Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-06-26

once he accepted the den. only the next
moment to find himself dounderiue
upon his fuce In the white smother.
She led the way q few yards In adj
vance OF him. skimming ove the SHIN.
merina surface with the Hghtness Of a
wind-btown leaf. at last vanishing into
a cluster Of soinber spruce with a de-
faint wave Of her hand Cumsily Davis
passed on In pursuit. gaining conf
6cnce and speed as he progressed. Yet
50 good q start of him did she have
that when he entered the thick growth
she had mysteriously disappeared. Per
plexedly he stared about.
From half n dozen yards away the
girl. crouching behind a bowlder,
watched him as amusement spread
over her face. Then suddenly reaching
down she gathered up a handful Of the
snow. pressed It into a ball and threw
1t. Fairly upon the side Of his fur cap
II struck him and burst. powdering his
cheek with its virgin whiteneSs He
cast his glance about.
Come ont" he dared her.
Through the stiffness Of the noun
tain air her voice came ta%unttngly.
"iou may know more about knives
and forks than I do. but there are
other things In this world. Ia II pos
sible that you DO not even know how
To follow q TRAIN in the snowf"
Half provoked that he had not
thought Of 80 simple a thing. John
dropped his eyes TO the tell-tale sur
face. Close at hand lay the blurred
signature Of her broad clad feet. lead
ing unerringly to her hiding place. He
sprang forward, scoopins up a handful
If the snow as he ran.
For that. Miss Im~pudence. I'm go
ing to wash your face"
Five minutes later. despite his awk-
wardness upon his laced f~ootgear, he
had tired her out, caught her. held her
his prisoner. Half laughing, half cry
ing. she struggled in his ARM as he
prepared TO carry out his threat. En-
treatingly her face turned itself to his.
Il didn't mean lt-please don't" she
gasred. His hand dropped.
"Very WELL" he returned gravely.
For this once you are pardOned."
Noon found them deep In q canyon
through which a stream came roaring
dawn from the great peaks. From a
dead tree the man cut the smaller
branches, pilinG them high and build
ing a roaring blaze. From the ruck-
sack he dragged the coffee pot and
thrust II into the Goals. while she held
n frying pan and slice of bacon aloft.
"A fish to 90 with the bacon" she
laughed.
From the pocket Of her Jacket she
drew = line and hook, while he with
his small woOasman's az Topped of q
slender pole. Batting her hook she
cast it into a pool beneath q rock
the next instant her voice arising ex-
citediy.
'Tve got a whopper. Come quick
quick and help me-"
He hooked UP from the fire which
ne had been renewing just in time to
see her slip and go sliding toward the
stream. FranticOily he grasped at her,
but quick as ne had been he was too
late and with n despairing cry she
threw up her hands and disappeared
in the rushing food.
At the imminent risk Of his life ne
dsrted down the edge Of tho stream,
slipping, sliding. his eyes glued upon
her body as it was swirled on. Close
before them was the brink of a cata-
ract, and well ne knew that uRless he
could grasp her before she reached
1t she would be torn to fragments by
the sharp fangs of rock that lay be-
low. With a reckless leap he landed
upon a bOwlder that stood at the very
crest Of the wildly dewnp'unging tor
great good fortune his fingers closed
upon her arm, and bracing his feet
In n crevics he dragged her half
drowned from the stream. For a mo-
nent she lay weakly gasping in his
arms.
"Hurtl" he cried as he wiped the
water from her face. She struggled
family. escaped his arms and stood
upon her feet.
"And Just to think I ley let 60 Of
that line" she said MS she begin pull
Ing It in. The next Instant q fine trout
was Topping at their feet.
Full Of admiration he gazed upon
her.
you are as game Is they make
he said seriously. Her hand
fell upon his sleeve.
anyway, I W you my life. It was
magnificent the way you hauled me
out. ! had no idea You were so strong"
Afternoon found them dry. none the
worse for their experience. approach
Ing tho cabin together. Before the door
R%ainface. coming from the corral.
stopped them.
II AIN going to meet Master" he
said. Without giving them a chance TO
reply he hurried on his way.
Within the cabin Bridget confronted
them. arms akimbo.
"And what Is the meaning Of this7"
demanded ss her sharp eyes ran
them up md down. their wrInklef
telling all too plainly the story
Df their ducking. miss Ethel. It's me
hats askin' what yc have been up to-"
The girls arm stole around the ample
.aist.