Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1922-01-08
Sunday Morning, January s. 1922
s |||:a||;!!II ST
Edison Ma7ShaUNA

his battered, bloody lips into smile.
Come in and get them" she re-
piled. Her voice was low and lire
less. Harold stepped through the
door. And then she uttered a curious
cry.
Now" she called Sharply. There
was no time for Harold 10 DART Dacx,
even to be alarmed. A mighty force
descended upon his body.
In less than a minute he was bound
helpless
MY God! what are you going to DO
to me?" he asked
Why, Harold, you arc TO be our
| little truck horse" Virginia replied,
as she handed Bill more thongs.
! You are going to pull the sled and
show the way down into Bradley
| burg"
xxx go.
When the dawn came full and
bright over Clearwater, Bill and his
party were ready to start.
When Harold had been Thoroughly
cowed and his full instructions given
him, the thongs had been put abou,
his ankles and removed from his
wrists, and he was permitted to do
| the packing.
That procedure was exceedingly
simple; all available blankets were
! piled on the sled and made into a bed
for Virginia, and the ak, candles. and
such cooking utensils as were needed
were packed in front. And then tht
had short but decisive interview
with Harold.
Il won't go-Ill die first" he criei
10 Virginia. Besides, you don't dare
to use force on me; you don't know
| the way and Bill can, see. You know
if you kill me you'll die yourself"
Fair enough" Virginia replied
sweetly. But take just this little
word of advice. Bill and were all
reconciled to dying when we thought
OF you-and we won't mind il now il
we're sure you are going along. Ana
Bill will tell you that l can shoot
straight. Perhaps you learned that
fact last night"
They heightened the thong that
tied his ankles together, giving him
room for a full walking step but
not enough TO leap or run
They put on his hands a pair OF
awkward mittens. that had been stiff
tened by mud and water, and dashed
them to his wrists.
Then they slipped the thong OF the
sled across his shoulders and under
his arms like the loops OF a kyack.
They were ready to go.
| Il haven't must hope" Bill told Viz
ginia when she was tucked into the
| cln Cd a.
chance we have"
! She smiled at him. AT least. Bill.
we'll have done everything we could.
! Goodby, little cabin-where | found
happiness. Sometime, perhaps, We'll
come back to youi"
The man bent and kissed her, and
she gave the word for Harold to
start.
At the end of three bitter days. Bill
Bronson stood once more on the hill
that looked down upon Ctadleyburg.
The twilight was growing in the glen
beneath; already it had cast shadows
| in Virginia's eyes. She sat beside
him on the. sled.
! 1t had been cruel hardship, the
three days journey. But fortune had
played them well in this-they had
found the food Vosper abandoned.
Virginia was on the rapid road to
recovery from her wound. II had not
been severe; while she was lying still
on the sled it had had every chance
] to heal
Bill's sight had grown steadily bet
ter as the days had passed; aIreaoy
the Spirits of Mercy had permitted
him, at close range, TO behold Vir-
ginia's face.
half-mile back, Juss cefore they
approached the first fringe of the
spruce forest, they met a trapper just
| starting out on his line; anc ne glad
ly consented to take Harold the rest
of the way into town. He was to be
lodged in prison to face a charge of
attempted murder crime that in
the northwest provinces is never re-
garded lightly.
And you weren't drowned" the
trapper marveled, when he had got
his breath. We've been mournfn'
you for dead-for months"
"Drowned-not a Bit or u, virginia
answered gayly. And don't mourn
any more"
Bill felt wholly able TO follow the
broad snowshoe trail the half-mile
farther into town. The footsteps OF
the men had grown faint and died
away-and Virginia and he were left
together on the hill
They saw the church spire, tall and
ghostly in the twilight, anu Bits
strong arms pressed the girl close.
She understood and smiled happily.
OF course, Bill" she told him
There is no need to wait In a few
days II be strong enough to stand
beside you-at the altar"
THE END.