Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-04-14

TO tell what he Knows OF the opcfAtiouh
OF the gang.
CHAPTER II.--A cougar. on a personal
hunting expedition. fnes HIldreth in
thicket, where no had ernwied after be-
ing shot by cransion The cougar mn.
lshea cranston'n work, and IN striking
down man becomes a forest outlaw
Failing. on hts way home from visit
TO .suowblrd'n" lookout station. comes
upon Cranstoa N the act 81 starting
forest nre. The men quarrel and hsht
Failing ~ no match Tor the sturdy noun
talnacr and Il saved from death only ~
the intervention ~ sfu, who
drives The 0uilgs bis victim by
ihreaisnlag hiin win a revolver.
Dan Failing had been studying na.
ture on the high ridges; and he went
homo by back trail that led 10 old
Bald mountain, The trail WIS Just
narrow serpent IN the brush; and
Il Ind not been nihde by gangs Of
iaborers. working with shoveis and
picks. Possibly half dozen white
men. In all. had ever walked along r.
II was Just the path Of the Wild crea.
lures. worn down by hoof and paw
and cushion since The young days Of
the world.
It@was a roundabout trail home.
but yet It had It's advantages. It took
him within two miles Of Snowblrd'H
lookout station, and at this hour Of
day he had been particularly fortunate
In finding her at q certain spring on
the mountain side. II wns rather sin
gular coincidence. Along about four
he would usually ind himself wander.
Ing up that way. Strangely enough
at the same time. II was true that
she had an irresistible impulse TO 20
down and sit in the green ferns beside
the same spring. They always seemed
70 be surprised to see one another. In
reality, either Of them would have
been considerably more surprised had
the other failed 10 put In an appear
ance. And always they had long talks.
as she afternoon drew 10 twilight.
'But ! don't think you ought 10 wait
so late before starting home" the girl
would always say. You're not n
human hawk. and II Is easier to get
lost than you think"
And this sollcitude, Dan rightly az.
ured, was good sign. There was
only one objection to II. II resulted
10 an unmIstakble Inference that she
considered him unable TO take cnra
of hImself-and that was the last
thing on earth that he wanted her
10 think. He understood her well
enough TO know that her standards
were the standards of the mountains.
yalulng strength and seIfrellnnce
above oil things. He didn't stop 10
question why. every day, he trod 50
many weary miles to be with her.
She was as natural as a fawn and
many times she had quite taken away
his breath. And once she did II liter
ally. He didn't think that no long as
death spared him he would ever be
able to forget that experience. 1t was
her birthday, and knowing OF II In
time he had arranged for the delivery
Of a certain package, denr to giriIsh
heart at her fathers house. In the
trysting hour he had come trudging
over the hills with II, and few expert.
ences In his life had ever yielded such
unmitigated pleasure MS the sight Of
her. glowing white and red, as she took
or its wrapping paper. II was a folly
old gift, he recollected--and when she
had seen II, she fairly leaped at him
Her warm, round arms around his
neck, and the softest. loveliegt lips IN
the world pressed his. But In those
days he didn't have the strength that
he had now. He felt ne could endure
the same experience again with nc
embarrassment whatever. His flrst i'm
precision then. besides Astounding, In,
credible establishment, was that shf
had quite knocked out his breath. But
let II be said for him that he recov-
cred with notable promptness. His
own arms had gone up and closed
around her, and the girl had wriggIed
free.
"But You mustn't do thati'' size told
him.
"But, good Lord, grill You did Il
to mel Is there no justice IN women =
"Tut did 1t to thank you for thls
lovely gift. For remembering me-
for being SO good--and consIdernfe
You haven't any canse to thank me. =
He had many serious difficulties Ii
thinking II out And only on