The Starkville news., 1919-07-11

the trail for three hours and still the
camp on Mirror lake lay far ahead of
them. Il don't care, though. The
farther the better, and l hope Wen
never see white man all the time
we're here"
Wah-tonah, the guide, heard, and
never changed his expression. If the
white women who camped on the lake
rhose to think nobody else cared to
ramp there likewise, it was not his
fault, nor his duty to instruct them.
Two weeks before he had climbed the
same trail with the three men who
wanted TO be where there were no
women. One had been very III. One
was his brother and helped him over
the rough places along the trail. The
other sang much. His voice rang out
in the wilds like some clear toned bird
fall. The guide remembered, too, that
he had been like the old hero hunters
to look upon, tall and slim and strong,
and he had laughed much and cheered
the other two.
There was no fear that they would
meet unless the curling smoke of the
camp fires betrayed them to each 9th
er but Wah-tonah felt his conscience
was perfectly clear in the matter.
They each had q whole side of the
lake to themselves. If they would stay
on their own sides there would be no
trouble. And here he had n happy
tfr1t hn Innlyn1
three; the one too fat, the one too thin,
the one with the hair like sunlight
and eyes like deep water in shadow.
He did not know their names, but this
one he liked best so he addressed her.
Too much bear on lake" he told
her Not where you 90. All good
there. Too much bear otner side lake"
wen stay right on our own side,
thanks, Wah-tOnah," Beth said prompt
ly. Anyway, we're all pretty good
Shots
But she remembered what he had
said. After the second week at the
camp one day she had swung out into
the woods to pick berries, and there
came a suspicious cracking in the un-
derbrush. Watching keenly, she heard
the slow, heavy movements Of body
pushing It's way through, and before
she thought twice she had slung her
rifle to her shoulder and sent a good
shot straight at the moving bushes. Al
most instantly there came II good,
leavy broadside of strong language, and
Beth sat tight on log, longing to
laugh and only glad the shot had not
taken effect
Out from the woods came her 'big
game" six feet two, dressed in khaki,
and frankly furious, At sight Of her
he stopped short. stared and then
laughed with her.
We'll you did clip my hat" he said
ruefully, showing the two neat holes
through the peaked crown. "Do look
like a bear?"
"You acted just like one" said Beth.
"How was | to know. Wah-tonah, our
guide, told me there wasn't soul up
here but us, and there were bears on
the other side of the lake"
1.-THE cheerful liar" exclaimed the
intruder. HE took our whole outfit
ND there a month ago, and knew we
were going to stay, and he's been up
with supplies twice since, and never
told US anybody was here but our
selves.
"We've got a dandy camp down on
the shore in that little curve where the
pine grove Is. Probably he didn't tell
us about you because-well, my aunt's
with us. and Dell, that's her daughter !;
Dell's just had really terrible expert
ence. She is completely disillusioned,
and the engagements broken, and we
came up here to try and make her for
get. She had heard of the lake from
him, and always wanted to come, I be-
lieve."
isn't that too bad" Stanley settled
himself beside her sympathetically.
MAY help pick berries, too? Maybe
we can fax up a truce whereby I'll
trade fresh fish with you for buckle
berry pies; how's that? I'm dying for
n whole pie. We're not much on cook
ing, any of us. There's Frank Car
ter-maybe you've heard of him, aw-
fully clever fellow, scientist at Colum-
bia-and his brother, Hal l roomed
with Carter during our post-grad. years
and when he had to come up here with
Hal. told him I'd stand by. He's
been pretty sick; nervous breakdown
and worry"
"Halbert Carter?" queried Beth, eag.
erly. "Why, he's the man, you know"
1.-THE manT'
"Yes, the one Dell was engaged to,
and they were to be married this fall.
and she went to visit girl friend,