herOism."
'I don't wonder" said Oakley. "But
1t wasn't heroism."
THAT'S what 1t would be called by
the best judges" Reeston insisted.
swell, we'll talk more about 1t by and
BY"
He was the first out, and held the
mended and readjusted rope with both
hands to help Oakley.
There, dOne" he said, as Oakley
Joined him. The Pic de Dieu, white
and black against the blue sky, was
thC hiot ODJCSt thCiA CyCo
luted in this return to the loved up
per crust of earth. "well. what, Sam?"
asked Oakley, reading something Of
Reeston's thoughts In his face, but
not all.
"Oh. about my loving another wom-
an. It's the truth. Didn't think was
such a worm, did yOu?"
"Sam! You don't mean that7"
"Oh, yes, I do! was immensely
disgusted with myself; yes, and puz-
zled when discovered that Ruby was
only the second best woman in the
world after all. I kept it as dark as
dark, though. You see why. Of course.
So long as she loved me, had to fight
against the other notion. I meant to
try and live up to her, and that kind
of thing. But you've Strengthened my
knots. and there we are"
"Oh. Sam!" Oakley whispered again.
"But it doesn't make me any the less a
liar. And yet believe I'd shrink at
nothing for her"
"Really? Woman is all that to
man. isn't she? But let's get on"
You forgive mel" Oakley pleaded.
Reeston pressed his old school
friends hand very hard.
"A fellow who cuts himself adrift In
crevasse to save another fellows life
doesn't need to be forgiven much by
the other fellow."-C. Edwardes ir
Riuck and White.