Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-12-29


we are on any trail at all"
"pve just been thinking. / don't
know how many forks it has. We
might have already got on wrong
one. Perhaps the horse is turned
about and is heading back home--to-
ward Simon's stables"
She spoke duly, and he thrust his
arm back to her. Linda, try to be
brave" he urged. I'VE can only take
a chance"
The horse plodded few more
steps. Brave 10 think that it is
YOU that has TO encourage me-ln-
et"a1 Of my trying 10 keep up your
spirits. will try to be brave, Bruce.
And If we don't live through the
night, my last remembrance will be
Of your bravery-how you, injured
and weak from loss of blood still re
membered to give a CHEEKY word to
me-"
I'm not badly injured" he told
her gently. And there are certain
things that have, come clear to me
lately. One of them is that except
for yOu-throwing your own precious
body between-I wouldn't be here at
ALL"
The feeling that they had lost the
trail grew upon them. Once they
halted to adjust the blankets on the
saddle, and they listened for any
sounds that might indicate that Simon
was overtaking them. But all they
heard was the soft rustic of the leaves
under the wind-blown snow.
Linda" he asked suddenly. Does
1t seem to you to be awfully cOldY'
She waited a long time before she
make quick answers. On any decision
might rest their success or failure.
II believe l can stand it-a while
longer" she answered at last
But l don't think we'd better try
to. It's getting cold. Every hour it's
colder, and l seem to be getting weak
er. 1t isn't a real wound, Linda-but
1t seems to have knocked some of my
vitality out of me, and I'm dreadfully
in need of rest. l think, we'd better
try to make camp"
"And go on by morning light"
YES"
but Simon might overtake US
then"
"We must stay out Of sight Of the
trail. But somehow can't help but
hope he won't try to follow US on
such a night as this"
He drew up the horse, and they sat
in the beat OF the snow. Don't make
any mistake about that, Bruce" she
told him. Remember that unless he
overtakes US before we come into the
protection Of the courts, his whole
fight is lost. 1t doesn't alone mean
loss Of the estate-for which he would
risk his life just as he has dozen
times. 1t means defeat-a thing that
would come hard to Simon. Besides,
he's got a fire within him that will
keep him warm"
"You mean-hatredw
"Hatred. Nothing else"
ouL AA SpllC VI II VIC AAuhC
camp. Wen get off the trail-if we're
still on it-and try to slip through to-
morrow. You see what's going to hap
pen If we keep on going this wayT'
II know that 1 feel a queer dread
and hopelessness-"
And that dread and hopelessness
are just as much danger signals as
the sound Of Simon's horse behind
as. 1t means that the cold and the
snow and the fear are getting the
better Of US. Linda, it's race with
death. Don't misunderstood me or
disbelieve me. 1t isn't Simon alone
now. It's the cold and the snow and
the fear. The thing to do is to make
camp, keep as warm as we can in our
blankets, and push on In the morn
Ing. It's two full days ride, going
fast, the best we can go-and God
knows what will happen before the
end"
Then turn off the trail, Bruce"
the girl told him.
II don't know that we're even on
the trail"
"Turn off, anyway. AS long as we
stay together-it doesn't matter"
She spoke very quietly. Then he
felt strange thing. A warmth which
even that growing, terrible cold could
not transcend swept over him. For
her arms had crept out under his
arms and encircled his great breast,
then pressed with all her gentle
strength.
No word of encouragement, no
CHEEKY expression Of hope could have
meant SO much. Not defeat, not even
the long darkness of death itself could
appall him now. All that he had CIV
en- and suffered and endured, all the
mighty effort that he had made had
In an instant been shown in its true
light, a thing worth while, sacrifice
atoned for and redeemed.
They headed off into the thickets,
blindly, letting the horse choose the
way. They felt him turn to avoid
some object in his path-evidently a
fallen tree-and they mounted slight
ridge or RISE Then they felt the wet
touch Of fir branches against their