The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-08-14

Il
with your ten fingers before the day is
over, for niver a spoon or fork did
I bother to put up with the vittles."
Playfully she showed them out upon
] the snow.
! Running ahead of him lightly as a
rabbit Ethel shouted back her chal-
lenge to the laboring man.
.You may know more about knives
and forks than do, Mister, but dare
you to race me upon sn0wsh0es." AT
once he accepted the def, only the next
moment to find himself floundering
upon his face in the white smother.
| She led the way few yards In ad-
vance of him, skimming over the SHIN
mering surface with the lightness of a
wind-blown leaf, at last vanishing into
cluster of somber spruce with a de-
| fiant wave of her hard. Clumsily Davis
passed on in pursuit, gaining conf
dence and speed as he progressed. Yet
so good start of him did she have
| that when he entered the thick growth
she had mysteriously disappeared. Per-
plexedly he stared about.
From half dozen yards away the
girl, crouching behind bowlder,
watched him as amusement spread
over her face. Then suddenly reaching
down she gathered up handful Of the
snow, pressed 1t into ball and threw
it. Fairly upon the side of his fur cap
it struck him and burst, powdering his
cheek with its virgin wilderness. He
cast his glance about.
"Come out" he dared her.
Through the stiffness of the moun-
tain air her voice came tauntingly.
'sYou may know more about knives
and forks than I do, but there are
other things in this world. Is it pos
sible that you do not even know how
to follow a trail in the SNOWY"
Half provoked that he had not
thought of so 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, scooping up a handful
of the snow as he ran.
"For that, Miss Impudence, I'm go
ing to wash your face"
Five minutes later, despite his awk
wardness upon his laced foOtgear, he
had tired her out, caught her, held her
his prisoner. Half laughing, half cry
ing, she struggled in his arms as he
prepared to carry out his threat. En-
treatingly her face turned itself to his.
II didn't mean it-please don't" she
gasped. His hand dropped.
every WE'LL" he. returned gravely.
For this once you are pardoned."
Noon found them deep in a canyon
through which a stream came roaring
down from the great peaks. From a
dead tree the man cut the smaller
branches, piling them high and build
ing roaring blaze. From the ruck-
sack he dragged the coffee pot and
thrust it into the Goals, while she held
a frying pan and slice of bacon aloft.
"A fish to go with the bacon,'' she
laughed.
From the pocket Of her Jacket she
drew line and hook, while he with
his small woodsman's ak Topped off
slender pole. Batting her hook she
/ cast it into a pool beneath a rock
the next instant her voice arising ex-
citedly.
"Tve got a whopper. Come quick
quick and help me"
He looked up from the fire which
he had been renewing just in time to
see her slip and go sliding toward the
stream. Frantically he grasped at her,
but quick as he had been he was too
late and with despairing cry she
threw up her hands and disappeared
in the rushing flood.
At the imminent risk of his life he
darted down the edge of the 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 we'll he knew that unless he
could grasp her before she reached
it she would be torn to fragments by
the sharp fangs of rock that lay be-
low. With a reckless leap he landed
| upon bowlder that stood at the very
crest of the wildly downplunging tor
rent and thrust forth his hand. By
great coed fortune his fingers closed
upon her arm, and bracing his feet
in crevice he dragged her half
drowned from the stream. For mo-
ment she lay weakly gasping in his
arms
"Hurt?" 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 never let go of
that line," she said as she began pull
| ing it in. The next instant fine trout
was Topping at their feet.
Full Of admiration he gazed upon
her.
"You are as game as they make
them,' he said seriously. Her hand
fell upon his sleeve.
Anyway, owe you my life. 1t 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 the cabin together. Before the door
<>~.<><o<