The Dolores star., 1918-06-21
Story

hOlI IN tu0 WOtUB On inc 0oO p1U9pSC
tor. But when Il lint gu right It's
hi"
TT II not nifty below Jet. II itr"
'Nope. But she's on the way. When
your breath makes Q kinder cracking
noise she's ffty."
There soon was q crust On the snow
that held up the dogs and the sled 20
that trail breaking was not necessary.
Tho little party pounded steadily over
the barren hills. There was NO sign
Of Life except what they brought with
them into the greater silence beyond.
Each OF the men wrapped a long
scarf around his mouth and nose for
protection. and N the part In front of
mis- race became Q sheet of ice shifted
the mufaer to another place.
Night fell in the middle Of the aft.
ernoon. but they kept travelling. Not
I'LL they were well mp toward the sum-
NIT Of the divide did they decide to
camp. They drove Into q little draw
and embarrassed the weary doRs. II
was bitterly cold, but they were forced
to Get up the tent and steve to keep
from freezing. Their numbed fingers
made slow Job Of the camp prepare
lions. At last the stove was going,
the dogs fed, and they themselves
thawed out. They fell asleep shortly
to the sound OF the mournful bowling
Of the dogs outside.
Long before daybreak they were
afoot again. Holt went out to chop
some wood for the stove while Gordon
made breakfast preparations. The
little miner brought I'm an armful Of
wood and went out to get Q second
supply. 4 few momsnts later Elliot
heard q cry.
Hs stepped out Of the tent and ran
TO the spot where Holt was lying under
Q mass Of ice and snow. The young
man threw aside the broken blocks
that had plunged down from . ledge
above.
BADLY hurt. Gidf" he asked.
Il done bust my laig. son." the old
man answered with Q twisted grin.
You mean that Il u brokenf"
"TeIl you that In Q minute"
He felt his leg carefully and with
Elliot's help tried to get up. Groan-
ing. he slid back to the snow.
Yep. She's busted" he announced.
Gordon carried him to the tent and
laid him down carefully. The old
miner swore softly.
"Ain't this Q devil Of . note. boy1
You'll have to get me to Smiths Gross
Ing and leave me there"
II was the only thing to bs done.
Elliot broke camp and packed the sled.
Upon the load he put his companion,
wen wrapped up In furs. -
Two miles up the road Gordon stoned
his team sharply. He had turned q
bend In the trail and had come upon
an empty stage buried In the snow.
The fear that had been uppsrmost
IN Elliot'S mind for twenty-four hours
clutchsd at his throat. Was Il tras-
edy upon which he had come after
his long journsyf
Holt guessed tie truth. sThey got
stalled and cut loose the horses. Must
have tried to ride the cayuses to
shelter" --t
ITO Smiths Crossinss" asked Cor
don.
expect So" Then, with q WHOM,
the man on the sled contradicted him
self. "No, BY Moses, to Dick Fiddler's
old cabin mp the draw. That's where
saltwater would aim for TIN the blix-
xard was over"
"where II it1' demanded his friend.
"Swing over to the right and follow
the little sulch. III wait till you come
back"
Gordon dropped the gee-pole and
started on the instant. Eagerness,
anxiety, dread. fought In his heart. He
knew that any moment how he might
stumble upon the evidence Of the sad
story which IL repeated in Alaska
many times every winter. It rang in
him like a bell that where tough,
hardy miners succumbed a frail girl
would have small chance.
he cut across over the hill toward
the draw. and at what he saw his pulse
quickened. Smoke was pouring out of
the chimney Of q cabin and falling
groundward. az It does in the Arctic
during very cold weather. Had Sheba
found safety theref
$40 NO PuSASO xOTWdIu LQ6 E1SluX Sun
flooded the earth with pink and struck
million sparkles Of color from the
snow. The wonder of it drew the eyes
Of the young man for a moment toward
the hills.
A tumult Of joy flooded his veins.
The girl who held in her soft hands
the happiness Of his life stood looking
at him. It seemed to him that she
was the core Of all that lovely tide Of
radiance. He moved toward her and,
looked down into the trench where she
waited. Swiftly he kicked off his
snowshoes and leaped down beside her.
The CLEAN Of tears was in her eyes
as she held out both hands to him.
During the long look they gave each
otner something wonderful to both of
them was born into the world.
When he tried to speak his hoarse
voice broke. "Sheba-little Sheba I