Middletown transcript., 1921-04-16
CHAPTER Ii-Continued.

She glanced once at the dark face OF
her companion. Dan couldn't under
stand the strange light that suddenly
leaped to her eyes. Perhaps she her.
self couldn't have explained the wave
Of tenderness that swept over her
with no cause except the look in Dams
earnest gray eyes and the lines that
cut 50 ceep. Since the world was new,
It has been the boast of the boldest Of
men that they looked their Fate In the
face. And this is no mean looking. For
fate Is sword from the darkness. a
power that reaches out Of the mystery,
and cannot be classed with sights Of
human origin. It burns out the eyes
Of all but the strongest men. Yet Dan |
was looking at his fate now, and his |
eyes held straight
They walked together down to the |
ruined house, and the three of them +,
sat silent while the IRE burned red.
Then Lennox turned to them with
half-smile.
"You're wasting time, you two" he
said. "Remember, all our food is gone.
If you start now, and walk hard, may
be you can make 1t out"
'There are several things to 90
first" Dan answered simply.
II don't know what they are. 1t isn't
going to be any picnic, Dan. A man
can travel only 50 far without food to
keep up his strength, particularly over
such ridges as you have to cross. 1t
will be easy to give up and die. It's
the test, man; it's the test"
"And what about your his daugh-
ter asked.
~Oh, I'll be all right. Besides-it's
the only thing that can be done.
can't walk, and you can't carry me on
your backs. What else remains? I'll
stay here-and I'll scrape together
enough wood to keep fire. Then you
can bring help"
He kept his eyes averted when he
talked. He was afraid for Dan to see
them, knowing that he could read the
lie in them.
'How do you expect to find wood
In this snow?" Dan asked him. 1T Will
take four days to get out; do you
think you could lie here and battle
with fire for four days, and then four
days more that 1t will take to come
back? You'd have two choices: TO
burn green wood that I'd cut for you
before left, or the rain-soaked dead
wood under the snow. You couldn't
keen either one of them burning, ana
vou'd die in a night. Besides-thls Is
M fine for an unarmed man to be
alone in the hills
Lennox's voice grew pleading. be
sensible, Dan!" he cried. Inat
Cranston's got US, and got US right.
I've only one thing more care about
and that is that you pay the deDt!
can't hope to get out myself. l say
that I can't even hope to. But II you
bring nv daughter through-and when
snrinr comes, pay what we owe TO
Cranston-In be content. heavens
son-rve lived my life. The old PACK
leader dies wheu his time comes' anu
so does a man..
His daughter crept to him and shell
tared his gray head against hel
breast 'T'n stay with you, then" she
cried.
"Don't be a little fool. Snowblrd,
ba urged. my clothes are wet al
ready from the melted snow. It's 10,
long a way-it will be too hard a nght
.rd children-Tm old and tired out.
don,t want to make the try-hungel
and cold: and even If you'd stay here
and grub wood, Snowbird, they'd mt
ns both dead when they came back II
week. We can't live without food
and work and keep warm-and ther
isn't a living creature IN the NILS.
oExcept the wolves" Dan reminded
him.
Except the wolves Lenno'
echoed. Remember, we're unarmed-
and they'd find it out. You're young
Snowhird. and SO is Dan-and yo
two will be happy. know how thing
ora Won two-more than you knoN
vourselyes-and in the end you'll b
happy. But me-Tm too tired t
make the try. I don't care about
enough. I'm going to wave you goot
nv and smile, and lie here and let tn
cold come down. You feel warm In
little while"
Rut she stopped his lips with he
hand. And he bent and kissed it.
IF anybody's going to stay wit
vou." Dan told them in a clear, hrl
voice. "it's going to be me. But aren
anv of the cabins occupied?
"You know they aren't" Lennox al
swered. "Not even the houses beyon
tho North Fork, even If we could g
across. The nearest help Is over Sc
enty miles,"
"And snowbird. think Haven't an
supplies been left in the ranger ST
tion?" 49,,
"Not one thing" the girl told hir
"You know Cranston and his crow
rohhed the place last winter. And II
telephone lines were disconnectt
when the rangers left"
"Then the only way is for me
stav here, You can take the pistt
and You'll have fair chance, OF &c
ting through. I'll grub wood for o.
camp meanwhile, and you can bril-
help"
sand if the wolves come, or if he
didn't come in time," Lennox viii
pered. passion-drawn for the fir
lime "who would pay what we owe
GranstOn?"
"Rut her life counts-first of al
T know it does-but mine doesl
count at all. Believe me, you tw
I'm speaking from my own desir
when I say I don't want to make t