The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-31

N lFoutf was tate sun lthlAA
with them. whispering hope only to
Shatter them with defsats Were
they to know hunger and exhaus.
ton, pain and travail. until finally
their bodies dropped down and
yielded TO the eoldr They could not
keep up long without the inner
fuel OF food.
Their chance OF finding game
seemed hopcleSsly small. even at
fret. Before they reached the
frozen river IL seemed beyond the
possibilities Of miracle. Even the
tracks of the little people--such
ferocious hunters as martsn and
erininc--werc gone from the snow
There were no tracks OF caribou OF
moose. the grouse had seemingly
buried In the drifts. The only
creatures that had not hidden away
from the winter cold were the
wolves aad the coyotes. furtisc pco-
pie that could not b, coaxed into
the range Of vlrxinia's pistol. For
all her outward optimism her heart
grew heavy with despair
They crossed the river. coming
out where the old moose trail had
gone down 20 the ford. Hefe they
had seen tho last OF kenly Louns-
bury and NoSpsr. almost forgotten
now. Virginia told Harold to stop
an instant as she recalled those
events Of months before.
so much has happened since
them" she said. III only they had
left
Her words died away In the mid.
die Of the sentence. and for a mo
mcnt she m, gazing with wide and
startled eyes. For all that sight
was turt beginning TO return TO
him. Bnl was strangely and uncs.
plainably startled too. probably
sensing the suspense Indicated IN
the girls tones. Harold turned.
staring
lie could not see what Virginia
saw. at first she pointed. unable
to speak In little thickct Of
{ young spruce there was "A curlousiy
shaped heap Of snow. capped by a
dome OF snow that extended under
the shclterinR branches OF a young
tree. Instantly Harold Understood.
Some long bundle had been left
there before the snow came. when
Il had been thrown down. It's end
had caught In the branches Of a
| young tree where only a small
| amount OF snow could reach IL
Sec what Il Is Virginia ordered.
The man drew the sled nearer
and with Cooperate energy began
20 knock away tho snow. Ills first
discovery was a linen tent--ouo
that would have been familiar In
deed to Bill But digging further
he found a heavy bundle. tied with
rope and rattiing cur1ously In bis
arms.
AT viryfnta's directions he laid n
IN the STOW and pulled the sled no
where she could open H. Bill stood
beside her. not daring 10 guess he
truth.
''oh. my tnrling- she cried at
last, drawing his head down TO hers.
she couldn't say more. she could
only laugh and sob. alternately. as
might one whose dearest prayers
had been granted
The bundle was fun OF food
dried meat and canned goods and n
small sack of -four. They were
some Of the supplies tina; 20 Navc
himself the work OF caring for. the
faiihls-s vospcF had discarded when.
with Ksnly. he had turned back
| from the river.
Bin Bronson stood once more on
the hill that looked down upon the
old mining camp. The twilight VIVA
growing tn the glen beneath: already
Il had cast shadows In virginia.
eyes. She sat beside him on ths
sled.
| II had been cruel hardship. ths
tire. days Journey. but they had
made n without rnishap. At might
they had built grrat fires at th'
mouth OF their tent. but they had
not escaped the curse Of the cold
The days had been arduous and
long. But they had conquered: ever
now they were emerging from th'
dark fringe OF tho spruce.
Virginia was on the rapid roaf
toward recovery from her wound
II had not been severe: while nh,
was lying stiIl on the sled II HAD
had every chance TO heal A few
stitches by the doctor in Bradley
burg. a thoro cleansing and ban
daging. and n few more days ir
bed would avert al serious conse
auences. Bnrs sight had grown
steadily better as the days had
passed: already the Spirits Of Mercy
had permitted him. at close range
TO behold Virginia's face.
half.miie back. just before thsy
approached the first fringe OF ths
spruce forest. they had met a trap
per Just starting out on his line
and he had gladly consented TO take
Harold the rest OF the way into
town. II In one OF the duties oi
citizenship In the North. whore the
population II so scant and the Off
( GERS so few. TO take an active part
in law enforcement--and this trap
per was hldb VI hhf tpi'ttbnlly ~
assist them In the care Of the pris
oner. lie WAS TO be lodged in pris
( on nj the little mining camp IA
face charge OF attempted murder
"a crime that In the Northwes,
/ provinces II never regarded lightly
And you weren't drownedF' tho
trapper marveled, when he had got
his breath. We've been mournin'
you for dead-for months"
"Drowned--not bit Of H." Vlr.
ginia answered gayly. And don't
mourn any more"
The trapper said he wouldn't and
fastened Off with his prisoner. de.
lighted indeed to be the first 10
pass the good word OF their deliv.
erance thru Bradleyburg. Bin was
well known and liked thru all that
portion Of the North. and his sup
posed death had been a real blow to