Evening star., 1918-05-26

while she piled the knitting needles.
But Lanty did not come back.
The summer passed: autumn was
upon them. Snow covered the ridge
prepared for the great roundup OF
bear and deer on the peaks for the
winter meat. Annie Ann looked more
doleful than ever. She presaged an
evil winter. with no fuel except what
Joe and little Jim could drag In from
had no shoes and could give scant
help in the wintry snow.
Trappers predicted that the cold
would be long and fierce. The winds
were already keen and cutting. al
though only the beginning of winter.
around the free still and such sure
shot as he is" the men at the still
would say, in lively regret at the
waste Of talent.
Annie Ann crouched on the hearth.
gazing into the smoldering Goals in
spiritless apathy when the door OPEN
ed and Lanty walked in-Lanty. big,
straight and strong, followed by the
boys, full of joyous admiration.
Cheer up. mother" he said when
happiness and relief. I'm fearin'
you've had It hard. now that it's SO
"The very spit of his grandpap"
oomplimented Granny. "savfn' his
saber en- belt, you look like he did
when he went soidierln'"
I'm goin' with Higgins en- the
hunters to kill bear on Stormy Peak:
I won't be long. mother sensed
little Jim would be barefoot. so I
brought him pair Of shoes" Lanty
told them when he had carried his KIT
to the room under the roof. "A week.
mother-no longer"
% again They
heard of him on Stormy Peak. shoot
ing with the old hunters, and living In
the great cave near the summit, where
the ice and snow layered deep. The
old hunters told. as they came back
some in a few days-that Lanty faced
the arctic freeze on the peak and
braved the wild beasts, laired in the
unknown caverns. like there were
no scare in him."
Annie Ann thrilled with a new
energy now that Lanty was at home
on the ridge again. Granny grew
reminiscent Of "Grandpap" She had
no need to overdraw. They had in
sisted upon putting him in the little
cemetery down at the courthouse. and
some of his deeds were craven on the
stone above the brave old soldier.
Granny could talk of him, even II
the old war was half a century agone.
and Aunt Sary snubbed them because
they were poor. SO very poor, and Jim
utterly wuthless."
A week rolled around quickly. az
weeks do when things happen. The
short winter day waned. Jim had
Black Hollow while he tended the
Illicit still. Annie Ann Drowned 1t
"our Lantyl be here sure" she
told Granny, and threw an extra
resinous stump on the embers In the
huge fireplace.
Ianty came. az he told her he
would. loaded with great bag OF
game
"Higgins will bring the bear meat.
We rounded up fifteen bears and got
six. I got the biggest of all" Lanty
proudly announced. glad that his
father was there to hear.
His father didn't count for much.
but he was wise In hunting matters.
Now. mother. air you plumb sure
you're safe for winter meat?" Lanty
supper was over, Old Jim had set
tied down before the fire. comfort
ably smoking his pipe.. evincing no
intent of helping at the still.
"Yes. son. seems like you've brought
US luck; we're not wantin' for winter
answered. a smile half tender, half
proud fitting over her features.
''Then I'm goin' to leave you for
awhile"
where you goin'. LantY' asked his
father.
"rm gettin' together what TIL need
to take now, I'll tell you all about 1t
In the mornin'. It's good work-sure.
! got of for ten days to hx mother
daybreak."
There is no curiosity In the noun.