The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-02

unfy& Uncle, henly Lon6pufy ana l
wish you 10 secure the outfit and
4 inan To- cook at once. You will be
paid the usual outfitter's rates for
thirty days. We will arrive in
Bfadleybnrg September twentieth
Yours Sincerely,
VIRGINIA FREMONT.
This was tho note that brought
Bill Bronson to the brink Of GriZ-
az River on a. snow driven day OF
October. In his party were Kenny
1sounsbury; his nephcw'B fiancee,
Virginia, and Bronson's cook, Yos-
per
The weather, promising fair when
they had ridden out OF BTadleyburg
into the forest, had turned cold. A
heavy snow blanketed the forest:
i snow that might have induced
Bill Bronson TO turn back, except
IN two things.
One was tho promise that he
had given Virginia fremont TO find
her lost Iover-a man whom he
dimly recoIlectad as having met
several years previously. Tho other
was that this trip into the wilder
tiess gave him one moro chance TO
look for his fathers lost mine
somewhere beyond Grizzly River.
Bronson's father and man
named Rutherford had discovered
this mine; they worked II together
for q season-aiad then no more
could be learned of the NOR their
whereabouts till 1t was verified
that Rutherford had crossed from
Canada into the States with the
whole seasons gleanings OF gold,
amounting TO a rast sum Beyond
the border he disappeared COM
pietely-and the only possible de,
dtiction was that he had murdered
the elder Bronson and stolen the
gold.
The trip from Bradleyburg to
Grizzly River had been an arduoua
zone. on the other side was a cabin
which Bronson had erected as part
Of the chain he used when trap
Aping. The river flowing Wild
threatened death. But beyond waa
comfort.
Kenly Lounsbury, fresh from the
9otfice where ho had amassed
+ wealth BY his vita, wanted that
comfort.
Cant you try the tord?" he de-
rnanded OF Bill.
"sure, IL you want. answered
the woodsman, tall, straight.
suuare-shouldered, not daredevil
but not lacking In courage.
As Bill rode into those gray and
terrible waters. On Mulvaney, a
horse whose mettle eQualed his
riders, Virginia TremoNt's first in.
stinct was to call him back, but for
q single second she hesitated. a
Then she pressed forward to tie
waters brink on Buster, mount
With heart OF steel but lacking in
the stamina that had given Null
yaney q name throughout the
Clearwater.
oh, come back" she finally
found words. Bronson-Bill-
come back. Oh, why did ever let
yol go!"
For Bill did not look around. Al.
ready the sound OF the waters had
obsc1red the voices on the shore
Again she called, unheard. Then
she dashed her horse with the
bride rein.
The animal strobe down into the
water. vosper.. his craven soul
whimpering within him. had tal.
len to the last place in the line. but
sLounsbury tried to seize her bride
as she pushed forward.
II Where are you going. you little
rooiT' he cried. Come back"
The girl turned her head. Her
face was white You told him to
30 H." she replied. "Now-it's the
sporting thing-to follow him. !"
T& The water splashed about her
horses knees.
Ahead Of her, a dim ghost in the
half light. Bill still rode On toward
the opposite shore. And now-full
halfway across-he was IN the full
force OF the current.
It was all too plain that his horse
was battling for It's life.
But Mulvaney was true. Perhaps
( some OF his riders strength went
ito his thewS and sustained him.
Slowly the water dropped lower.
He was almost to safety.
At that instant Bill glanced
around, intending 10 warn his party
not to attempt the crossing. He
saw the dim shapc,of Virginia close
behind him. riding into tho full
strength Of the current.
All coloTs swept in an instant
from his face, leaving 1t gray aud
2 aShen as the twilight itself.
He knew. that Busters strength
WIS not that Of Muivaney and he
couldn't live In the deepest, swift.
est part Of the river that lay be-
fore her.
Turn back" he said. Turn your
horse, Virginia easy as you can. "
At the same instant he turned his
ownhnEse back,into the full fury Of
The torrent.
Buster wheeied struggling to
keep hts fest ltniyauey pushed on,
cieax th the deepest, widest por-
don Of me stream. And then vir.
giuia's horse pitched forward into
Mo lfr7IH rynfrllsl
IN the half Iight Sc was limos.
50. she syen teE stIi e follow ne