Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-10-14
THE MAN ON
SMOKY TOP
BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

SN e"c Viu WdFuen as ne ShOol
hands with young Maynard.
Sure thing" replied the latter
"Good-by and thanks" Shoulderins
his pack he turned away up the pine
scented trail.
The old man looked after him
doubtfully. During his long career as
warden in this little corner of the
Adirondacks many men of many
types had he sent up that winding
path to stay from May until October,
but never before so well-set-up, so
wei bred, so handsome a youth, and
one so obviously capable of holding
down far harder job than that of
ranger on old Smoky Top.
Some time later, arrived at the sum-
NIT, SpeTy Maynard threw down his
pack at the door of a small shanty
set in cleared space a few hundred
feet square. Adjacent to it was
sort OF platform on the top of four
poles, evidently lookout. On One of
the poles was fastened telephone
box, an homogeneous object in the
wilderness, but necessary in the per-
Torrance of his duties.
SO this was to be his home for five
months Sperry sat down upon his |
dufile and gave himself up to eating
the last of his sandwiches and review
ing the circumstances which had
brought him here
Briehy-it was ennui and disillusion-
ment. With more money to spend than
he had known what to do with and
with generosity which made him an
Easy victim of his associates, he haG
ed a spectacular career at college.
Then his father had died, Increasing
lis already absurd income.
But he was riding for a fall from
he quarter in which he least expect
d it. He believed his two best friends
o be his roommate and the girl he
'as as good as engaged to. C@ning :
his rooms suddenly during the
rom festivities he had surprised 7
lem in unequivocal lOve-making, z
lille Ostensibly having tea. K
Sperry had left the room. the
lmpus, the town. In sudden revul- S
on he had hunted up an old friend s
his fathers and asked for a job, n
lily STIMULATING that it be out of doors h
I'd away from the world. q
AS result, here he was, the Smoky II
op ranger, whose one duty was to W
reep the horizon with high-powered l
asses and by means of the telephone m
report any fires to the fire wardens W
low.
As May melted into June and June hf
o July, Sperry grew accustomed TO sh
monOtOnOus solitude. At times. To-
vever intense longings for the sa
assures and companonships of civ re,
alton seized him. nj,
{ was just after such a period that
ay party of men and women from tn,
hotel on the lake below climbed
his shanty. First came portly, hel
dle-aged man, putting consider las
7; then younger man, followed by ito
'e ladies. two of whom were I'M SIN
takably past the bloom of youth. Dire
third brought up the rear and at
Spewy did not notice her. Then,
le caught a glimpse of the beauH- 4
face beneath the soft sport hat he the
a beneath HIS tan. But on the eio1
s part there was no trace Of non
gnition hon
say said the elderly gentleman, the
you have many fires?" tbe
ery managed a reply. some cbo,
$ one a day. Again, not a sign Of puo
for weeks" bor,
That would You do If you were and
bundled hereY This question was nrin
the older woman. Perpetual ask fens
IF il from other tourists had amo
Sperry a ready answer. prob ceas
be killed. he said cheerfuHy. He nortl
> save 'ne proper 'ouch OF ro- ment
G 10 ms SITUATION WhIeh they de- Alba
co. Of A
], said the girl softly. her brown
wide with horror Sperry could
ow that the resemblance 10 an a..
at first so striking was really
Intermittent as her expressions n ,5','"
cd ny II
g after their departure Sperry Ses II
~ OF mis- visitors particularly of A. 49,
nj and the young man. Were
neaged or, possibly. married? -.
eek later they came again. with -
ons in the personnel of the par III A..
t still the same couple. This -u%'
Sperry deliberately. yet unos- eel "a
ousy, made conversation with 80 -
l.
before they left the girl said nc -
ly, Il am coming up again." p-O9pN
as all, but the knowledge was a ne wa a
CLEAN in the dull monotony of T.
ely days.
: times she came and always
the personable youth. who The
to have established himself as versity
rs bodyguard. Little by little portion
learned that she was staying 900 It'll
lends, that she was not mar Harvar
lat her name was Barbara And cess to
v-bo bod tbo,,,.t.. - pafionc