Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-08-10

But o wanted 10 cOme becauss
Joe would have liked IT. Kitty. IT,
Ike you TO hide your real feeling"
She laughed and made a little facs
at him. But after supper she grew
serious as he spoke of the work and
his success, about which he had writ.
ten her.
Wilton asked her IL she would walk
over to the portage to see Molly.
'Tonight?' she asked d%oubtfuIly.
Not II you're tired. Kitty"
II thought you might be content 10
SIT here and chat"
Il should be. Kitty. But / told her
l was coming. And | said | had a sur
prise for her. Can't you imagine how
pleased she'll be to see your
why, Of course III come with you.
WILL" she answered.
And they strolled down side by side
and made their way TO the trading
store. They ven In and, at the sound
Of their entrance, Molly came running
downstairs. stopped short at the bot
tom and stared at Kitty as II she had
seen. a ghost. She put her hand to her
heart with d sudden gesture of fear.
MOLLY, this Is the surprise | rom
ised you" said Wilton. whats the
matter, dear7 Did we startle your"
Molly shook her head and came
quickly forward. swallowing as IL
something was choking her. The wom-
en- kissed each other. Then Wilton was
aware that both were watching lin.
All through the lively chat that fol-
lowed he was conscious of that. He
put the Idea out of his mind with an
effort, for he did not like subtleties of
feeling that he could not understand.
Yet there was a chillIness under the
girls chatter and laughter.
Presently Kitty said she was tired
and must get back. Molly promised to
come 10 see her as soon as possible.
Wilton and Kitty hardly spoke on
the way home. When he left her at
her door she turned to him and asked
abruptly:
VIII. you are still as deeply In
love with Molly as ever. aren't your"
"Of course l am. Kitty" he an
swered.
Then I am glad. for your sake and
answered Kitty, and went
quickly into the house.
Wilton walked back to his shack, a
little puzzled. He had arranged to
Kitty the progress Of the work on
The following morning; but when he
called for her he found her In the midst
her unpacking. and she put 1t Off
until. the afternoon. Wilton laughed,
her and went to his work.
She kept him waiting till three
o'clock, when they started. lie felt the
pride OF the artist as he led Kitty from
Dne place TO another. Locomotives were
snorting. and lines OF ballast trucks oc-
the narrow-gage that had been
aid down to the waters edge.
the ballast pit. from which the
OF steam was heard from morn
III night, the great. unwieldy steam
ihovel scraped its huge steel teeth into
he face Of the cut with the scrunch
II an ogre's feast. and. turning, dis
'orged Its plumber into the empty
rucks- alongside.
Kitty %shuddered and pressed VIII
on's arm. ITS like-it's like some
wing monster, Will,' she said. Lets
o on"
lie led her toward the muskeg. But
n the way he stopped suddenly beside
he summit Of the ridge.
Kitty" he said, In a low voice, 81
ont know II | ought to tell you-per-
APPS you'd like to know. This Is
here joe
Her grasp upon his arm frightened
onvulsively. mo, no, VIII 2, she said
urriedly. ~ don't want to see Ii. I
ant bear to think Of it,"
They followed the line of ballast !
-ucks along the narrow-gage down to
swamp's edge. Construction upon
foundations was we'll under way.
ons of debris had been poured into !
he muskeg. and had simply spread
,emselves over the bottom, finding
leir level like water. S~oundipgs
ken had showed the bedrock hardly
aised from Its Level twenty feet be-
cath the surface. i
Wilton and Lee Chambers had there O
re begun the construction of trestle. G
ork. Teams hauled bundles of logs, g
,und with a chain. TO the scene OF \
,erations. The uprights for the lower \
er were driven into the ground, and n
horizontal members and dlagonals
ere nailed up. completing q crazy. ;,
structure just strong enough !,
take a pair of metals at the top. .
AS they reached the edge OF this i
ructure the whistle blew. The work a
en- knocked of and came slowly past ),
EN- toward the camp. Wilton and =
itty stood alone at the edge Of the :
where the fiimsy struc- +
of the trestle began. .
Kitty looked Mt Wilton breathiessly. !,
It's wonderful, WIN" she said. ut :
axes me feel so out OF place aud use
S."
Wilton looked at her In surprise. y
Why, how can you feel that way. Kit !.
f~ he asked re~proachfully. you y
we been loyal to the core to Joer u
Don't say that 7" she cried fercely, ~