Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-06-15

Holt in the words of the old prospec.
tor. "But when 1t isn't all right it's
| hi"
at is not fifty below yet, is it?"
"Nope. But she's on the way. When
your breath makes kinder cracking
noise she's fifty"
There soon was crust on the snow
that held up the dogs and the sled SO
that trail breaking was not necessary
The 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 r@Ba wrapped a long
scarf around his mouth and nose for
protection, and as the part In front of
his face became 9 sheet Of Ice shifted
the muffier to anofner place.
Night fell In the middle of the aft
ernoon, but they kept travelling. Not
till they were well up toward the sum-
NIT of the divide did they decide to
camp. They drove into a little draw
and Embarrassed the weary dogs. 1t
was bitterly cold, but they were forced
to set up the tent and stove to keep
from freezing. Their numbed fingers
made slow job of the camp prepare
tons. 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 In an armful of
wood and went out to get second
supply. A few moments later Elliot
heard cry.
He stepped out Of the tent and ran
to the spot where Holt was lying under
mass Of Ice and snow. The young
man threw aside the broken blocks
that had plunged down from ledge
above.
"Badly hurt, Gid" he asked.
II done bust my laig, son." the old
man answered with twisted grin.
"You mean that 1t is broken?"
"Tell you that In a 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.
2 "Ain't this devil of note, boy?
You'll have to get me to Smiths Cross
ing and leave me there"
1t was the only thing to be done.
Elliot broke camp and packed the sled.
Upon the load he put his companion,
well wrapped up In furs.
Two miles up the road Gordon stopped
his team sharply. He had turned
bend in the trail and had come upon
an empty stage buried in the snow.
The fear that had been uppermost
In EIliot's mind for twenty-four hours
clutched at his throat. Was it trag-
edy upon which he had come after
his long Journey
Holt guessed the truth. "They got
stalled and cut loose the horses. Must
have tried to ride the cayuses to
shelter"
"To Smiths Crossing?" asked Cor
don.
"Txpect So" Then, with a whoop,
the man on the sled contradicted him
self. "No, by Moses, to Dick FiddIer's
old cabin up the draw. That's where
saltwater would aim for till the bliz-
gard was over"
"Where is it?" demanded his friend
"Swing over to the right and follow
the little gulch. I'll 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 now he might |
stumble upon the evidence of the sad |
story which Is repeated in Alaska |
many times every winter. 1t 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
luickened. Smoke was pouring out of |
The chimney of cabin and falling |
as 1t does In the Arctic |
turing very cold weather. Had Sheba |
found safety there?
AS he pushed forward the rising sun
Hooded the earth with pink and struck |
million sparkles of color from the |
snow. The wonder of 1t drew the eyes
IF the young man for a moment toward |
he hills.
A tumult of joy flooded his veins.
The girl who held In her soft hands
he happiness of his life stood looking
1t him. 1t seemed TO him that she
vas the core of all that lovely tide Of
'adlance. He moved toward her and
ooked down into the trench where she
waited. Swiftly he kicked off his
'nowshoes and leaped down beside her.
The CLEAN Of tears was in her eyes
rs she held out both hands to him.
During the long look they gave each
'ther something wonderful to both of
hem was born into the world.
When he tried to speak his hoarse
'oice broke. "Sheba--little Sheba
Safe, after all. Thank God, you
'ou--" He swallowed the lump in his