The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-26

ton would have been stripped clean
By now. However. Il didn't compii-
cate HIS own problem. The Indians
could get down TO the Twenty three
Milo cabin with the mersel Of food
they had lcft-he and Virginia could
follow their trail with the fragments
OF supplies remaining IN BilrH cabin.
you can 20 from there to the
yuEa and hide out" Harold went
on. I'm so down to the recorder'r
office with the woman. Don't wot'
ry about Der. sheli keep stiii, Ana
n by any chance she doesn't. III
tell en- that you were two Indians
from the East Seikirks, give en-
couple OF false names and send
'em on a goose chase It's simple
as day and doesnt need any nerve.
And II you've got u thru your heads,
I'm going hack to the cabin"
They had Il thru their heads. The
plan. as Harold said. was eseeed
ingly simple. They disesied ],
slowly. then nodded. Hut Pete had
ono more auestion--one that was
wholly characteristics OF his weasel
soul.
what you wan, Us 20 ussr- he
asked. This lie Indicated the
thin blade at bis thigh. MAY be
use rifle--
Haroid'r eyes looked drowsy when
he answered. Something like lust.
desire swept over him. this auss'
ton OF ret~'s moved him In dark
and evil ways. ~Oh. I don't know
he replied. Il, doesn't much mat
ter He spoke IN . strained.
thick voice that was vaguely ercit'
ing TO the two breeds. For a few
seconds be seemed to stand listen
ing. rather than In thought. ard he
continued his reply as he were
scarcely aware OF his own words
II was as u voice from the past
was speaking thru his lips The
words eams with no conscious ef'
fort. rather we're they the dread
OF an inherent tester
In his soul Ills fathers blood was
In the full ascendancy. at last
There's an old pick In the cabin
Bill had Il prospecting" he said.
XVIII
Biif-s eye. we're considerably bet.
tar when he wakened--fun In the
daylight. The warm wet cloths had
taken part OF the Inflammation out
Of them. and when he strained 10
open the lids. he was aware Of IA
little. dim gleam Of light He
couldn't make out objects. however.
and except for . neeting shadow
he could not discern the hand that
he swept before hts face. Several
days and perhaps weeks would pass
before the full strength OF his sight
rsturned.
Ills greatest hops at prevent vss
that he could grope his way about
the cabin aud build a IRE for Vir-
xsnta- whether sh. wished 70 act
up or not today. the growing chill
TN the room must be removed. He
got up. fumbled cA the floor for
such OF HIS outer garments as Viz.
ginia had removed. and after q
world OF difficulty managed 10 get
them on. he was amazingly re
freshed BY the nights sleep and
virginis's nursing. His eyes throb
bed. Of course. his muscles we're
lame and painful. his head ached
and his arms and legs seemed 10
be eismembcred. yet he knew that
complete recovery was only mat.
ter OF hours.
Building the fire. however. was q
grisvous task. lie felt u incum-
bent upon him 70 move with uimos;
caution 50 that Virginia would not
vaken. By cropping about the walls
he encountered the stove. II vns
pleasantly warm 10 his hspds. and
when he opened the door he found
that hot Goals were stiii glowing In
the ashes Then h. fumbled about
the floor for such fuel AZ Harold
had provided
nc round piece at last. and
soon a CHEEKY crackle told him that
IL had ignitsd. lie rrfnned with de-
light at the thought that he. al.
most stone blind. had been able 20
build a fire In a room with sleep
ing girl and not waken her. But
hts joy was a trine premature. ~
thai Instant he tripped over a piece
Of nrewood and his hands crashed
against the logs.
"Oh. blast my ciurn-iness'- he
whispered: then stood stu as death
TO see what had befailen. Virginia
stirred behind her curtain.
lis that you. HaroldYT she asked.
She was wide awake. and further
deception was unavailing. mo. It's
BILL
We'll. vhs, are you doing. up7
Did HaroId-do you mean to say
you built the fire yourselfT-
That's me. Indy
Then you must have your sight
again. The girl snatched aside
the curtain and peered into his
face.
mo such luck. Goals were sim
glowing; all had 10 do was 10 put
in n piece OF firewood. But I'm all
wei OtusFWNe, aH TAR as can tel.
How about your
The girl stretched NJ her arms
a it'll. stiff-Bill. I've certainly
gained recuperatiye powers since I
came up here. But, Heavens, I've
had bad dreams. And now--f want
you to tell me just how this blind.
ness OF yours--is going TO affect
our getting out
II was n serious question, one tn
which BIZ had already given much
thought. IT don't see how II can
affect US n. great deal" he an.
swered ut last. II realize you don't
know one step OF the way down 20
BradleyburR. and can't see the
way; but Harold knows II perfectly.
OF course AZ we had plenty Of food
the sensible thing TO do would be
10 wait-till ! get back my sight
But you know--we haven't scarcely
any food at all. The last OF the
meat is gone, except one little piece