The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-23
csSai ~ Liuis Rc~n q Co md MA

he had left his AK outside the cabin,
isA blade thrust into the spruce log
that had supplied his fuel,
suddenly he sdw himself face 10
face with seemingly certain death. II
was curiou. that he did not feel more
fear, greater rcvulsion. IL was al
most as u Il didn't matter. While
the steady sinking OF the burning
logs lesssned. In some degree. the
danger OF the cabin ignlting a Few
inches OF snow against tho door re
naming unrncitcd-thc smoke clouds
were -swlftiy and surely strangllng
him. Already his consciousness was
departing. lie icaped for the epen.
ing again and fell sprawilng on the
dirt floor. lie started 10 spring up
Hut he suddenly grew inert. breath.
tng deeply. There was still air close
70 the ground, strange he hadn't
thought % u before just 10 lie still.
face close to the dirt. IL panied him
10 breathe. hts eye. throbbed and
burned, but AZ least Il was life. lie
pressed his face 20 the cool earth.
Yet Inconsistencies was sweeping
him again. lie would feel himself
drifting. then with all the ALTERING
power % his will he would struggle
back. But perhaps this sweet OBJ
iivion was only sleep. His nerves
were crying for rest. Once more he
Heated. and the hours OF night erept
By.
When mn wakencd again. the last
pale gtlmmer OF the lighted smoke
was gone. lie was bewiIdered az
first. confusing reality with his
dreams. but soon the fun memory
% the nights events swept bark to
him. Ills faculties had rallied now.
his thought was clearer. The few
hours that he had rested had been
his salvation.
Yet Il was stiIl night. He raised
his hands before his eyes but could
not sec even their outline. And the
cabin was stili FUN Of smoke Hut
Il seemed somewhat icss dense now.
less pungcnt. But the smarting In
his eyes was more intense.
The fire had evidently burned
down and out. lie struggled 60
open hts eyes. then gased around the
walls In search OF tho opening in the
door. hut he could not SEC the re.
Election of an embcr. lilo fought his
way 70 his feet.
ifls fumblinw hands encountered
the log walls; then he CROPPED about
tin he found tho plank door Ills
ginvcd hands Aniar;rd. but their
sense ~ touch did not seem biunt-si.
lie had never known a darker night
Now that he found the hole In the
door. IL WAS curious that he could
not sec one star cleaning thru But
perhaps clouds had oversprcad
A measure Of heat against his face
toid him that Goals were stiil glowing
under the aches. yet he might b. able
10 creep thru. n was worth a trial:
the smoke IN the cabin was utiIl al
most unbcarable. Ills muscles were
more al his command now. with
great lurch he sprung up and thrust
head and shoulders thru the opening
Tho hot ashes punished his face.
and his hand encountered hot Goals
a. he thrust them thru Yet with
mighty effort he pushed on until
his wrists touched the ICY snow. lie
knew that he was safe.
II. stood erect. scarcely believing
in hts dciiwernnce. And the snow
had crusted during the night: Il
would almost hold him up without
snowshoes. As soon as the light
came. he could rnush on toward bis
Twenty-thrrr Mile cabin. IL would
be a cold and eshausting march. but
he could make u. Tn. night was
bitter now. assailsng him like a
scourEe the moment he left the warm
cabin; and the temperature would
continue TO fli until after dawn.
The wind stiil blew the snow dust
singing lash from the north and
west--and n had brought the cold
from the Boring sea
n was curious that a cloudy night
could be so cold. Yet when Re opened
I HIS eyes he could not see tho giearn
Of a star. The red Goals ~ the fire.
too. were snothered and obseurrd in
ashes. He stepped toward them. in.
tending 10 rake them up for such
heat as they could yield. Presently
he halted. gazing with fascinated hor
ror at the ground.
He was suddenly struck with a
CHASTITY and terrible possibility. He
could not give n credence. vet the
though, seemed TO seize and chill him
like great cold But he would
know tho truth IN moment. II wss
always his creed. not 20 spare him
self the truth. Surely II would be
I .g....sf.. -. f.t.rr.tf~nx .er~.. shEs -,
~ great fear--whcn he returned
with his bsckload Of supplies TO ylr,
I ginia. Something 10 talk about. In
the painful and embarrassed mo
ments that remained before Virginia
and her lover went out OF his sight
/ forever.
His hand CROPPED for n match. In
his eagerness " broke Off IN his fin.
gers as he tried 20 strike II. But
soon he found another
( He heard II crack in the silence.
but evidently II was n dudi The
| darkness before his eyes remained
/ tfnbroken.
| Filled with a sick fear, he removed
his glove and passed his hand over
! the upheld match. There was no
! longer a possibility for doubt. The
tiny flame smarted his flesh.
! "RlindF he cried. "Out here in
I the snow and the forest--blindT'
/ II was true. The pungent wood
smoke had done cruel work. UntiI
time should heal the wounds Of the
tortured lensoa. Bill was blind.
XIII