Arizona republican., 1922-05-09

toms brain; one of a snowy sawmill
with the force working day and
night, when all the surrounding
country cried for help; another of
carload after carload of necessary
machinery, snow covered. Ice bound
on a sidetrack at Tollifer, with the
w h ole, horrible, snow -clutched
fierceness of the Continental Divide
between it and its goal.
In the night he awoke, again think
ing of it. Every possible hand that
could swing a pick or jam a crow
bar against grudging ice would be
needed up there. A mad desire began
to come over him; "a strange, impell-
ing scheme took hold of his brain.
They would need men-men who
would not be afraid. men who would
be willing to slave day and night II
necessary to the success of the adj
venture. Long before dawn he rose
and scribbled a note to Ba'tiste Re
maud:
I'm going over the range, l can't
wait They may need me- I'm writ
ing this. because you would try to
dissuade me if told you personally
Don't be afraid for NELL make ii
somehow. I've got to go. It's easier
than standing by.
HOUSTON"
Then. his .snowshoes affixed, he
went out into the night. The storm
clouds were thick on the sky again,
the snow was dashing about him
once more. He floundered aimlessly
striving by short sallies to recover
the path from which the storm was
driving him
Dawn found him at last founder
ing hopelessly in snow screened
woods. going on toward he knew not
where.
A halfAhour, then he stopped
Fifty feet away almost covered by
the changing SHOWS, a small cabin
showed family. His numbed hands
banged at the door. but there came
no answer. He shouted: still no
sound came from within.
The door yielded, and climbing
over the pile of snow at the step
Houston guided his snowshoes
through the narrow door. blinking
in the half light in an effort TO see
about him. There was a stove. but
the fire was dead. At the one little
window, the curtain was drawn tight
and pinned at the sides to the sash.
There was bed-and the form OF
some one beneath the covers.
Houston called again. but still
there came no answer. He was look
ing into the drawn. haggard features
of an unconscious woman, the eyes
half-open. yet unseeing, one eman-
ciated hand grasped about something
that was shielded by the covers.
Houston forced himself even closer
He touched the hand. He called;
"Agnes!"
The eyelids moved slightly; Il was
the only evidence of life, save the
labored irregular breathing. Then
the hand moved. clutchingly Slow
". tremblingly. Houston turned back
an edge of the blankets AND stood
aghast
On her breast was a baby-deadl
CHAPTER XVII
Soon water was boiling. Hot
cloths went to the womans head
quietly. reverently. Barry had taken
the still, small child from the tightly
clenched arm and covered it, on the
little table. And with the touch of
the small. lifeless form. the resent
ment which had smoldered in Hous-
toms heart for months seemed to dis
appear
'Tm sorry-Agnes Don't be afraid
of me. I'll get help for you
Don't"
There was the dullness that comes
when grief has reached the break
ing point. Dead. 1t died-yesterday
morning
Houston could say nothing in an
swer. Quietly he turned to the stove,
red-hot now. and with snow water
began the making of Cruel from the
supplies on the shelf.
Forcing himself to the subject,
Houston asked a question
''Where is he2"
"Who?' Sudden fright had come
into the woman's eyes
Your husbands
(Continued in Our Next Issnel