Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-11-08

drinking more than common, and in
sisted on kissing Rita 81 eral times
before he would release her.
Suddenly she was conscious of a
stranger present, and looking up she
saw a tall young man standing in the
doorway alphabetically regarding
her.
There was a quick step, and
olenched fist caught Dunn on the ear,
and he went down. With a curse, he
was on his feet In an instant, ugly as
bull. Dunn was a fighter, and Rita
trembled for the stranger; but her
concern was needless; he just played
with Dunn; circllng around him, and
when he wished he promptly knock.
ed him down, until Dunn, acknowledg-
ed he had enough.
Now" said the stranger, standing
over the PROSTATE man, don't you
ever try to insult this girl again, or
you won't get of 30 easy next time;
and remember she Is to continue with
the scaling unmolested. suppose
you may as well know, first as last,
that | am Ralph orion, eldest son OF
Arthur Orion, senior member Of the
Kilkenney Lumber company. | shall
be here for some time, looking after
our interests; and II l hear OF any
more of your deviltry, we shall dis
pense with your services"
Finishing, with cheerful nod to
Rita, he turned on his heel and walk
ed away.
Dunn painfully rose to his feet and
skunk away, look Of concentrated ha
red on his brutalized face. Rita, trem
bling with excitement, went into the
shack to think, and secretly cherish
something new and strange that
had entered her soul.
The days and weeks went by unin
terrupted. Ralph Orion took up his
abode at Tuttle's home, and the old
man soon acquired distinct liking for
this energetic young man. Ralph
helped Rita with her work when he
was not on the mountain.
Dunn kept his place In sullen. vim
dictive silence. Ralph and Rita soon
fell into the pleasant habit of waiting
for each other at the landing, and
walking home together In the twl
light
II was Saturday night In Febru-
airy. The men had all come of the
mountain early, except Ralph and
Dunn. Anxiously Rita waited, but still
they did not come. The sun had drop
ped behind the western horizon in a
deep red setting, tinging the snow
blood red. She trembled. A forebod
ing Of danger reached out and closed
about her heart. Suddenly she heard
a step on the snow. Darling behind a
tree, she waited, alert and expectant,
Her quick ear told her It was Dunn
Presently he came In sight. and her
heart sank like lead His face car
lied a covert look of triumph. In
stinctively she knew something had
happened to Ralph. Soon as his foot
steps had died away she sprang into
the road and sped up the hard noun
tain road like a startled fawn.
Her one thought was of the man
she loved better than life. She had
no definite idea where to look for
him; nor had it occurred to her to
alarm the man. She knew he was in
grave danger somewhere on that bleak
mountain side. and on her rested the
task Of rescuing him; so. painting and
trembling she sped on. Every few
steps she stopped and called his name
No answer come back, but the moan
ing of the light breeze through the
woods. On she pushed to the top of
a ridge. 1t had got quite dark now
Pausing on ledge almost on the top
of the cant. she shouted:
Ralph! Ralph! where are your"
Here, Rita, at the top of the cant"
came the quiet, reassuring reply. With
glad cry she hurried to the top Of
the ridge, where a lone spruce stood
Then she stopped, and her heart
sprang into her throat. She saw his
danger, and swayed dizzily.
Courage, my little girl, courage"
came from the smiling lips In cool,
even tones. This Is some of that devil
Dunn's work When my back was turn.
ed the coward laid me out Take heart,
little one, we win yet" 1t was an ap-
palling situation. Ralph was bound
to the lone spruce with a piece of
snub warp. The spruce was near.
ly cut off, 30 that 1t cracked ominous.
ly In the rising wind
Rita heard 1t roaring in the distance,
and knew when that wave reached
them the spruce would break and leap
tho vtdan fn ha
drop of one hundred feet A name
less terror seized her as she frantically
dug at the knots, and the rising wind
roared in her ears like the knell of
doom.
Take 1t easy, Rita, dear, there IL
plenty Of time" his cool voice reas
sured her MY knife is in my pocket
tear 1t out and cut the warp"
Nearer and nearer the wind came,
roaring like a demon in her ears.
With one last mad effort she cut the
last coil. and Ralph stepped from the
tree, safe.
With a wild, exultant swoop the
wind tore through the tree tops and,
with sharp crack, the lone spruce
sprang over the ledge.
MY brave little girl" he tenderly
whispered as she chung to him, chok.
ing back quick nervous sobs.
Thank God! you are safe, Ralph"
she fervently murmured.
God is good, my dear" was the So
Der reply.
Let us thank him, Ralph" she soft.
ly whispered.
Devoutly two faces were lifted
heavenward. one, fair and trustful,
the other strong. masterful, COMPEL.
ing, and in each were thanks, mute
and appealing.
Copyright, 1912, by the Mcclure News
paper SyndicateO