New Britain herald., 1922-01-07
DEGIN HERE TO-DAY

party, kenly I.ounsbury. vlrginias nances uncle. and Vosper, Bill nronson's cook, me % man and and girl are snowed In in hill,s socks his murdered fathers lost gold mine, Ono day he finds Harold, who has turned sQuaw man. and takes him to Virginia.
 60 ON WITH THE STORY
 Virginia turned back to her new found lover.
 She was little frightened by the expression on his face. His eyes were glowing, the color had risen in his cheeks. he was curiously eager and breathless.
 Before he comes,' he urged. "We've been apart so long"
 His hand reached out and seized hers. He drew her toward him. She didn't resist she felt n deep self-an- noyance that she didn't crave his kiss. He crushed her to him, and his kiss was greedy.
 She struggled from his arms and he looked at her in startled amaze ment. In fact, she was amazed at herself.
 That first night Bill and Harold made hunks on the floor of the cabin, but such an arrangement could only be temporary.
 They might be imprisoned for weeks to come. Bill solved the prob- lem with a single suggestion.
 They would build small cabin for the two men to sleep in. Many times he had erected such a. struc- ture by his own efforts; the two of them could push it up in few hours work.
 'I'm really not much good at cabin building" Harold protested. But l don't see why Bill shouldn't go to work at it. I suppose you hired him for all camp work"
 For an instant Virginia stared at him in utter wonder, and then swift look of grave dispcasure came into her face.
 You forget, Harold that it was Bill that brought you back. The thirty days he was hired for were gone long ago." But she softened at once. Its your duty to help him, and I'll help him, too, if l can.'
 In the next few days Bill mostly left the two together, trying to find his consolation in the wild life of the forest world outside the cabin, Har- old had taken advantage of his ab- sence and had made good progress: Virgina's period of readjustment to him was almost complete. ...
 She did not, however, go frequent ly into his arms. Someway, an em- barrassment. q sense of inappropriate ness and unrest always assailed her when he tried to claim the caresses that he felt were his due.
 Mot now, Harold." she would tell him. Not until we're established again-at home.'
 Finally his habits and his actions did not quite meet with her approv- al. The first of these was only llttle thine-a failure to keep shaved
 The stubble matted and grew on his. Iips and iowls Bill, in contrast, shaved with greatest care every eve ming. =.
 A more important point was his avoidance of his proper share Of Bill'a daily toll.
 There was little explosion, one afternoon, when he ventured to ad- wise her in regard to her relations with Bill.
 Harold spoke tolerantly, patron1Z-' inp,v "rhose fellows are apt to take an advantage of any fami'iar1ty' They're all right if you keep 'em Tn their place-but they're mighty llke- ly to break loose from it any minute. I'm sorry you ever let him call you Virginia"
 Nirginia's eyes bazed.
 "Iisten. Harold" she exclaimed. l don't care to hear any more such talk .s that. don't need or want any such warnings. l don't care what you think of Bill-for that matter' yo, can be sure that Bill doesn't care at al, either-but I'll ask you to keep your thoughts to yourself. on, IT you onlv lnew-how good, how strong, how true he has been-how tender he has been to me-
 Harold was torn with jealous rage and in his fury and malice he made the worst mistake of all. "l hope ne hasn't been too tender--' he sug- gested, viciously.
 The girl answered only wlth her eyes; but her answer was unmistak- .oble. Harold muttered something uh- intelligible, half an apology, hall an excuse. Then he turned his back ana stalked out of the cabin.
 XII.
 The addition Of Harold to thelr number did not influence, for long' Virrinia'sy old relations with Bill They were comrades as ever; theS1 talked and chatted around the nt'ie stove in the hushed nights; they ,layed their favorite melodies on the battered photograph, and they took the same joyous, exciting expeditions into the wild.
 One morning Bill called her carry
 We're face to face with new nroblen." he announced. Ihe pach came by last night-the wolt pack ! didn't hear them at all. And they got away with the big moose ham, hang ing on the spruce
 ..Then we're out of meat?"
 "Atl except the little piece outside .,,o door We've been going through it pretty fast
 Kill smoke true. Their meat con- sumption had practically doubled since Harold had come.
 "But if you care to-" Bill went on, i've can dash out and see if we can nick up a young caribou or lett over moose
 She dressed, and at breakfast thelr exultation over their trip grew pam full to Harolds ears. He announced his intention of going along.
 Bill took rather new course to- day. He bent his steps toward stream that he called Creek Despalr
 fo oot hot he had once |