Evening journal., 1922-12-26
foonttnued From our Las Issue }

/ NEVER mlnd-and pray iof eV'N
voyage" he advised. Were going
through"
The craft and its occupants were
out OF sight by the time Jeffery Neil
son reached the river bank with his
rife.
He made his way fast as he could
toward the claim. Sensing the old
mans distress. Ray Strengthened
from his work at the sight OF him.
The face before him was drawn
and white: but there was no time
for questions. Hard hands seized
his arm.
Ray. do you know of a canoe
anywhere-up or down this river?"
NO. There isn't one that you
could even dream about shooting
those rapids in. Tell me what's the
matter. Has Beatrice"
Beatrice has gone dowr that's
all"
you don't mean she's run
away7"
Don't be fool. The sprospector
/ told you about-Darby-was the
old mans partner. He's paying us
back. Ray, wish to God ! had died
before ever saw this day!"
Raw stared blankly. Then he
found out-about the mvrder?" he
gssped.
yes. Here's his letter"
Ray read the letter carefully,
crumpling II at last in savage wrath.
He can't do much II the claims
recorded in our names!"
Ill aF ffnf
Bile. II you want the girl, Ray
don't lose a minute. Put your things
together as fast as you can"
They crossed the divide, thus
reaching the headwaters OF Poor
Mans Creek: then took the tran
down toward the settlements. But
the two claim jumpers had not yet
learned all the days III news. Half
way to the mouth OF the stream they |
met Chan Heminway on his way
back to the claim.
At the first sight OF him. they
could hardly believe their eyes II
was not TO be credited that he had |
made the trip to Bradleyburg and
back in the few days he had been
absent.
What in the devil you coming
back for?' Ray shouted when Chan's
Identity became certain.
Because the claims recorded,
that's why. Before old Hiram died
he wrote a letter 10 an official in
Bradleyburg and in It was a descrip-
ton Of the claim. Whatever for
nalities were necessary were cut out
because the old man had been too
sick to make the trip-the recorder
got special permission from Vie
or.a.
You see what that means, don't
5ou?" he asked Nelson.
Tt means we've lost!"
The eyes before him narrowed
and cleaned. 80 that's what It
means to you! Well. 1 don't look
at It just that way. 1t means to
me that we've got to take these sup
plies and these pack horses and
start out and find Ben Darby"
"Of course we've got to rescue
Beatrice"
.-"Rescuing Beatrice isn't all of II
now, by long shot Didn't old III
ram leave will giving this claim
to his brother Ezra? And hasn't
this Ben got letter from Ezra
leaving the claim 20 him."
You mean we've got 10 find
him7''
We've got TO; that's all"
Nelson breathed heavily. Its all
plain enough"
Beatrice Nelson was a mountain
girl with the <rsng thews OF Tael.
yet she hid her face as the canoe
shot into the crests OF the rapids
The wolf crouched on the heap Of
supplies. fearful 10 the depths Of
his wild heart OF this mighty stream.
yet still putting his faith in his
master in the stern.
A sudden movement on the part
Of Beatrice. IN the bow OF the canoe. /
caught Bens eye She had leaned B
forward and was reaching among
the supplies. She lifted into her
hands a paper parcel. the same she
had brought from her cabin early
that morning.
His heart leaped; why he did not
know What Is it7" he asked.
"Ben--I called you that yesterday
and there's no use going back to
last names now-I've made an i'm
portant decision"
Il hope It's happy one" he ven
tured
IT'S as happy as 1t can be. under
the circumstances. Ben. came OF
line OF conference.-the forest
people-and II the woods teach one
thing Il is TO make the hest OF any
bad situation" :,
AS she talked she was slowly un- {
wrapping the little parcel she had
brought. Presently she held II out
to him.
II was Just a box OF homemade
candy that she had brought for their
days picnic. But il was a peace Of
fering not TO be despised.
CHAPTER XI.
The Forest Stronghold.
When the swirling waters carried
the canoe down into the gorge Of
the Yusa both Ben and Beatrice
were instlnctively awed and stilled.
Ever the walls OF the gorge grew
more steep. until the sunlight was !
cut off and they rode as II in twi-
light
In mid-afternoon Ben began to
think Of making his nights camp.
In one Of the more quiet stretches
OF water he saw the place--a small ]
cove and a green tree-clad bank. {
with the gorge rising behind. Han
ding his canoe with great care he
elanted toward II. moment later
he had caught the brush at the wa
fer's edge stepped off into shallow