New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-01-02
MY DEAR MIR. BRONSON,


am Informed hy the head of your
provincial game commission, that you
can be employed rs guide for hunting
parties wishing to nunt in the Clear
water, north of Eradleyburg, | do
not wish TO hunt game. but ! do wish
70 penetrate that country in search
OF my flance, Mr., Harold Lounsbury,
OF whom doubtless you have heard.
and who disappeared in the Clear
water district six years ago. ! will
be accompanied by Mr.. Lounsbury' s
uncle, kenly Lounsbury, and | wish
you to secure the OUTFIT and man
to cook at once. You will be paid
the usual outftters rates for thirty
days. We will arrive in BradIeyburg
September twentieth by stage.
Yours sincerely,
VIRGINIA FREMONT.
\ This was the note that brought Bill
)Bronson to the brink of Grizzly River
on a snow-driven day of October. In
his party were Kenly Lounsbury, his
lnephew's fiancee, Virginia, and Bron-
sons cook. Nosper.
The weather, promising fair when
they had ridden out of Bradleyburg
nto the forest, had turned cold A
heavy snow blanketed the forest: n
,now that might have induced Bill
Bronson to turn back, except for two
things.
One was the promise that he had
given Virginia fremont to find her
lost lover-a man whom he dimly
recollected as having met several
! years previously The other was that
this trip into the wilderness gave him
one more chance to look for his
fathers lost mine, somewhere beyond
Grizzly River.
Bronson's father and man named
Rutherford had discovered this mine;
they worked it together for a season
and then no more could be learned
of them or their whereabouts till IL
was verified that Rutherford had
crossed from Canada into the States
with the whole seasons gleanihgs of
gold, amounting to a vast sum. Be
lyond the border he disappeared COM
pletely-and the only possible deduc-
ton was that he had murdered the
elder Bronson and stolen the gold.
The trip from Bradleyburg to Grizz-
ly River had been an arduous one.
On the other side was a cabin which
Bronson had erected as part of the
chain he used when trapping. Tho
river, flowing wild, threatened death.
But beyond was comfort.
Kenly Lounsbury, fresh from the
Office where he had amassed, wealth
by his wits wanted that comfort.
Cant you try the ford?" he de-
manded of Bill.
Sure, if you want" answered the
woodsman, tall, straight, square
shouldered, not daredevil but not
lacking in courage.
AS Bill rode into those gray and
terrible waters on Mulvaney, a horse
whose mettle equaled his riders, Vir
ginia Tremont's first instinct was to
call him back, but for a single second
she hesitated.
Then she pressed forward to the
waters brink on Buster, a mount with
heart of steel but lacking in the
stamina that had given Mulvaney a |
name throughout the Clearwater.
"Oh, come back" she finally found |
Oh, why did I ever let you CO."
For Bill did not look around. AL
ready the sound of the waters had i
obscured the voices on the shore.
Again she called, unheard. Then she
dashed her horse with the bride rein.
The animal strobe down into the
water. Nosper, his craven soul
whimperin ~ thin him, had fallen to
the last place in the line, but Louns-
bury tried to seize her bride as she
pushed forward.
Where are you going, you little
fool?" he cried. Come back"
The girl turned her head. Her face
was white. You told him to go in"
she replied "Now-its the sporting
follow him."
The water splashed about her
horses knees
Ahead of her, dim ghost in the
he flight, Bill still rode on toward
the opposite shore. And now-full
halfway across-he was in the full
force of the current.
1t was all too plain that his horse
was battling for its life.
some of his riders strength went into
ais thews and sustained him. Slowly {
he water dropped lower. He was '
Utmost to safety. IS
At that instant Bill glanced around, T
Intending to warn his party not to 7
attempt the crossing. He saw the c
lin shape of Virginia close behind d
lin, riding into the full strength OF 4
he current.
All color swept in an instant from {
lis face, leaving 1t gray and ashen y
s the twilight itself.
He knew that Busters strength was
lot that of Mulvaney, and he couldn't :
I've In the deepest, swiftest part of
he river that lay before her.
Turn back" he said. Turn your
orse, Virginia-easy as you cam
At the same instant he turned his
wn horse back into the full fury of
he torrent.
Buster wheeled, struggling to keep
is feet. Mulvaney pushed on, clear
, the deepest, widest portion of the
tream. And then Virginia's horse :
itched forward into the wild waters.
In the half Light it was impossible
ven for Bill to follow the lightning
vents of the next second. He saw
,e horse struggle, founder, then roll
n his back from the force Of the
1rrent 1t swept him down as the Il
ind sweeps a straw And he saw f.
!. RABBIT, ESQUIRE