The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-20


sion ~ the inherent deosnUy ~ the
man be knew that virginia loved
him, that ss,s had pllrhied her ifo'h
10 him, ana ~ Ions aa that love en-
dured ana ihs engagement stood. be
would never ~ "a Hhaiief her ideals
10 regard 10 him he know u meant
only heafthfeAh fnf her "a love and
wed man SHE rnuian't ferpect lie
knew enough ~ human nature Go
realise that hove often lives when ~
speci " dead, ana no possible good
could come ~ yowlna up the un.
werihln0HA that hs beheld IN Harold.
iie had never triad % embnruHs him
or smirch hla name. For all his IN.
disnation new, his Voice was wholly
cheerful and friendly when he an.
aw.fed
We're quite all right thanks" he
said the only casualty was the
bear. A little snow on our clothes.
bu, u viii brush of. And BY tho
way"
lie paused. ana tor all his even
tones. Harold had a sickening and
CHASTITY fear 81 the sober query Ia
Bili's eyes. why did you give me
an unlaadrd sun and tell me N was
fullY~ he went on. Except for
good deal Of luck ihcre'd been a
smile on the face OF the grizzly
ana no silir'
Ito thought n only Jus; that. in
spite OF NlrElnia'n presence. Harold
explain this grave omission. lie felt
that Virginia was entitled 90 an ex.
PLANTATION too. and Harold knew. from
her earnest eyes. that nhe was wait.
inE his answer. ile might have been
arrogant and insulting 10 Blil. but
he cared enough for yirEinia'H r..
specs 10 wish 20 justify himself. lie
studied their faces. u Was plain that
they did not accuse him. even in
their most secret thoughts. 81 eva
lnsen, In handing Blil an almost
empty gun. Hut b the stern code
~ the North sins 81 carricsnnczs are
no lens dapnlnE than intentional
ones and Harold knew that be had
great deal to answer for
And BY the way" BiIl went on.
as he waited for his reply. Il don't
remember hearing my sun 70 off
during the fray. You might explain
that. too"
u didn't shoot because couldn't
Harold replied earnestly. al first
you were between me and the bcar---
and then Virginia was II all hap
pened 40 quickly that there was moth.
inE I could do. can't imagine why |
forgot 10 reload the rifle. A man
can't always everything I
thought I had. Thank Cod that q /
didnt turn cut any worse than II /
did"
Blli nodded; the girls face showed I
unBpsaksbir rclia,. She was riad 1
and acceptable reasons for HIS omln. 1
eiona. Tho incident Was past. the I
issue dead. They gathered about the
gray ErlExied form In the snow.
Does thls--hoip our food problem
any, Virginia asked.
Except in an cmcrE~nry-no. vIr. I
ginla. you ought 10 Try 10 cut that
forcleg muscle" Ho lifted ono Of
tho front feet ~ tho bear In his
hands. You'd go what IL would DO
like 20 Try TO bite H. He's an old.
tough bruie--worre eating than a
wolf. Strong "a mink and hard az
rock. II we were starving. we'd cut
off one of those hams In q minute.
but VIC can wait while at least. II
we don't pick up some moro game
during the day. III hike over Co my
Twenty three Nile cabin and get tho
suppiiou I've left over there. There's
smoked caribou ham. among other.
things III bring back a backinad.
anyway Then his voice changed.
and he looked earnestly Into Wiz.
Tinia'a eyes. "Ru, you won't want
10 hunt any more today. forgot
what a shock this experience would
be TO you"
She smiled. and the paieness about
her lips was almost gone. I'm get.
ting used 20 shocks. feel a little
Shaky--bui II doesn't amount TO any.
thing, want 60 climb up and look
at the caribou trail. at least"
sure enough-if you feel you ran
stand u. It's only hundred yards
or 30 up the hill Ia like 20 take old
Bruins hide. bu, I don't sec how We
could handle u. believe we'd better
leave him with all his clothes on. in
tho snow. And Heaven knows ia
like 90 find out what The old boy
was doing out-at time when all
the other bears are alternating"
They continued on IN tho creek
until the grade Of the hin was less.
then clhmbercd slowly up. Fifty
yards up the slope they encountered
the old caribou trail. but none OF
these wilderness creatures had been
along Il In recent days. They fol.
lowed Il short distance. however.
back In the direction they had come
and above the scene Of their battle
with the bear.
mo profit here" Bin said NJ last.
I'VE might ms well go down TO the
creek bed and find better walking"
They turned. and In an instant
more came back TO their own tracks.
And suddenly BIN stopped and stared
Mt them In dumb Amusement.
lie looked 80 astonished. 80 mex.
prewsibly bafflcd, that for n moment
his two companions were stricken
silent. VirRinia'H heart leaped In her
throat Yet the tracks contained no
message for her.
whats the natter" Harold
asked. what do you see?"
Bin caught himself and looked up.
Nothing very important - but
mighty astonishing at that. We've
Just walked in n two hundred. yard
circle. up the creek TO where w.
climbed the hill. back along the hin
IN this direction. and then down. And
We haven't crossed that grizzly's
tracks anywhere"
well. what OF ~"
Man. this snow has been here for
weeks. with very little change. DO
you mean TO tell me that n lively.
hungry bear is going to stay that
ong in one place unless he's asleep7