Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-09-07
CHAPTER III

There had not been time to make in
quiry as to the land Bruce was going
to. He only knew one thing-that
1t was the wilderness. The fact that
he had no business plans for the future
and no financial resources except a
in his pocket did not matter one way
or another. He was willing to spend
all the money he had; after 1t was
gone, he would take up some work In
life anew.
He had moments wonder at the
effect his departure would have upon
the financial problem that had been
his fathers sole legacy to him. He
laughed a little AS he thought Of it.
But the idea that others also-having
no business relations with his father
might be interested In this western
Journey Of his did not even occur
to him.
But the paths men take, seemingly,
with wholly different aims, crisscross
and become intertwined much more
than Bruce knew. Even as he lay In
his berth, the first sweet drifting Of
sleep upon him. he was the subject
OF discussion In far-distant noun
tain home; and sleep would not have
fallen so easily and sweetly If he
had heard 1t.
/ !: !. ! -
4 1t might have been a different world.
Only glimpse Of 1t, illumined by the
moon, could be seen through the sciled
and besmirched window pane; but
that was enough to tell the story.
There were no tall buildings, lighted
by a thousand electric lights, such
as Bruce could see through the win
dows of his bedroom at night. The
lights that could be discerned In this
strange, dark sky were largely UNI
familiar to Bruce, because Of the
smoke-clouds that had always hung
above the city where he lived. There
were just stars, but there were so
many of them that the mind vas un-
able to comprehend their number.
There was also moon that cast q
little square of light, like fairy
tapestry, on the floor 1t was not such
q moon as leers down red and strange
through the smoke Of cities. 1t was
vivid and quite white-the wilderness
moon that times the hunting hours
of the forest creatures. But the patch
thnt it cast on the floor was obscured
in moment because the man who
lad been musing in the big chair be-
side the empty fireplace had risen and
lighted a kerosene lamp.
The light prevented any further
scrutiny of the moon and stars. And
what remained to look at was not
nearly so pleasing to the spirit. It
was a great, white-walled~ room that
would have been beautiful had it not
been for certain unfortunate attempts
to beautify it.. There was stone
fireplace, and certain massive, dust.
covered chairs grouped about it. But
the eyes never would have got to
these. They would have been held and
fascinated by the face and the form
of the man Who had just lighted the
lamp.
No one could look twice at that mas
sive physique and question Its might.
He seemed almost gigantic In the yell
low lamplight. In reality he stood
six feet and almost three inches, and
his frame was perfectly in proportion.
He moved slowly, lazily, and the
thought flashed to some great monster
of the forest that could uproot tree
with blow.
The face was huge, big and, gaunt
Of bone; and particularly one would
notice the mouth. 1t would be noticed
even before the dark, deep-sunken
eyes. 1t was bloodhound mouth,
the mouth of a man of great and ter
rible passions. and there was an IN
mistakable measure of cruelty and
savagery about it. But there was
strength. too. No eye could doubt
that. But it was not IN ugly face,
for all the brutality Of the features.
It was even handsome in the hard,
mountain way. One would notice
straight, black hair-the mans age
was about thirty.nine- over rather
dark ears, and a great, gnarled throat
The words when he spoke seemed to
come from deep within It.
"Come in. Dave" he said. 4.
In this little remark lay Something
Of the mans power. The visitor had
come unannounced. His visit had beer
unexpected. His host had not vet
seer his face. Yet the man knew,
before the door was opened, who It
was that had come.
The reason went back to certain
qpickening Of the senses that is the
ishts and property Of most
resldents Of the
US ne sou
OF the Wild % much = sgolsek Atial
ran In the packs. SGff 4,
was, he had heard the sound 81 81