The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1920-02-12
The Cave Man
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BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH
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mountain and forest north or the Dor
der settlement OF Euclid was calie'
Lands End When the little hamle
bu ned down one night II was biOiie'
IN he map and the final outpost %
civilization became mining tow
nffy miles 10 the east.
Laura Boyd. young, pretty widow
looked 10 the general hegira az r.
lief from hard grubbing with no re
inements She had married "A verl
ordinary man who had died leaving
nexr 10 nothing She had reInniree
~ Eaclld because she could not yer,
well get away. patiently accepting TIE
burdens OF necessity. but all the time
dreaming OF better future and long
Ing for books. for companlonship ~
The real busy. bus,ling world.
/ True to her kindly. helpful nature
she had remained In makeshiff sh J.
tiers until nearly all Of the people OF
the settlement had left. Then. wifi
her sole possessions, comprising Il
suitcase and horse. formerly her
husbands, she started alone for tho
nearest town.
Laura was entirely unfamiliar with
the trail across the hills. However,
she calculated that by closely follow
ing the beaten track made by those
who had preceded her she could moi
go far astray.
Better wait TIL next week. Mrs.
Boyd" suggested neighbOr.
"Ycs and we can all keep together, p"
submitted another.
Besides, we're due for storm. I'm
man.
The predicted storm overlook her
and she had TO seek the shelter of a
copsn until nightfall. When 1t ceased
she allowed the horse to follow his
Lff- The next morning a high wind
prevailed, she was chilled and soaked
10 lie skin. Between whites she dis
mounted and rested. dealing sparingly
with her meager supply OF food. on
and on went the horse. steed and rider
were lost as TO location or compass
points.
Autiuff uhyf uhOtnti hiEhls -N'N
they were threading the mazes Of a
vast forest. The third morning Laura
awoke from u soggy couch OF fern
and brush to find the horse had wan
dered of.
When she awoke the next morning
she was weak from lack OF food. She
found some wild berries and about
the middle of the afternoon entered
a narrow glade to discover a small
habltation. As Laura neared 1t she
dlscerned that II was built entirely Of
tree bark. Its door was open. she
peered within. The room beyond was
furnished with 4 table. two chairs and
couch These were all made OF
roughly hewn trees. The covering OF
the couch was Of deer skin. Upon
the table was dish holding some
cold brolled game. Rayenously hun
CRY. Laura assuaged her appetite with
this food and some wild grapes. Then
her wearled head fell upon her out.
stretched arms and she slumbered.
Laura awoke TO look up with start
A bronzed faced young man stood re-
gardlng her with amazement His Mt
tire was strange and unique. His coat
was made OF woven dried grasses. his
shoes OF the skin OF some animal. his
cap OF braided swamp flags. He sug
gested the primitive man. cast upon
the resources of nature. except that q
respectful courtesy showed In hi |
manner and quick intelligence in his |
face.
Laura arose. bewildered. to falter
forth the cause Of her desperate stu.
alton In outline. then In detail as her |
Involuntary host encouraged her re-
eital. He told her his name was Bart.
ley Vance. that he had been the soli
larry tenant OF the quaint abode for
.wO years and showed her store of
food In homemade cupboard.
II shall be away long enough to
over a hundred miles" he said. ~ I
must OF course, get you back TO civil.
xation. You could not stand the jour
iey on foot. aud when return | will
iring two horses"
II he had been an own brother Bart
ey Vance could not have been more
thoroughly attentive. He told some
hing OF the reason OF his isolation be
ore he started away at dusk.
Il am a writer OF books he said
and have played the original cave
nan Just for the experience of Il and
o gain material for story had
locked cut | selfexiled myself Tor
hree years with nothing but stone
atchet. bows aud arrows aud fish.
oOks | myself made out Of shells
necessity and ingenuity have provided
nc with clothes. furnishings and cora
ort. and as to grand treasury Of
ew ideas. why. l am provided for a
INC time 10 come"
when this cave man had delivered I
aura safely at the mining town he
ngcred there for a week. An mex.
licable charm held him In a tsrall he
,uld not resist. Then one day he told
er OF his love. He asked her 20 bless
nd cheer his self-enforced exile for
le remaining year, when he planned !
u r