The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1921-05-18

u TIE NOTIn rOIh. even IL w Nphi' So
across. The nearest help Is over sew
enty miles"
"And Snowbrd. think Haven't any
supplies been left In the ranger sta
tion?'
mot one thing" the girl told him.
you know Cranston and his crowd
robbed the place last winter. And the
telephone lines were disconnected
when the rangers left"
"Then the only way is for me TO
stay here. You can take the pistol.
and you'll have fair chance of get
] ting through I'll grub wood for our
camp meanwhile. and you can bring
help"
And If the wolves come. or If help
didn't come in time" I.ennoX wills
pcred passion-drawn for the first
time. 'Nwho would pay what we owe To
Cranston?'
"But her life cOunts-frSt Of ALL"
81 know il loas-but mine doesn't
count Mt all. Believe me, you two.
I I'm speaking from my own desires
when ] say 7 don't want to make the
| fight Snowbrd would never make II
| through alone. There are the wolves.
: and maybe Cranston tOo-the worst
wolf of ALL A woman can't mush
across those ridges four DAYS without
1 food, without some one who loves her
and forces her on, Neither can she
stay here with me and try to make
green branches burn in n fire. She's
got three little pistol balls-and we'd
! all die for within oh. please.
| please"
But Dan leaped for his hand with
I glowing eyes. Listen. man." he cried.
81 know another way yet. know
more than one way; but one. If we've
got the strength. is almost sure. There
is an Ak in the kitchen. and the blade
, will still be good"
Likely dulled with the fire"
/ "I'll cut a limb with my iackknife
for the handle. There will be nails
In the ashes. plenty of them. Wen
make a rude sIedge. and Wen get you
out too"
Lennox seemed TO be studying his
wasted hands. IFS n chance. but II
isn't worth it," he said at last. You'll
have fight enough without Juggling nj
a heavy sled. II will take all night
TO build It. and II would cut down
your chances Of getting out by pretty
near half. Remember the ridges,
/ Dan"
But Wen climb every ridge-be-
sides its a slow. down grade most of
the way. Snowbird-tell him he must
do It."
Snowbird told him. overpowering
I him with her enthusiasm And Dan
shook his shoulders with rough hands
You're hurting boy - Lennox
warned. "Tm bag of broken bones"
"I'll tote you down there If | have
To tie you In" Dan Failing replied
Before. I've bowed TO your will hut
this time you have TO bow 10 mine
+, I'm not going 10 let you stay here and
die. no matter IL you beg on your
knees! It's the test-and I'm going
TO bring you through"
He meant what he said II mortal
strength and sinew could survive such
a test, he would succeed. There was
nothing in these words TO suggest the
physical weakling that both of them
had known few months before. The
eyes were earnest, the dark face in
tent, the determined voice did not
waver at all.
"Dan Failing speaksw Lennox re-
piled with glowing eyes. lie was re-
calling another Dan Failing of the
dead years, a boyhood hero, and his
remembered voice had never been
more determined more masterful than
this he had just heard.
And Cranston didn't get his pur-
pose, after ALL" To prove his words,
Dan thrust his hand into his inner
coat pocket. He drew forth a little,
HAT package. half as thick as a pack
Of cards. He held 1t up for them to
see. THE thing Bert Cranston burned
the house down TO destroy" he ex-
planned. I'm learning to know this
| mountain breed, Lennox. / kept Ii In
my pocket where could fight for II,
at any minute"
Cranston had been mistaken, after
all, In thinking that in fear of himself
Dan would be afraid to keep the
packet on his person, and would crav-
emily conceal II in the house. lie would
have been even more surprised TO
know that Dan had lived In constant
hope of meeting Cranston on the
ridges, showing him what It contained,
and fighting him for II, hands to
hands. And even yet, perhaps the day
would come when Cranston would
know at last that Snowbird's words,
after the fight of long ago. were true
The twilight was falling over the
snow. so Snowblrd and Dan turned to
the toll of building a sled.
The snow was steel-gray in the
moonlight when the little party made
their start down the long trail. Their
preparations, simple and crude as they
xvora ha1 taEoo ho.~. - o.--nt--.