Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1921-05-27
Copyright. 1920. by Little. Brown & Co

counts because I didn't win. It's just
| fate. Snowbird. It's no ones fault, but
maybe IN this world, nothing is ever
anyone's fault" For in the twilight of
those winter woods, in the shadow of
death itself, perhaps he was catching
| glimmerings Of eternal truths that are
hidden from all but the most far-see-
ing eyes.
"And this is the end?" she asked
him. She spoke very brayely.
MOP His hand frightened on hers.
mo, so long as an ounce of strength
remains. To fight-never to give up
| may God give me spirit for it till !
de-
And this was no idle prayer. His
eyes raised to the starry sky as he
| spoke.
.But, son." Lennox asked him rath-
er quietly, "what can you do? The
wolves aren't going to wait a great
| deal longer, and we can't go on
There's one thing more-One more
| trial to make" Dan answered. II
! thought about it at first, but it was too
long chance to try if there was any
other way. And I suppose you thought
| Of it too"
"Overtaking Cranston?"
"Of course. And it sounds like a
crazy dream. But listen, both of you.
| If we have got to die, up here in the
snow-and it looks like we had-what
is the thing you want done worst be-
fore we go?"
Lennoxs hands clasped, and he
leaned forward on the sled. PAY
| Cranston !" he said.
'Yes!'' Dams voice rang Grams
tons never going to be paid unless we
| do it. There will be no signs of in
| cendiarism at the house, and no
proofs. They'll find our bodies in the
snow, and we'll just be mystery,
| with no one made to pay. The evil
| dence in my pocket will be taken by
| Cranston, some time this winter. If
! don't make him pay, he never will pay.
| And that's one reason why I'm going
| to try to carry out this plan I've got.
| 'sThe second reason is that it's the
| one hope we have left take it that
| none of us are deceived on that point.
/ And no man can die tamely-if he is
a man-while there's chance. / mean
/ a young man, like me-not one who is
old and tired. 1t sounds perfectly silly
to talk about finding Cranston's win
| ter quarters, and then, with my bare
| hands, conquering him, taking his food
! and his blankets and his snowshoes
and his rifle, to fight away these
| wolves, and bringing 'em back here"
"You wouldn't be barehanded," the
girl reminded him. "You could have
the pistol"
He didn't even seem to hear her.
1--WE been thinking about it. It's a
long, long chance-much worse than
the chance we had of getting out by
straight walking / think we could
| have made it, if the wolves had kept
/ off and the snowshoe hadn't broken.
believe we could have got out. That's
why didn't try this other way first.
A man with his bare hands hasn't
much of a chance against another with
rifle and | don't want you to be too
| hopeful And of course, the hardest
problem is finding his camp.
''But l do feel sure of one thing:
/ that he is back to his old trapping line
on. the North Fork-somewhere south
/ of here-and his camp is somewhere
/ on the river. / think he would have
gone there so that he could cut off any
/ attempt / might make to get through
! with those letters. My plan is to start
| back at an angle that will carry me
/ between the North Fork and our old
/ house. Somewhere in there I'll find
/ his tracks, the tracks he made when
| he first came over to burn up the
house. / suppose he was careful to
mix 'em up after once he arrived
/ here, but the first part of the way he
i likely walked straight toward the
house from his camp. Somewhere, ii /
| go that way, I'll cross his trail-with-
in 10 miles at least. Then I'll back
/ track him to his camp"
"And never come back!" the girl
| cried.
"Maybe not. But at least every
/ thing that can be done will be done.
Nothing will be left. No regrets. We
win nave made the last trial. I'm not
going to waste any time, Snowbird.
The sooner we get your fire built the
better"