The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-02-21
CHAPTER ~.
Across the Traverse.

Across the Traverse
Elliot took off his shoes and turned
toward the traverse.
Think I'll see if 1 can cross to that
stairway. You had better wait here
Miss O'NeiII, until we find out If it
can be done"
Sheba looked across the cliff and
down to the boulder bed two hundred
feet below. You can never do it in
the world. Isn't there another way
up?'
mo. The wall above US slopes out
I've got to cross to the stairway. II
make it I'm going to get a rope"
DO you mean you're going back to
town for One?"
Eyes"
Her eyes fastened to his in a long.
swer. He was afraid to have her try
the trough again. To get back to town
by way Of their roundabout ascent
would waste time. If he was going to
rescue her before night, he must take
the shortest cut, and that was across
the face of the sheer cliff. For the
first time she understood how serious
was their plight.
The glance OF the girl swept again
the face Of the wall he must cross. 1t
could not be done without a rope. Her
fear-filled eyes came back TO his. ITS
my fault. 1 made you come" she said
in a low voice.
Nonsense" he answered cheerfully
There's no harm done If 1 can't
reach the stairway I can come back
and go down by the trough"
Sheba assented doubtfuily.
1t had come on to drizzle again.
The rain was fine and cold, almost a
mist, and already it was forming a film
of ice on the rocks
Il can't take time to go back by the
trough. The point is that don't want
you camped up here after night. There
has been no sun on this side OF the
spur and in the chill OF the evening it
must get cold even in summer"
He was making his preparations as
he talked. His coat he took Of and
threw down His shoes he tied by the
laces to his belt.
"PlI try not to be very long" he
promised.
'IFs Gods will then, so it is" she
sighed, relapsing into the vernacular.
Her voice was low and not very
steady, for the heart of the girl was
heavy. She knew she must not pro-
test his decision. That was not the
way to play the game. But somehow
the salt had gone from their light
hearted adventure.
Elliot took her little hand in a warm.
strong grip. you're not going to be
afraid. Wen work out all right, you
know"
Eyes"
ITS not just the thing to leave a
lady in the rain when you take her
for a walk. but it can't be helped.
Well laugh about it tomorrow
Would theyf she wondered; answer
ing his smile family. Her courage was
Slapped.
He turned to the climb.
you've forgotten your coat" she re-
minded
'Tm travelling light this trip. You'd
better slip II on before you get chilled :"
Sheba knew he had left it on pur-
pose for her
Her fascinated eyes followed him
while he moved out from the plateau
across the face Of the precipice. He
had none of the tools for climbing
no rope, no hatchet, none OF the sup
port OF numbers. All the allies he
could summon were his bare hands
ard feet. his resilient muscles, and his
stout heart. To make It worse, the
ice film from the rain coated every
jutting inch OF quartz with danger.
But he worked steadily forward.
moving with the infinite caution OF one
who knows that there win be no
chance TO remedy later any mistake
A slight error IN judgment. the failure
In response OF any one OF fifty muscles,
would send him piunging down.
Her eye left him for an instant TO
sweep the gulf below. She gave
little cry. ran TO his coat ana BEGAN