The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-10


sacks. perhaps filled with provisions.
hanging from tho ceiling. safely out
Of the reach OF tho emnlvorous pack.
rats that Often wreak such havoc In
unoccupicd cabins. But further
than this the place seemed barv OF
feed.
Hlankets were In plenty: there
were a few Kitchen utensils hanging
back OF the stove. and some sort OF
an ancient rifle lay across a pair OF
deer horns. Whether or not there
we're any cartridges for this latter
article she could not say. Rtrang~st
Of all. a small and battered phono.
graph. evidently packed with am.
Guilty into the hills. and a small stock
OF records sat on the crude. wooden
table. Evidently real and fervrnt
howe % music had not been omitted
from Bllts makeup.
Then Bil stirred in his sleep. she
lay aiili. Watching she saw his eye.
open. And his first glance was
toward her.
lie flashed her a smile. and she
tried painfully 90 answer It. How
are YOU no asked.
"Awfully lame and sore and tired.
Maybe III b. better soon. And
you-----r-'
"A little stiff. not much. I'm
hard TO damage. Miss fremont. I've
seen too much OF hardship. but I've
oversight there isn't another
second % b. lost. i've 30, TO dress
and 80 and locate vospcr and Louns
bury"
I Il suppose you'd bettrr--right
away They'll be terribly distressed
thinking were drowned She
turned her back 10 him. without
NONSENSE or embarrassment. and he
started TO dress. She didn't see the
slow smile. haif sardonlc. that was
on hia lips.
tress. . he told her. n only want
to be surv and catch them hefor.
they give Ms up for iost-and turn
back. can never forgive myself
for failing 10 wakrn. IL was Just
that I was 80 tired
Il won't let you blame yourself
for that" the giri replied. slowly
but earnestly. besides. Uncle Ken
ly wont so away for two or thrive
days at least He's been my guard.
isn-l'm his ward--and Ian sure
he'll make every effort To learn
what happened 10 uz-
Il suppose you're right You know
whether or not you can trust L.ouns.
bury. I only know--thAt I can't
trust voapor-
They'll be waiting for us. don't
fear for that" the girl went on.
She tried TO put all the assurance
she could Into her tone -But how
] can va get acrossr-
That remains TO BE- sr~n- n
they're there TO help. with the
horses. w. might find a way The
man finished dressing. then turned
10 80. I'm sorry can't even take
time to Light your ftr.. You mus,
stay In bed. anywny--aM day
He left hurriediy. and as the door
opened the wind blew a handful %
snow In upon her The nnow had
decpcned during the night. tho fall
was heavier than ever. shivcrins
with cold and aching In every mus
Gle. shs got up and put on her un.
der clothing. IL was almost dry
already. Then. wholly miserable
and detected. she lay down again
between the blankets. waiting for
/ BliIs return. And hl@ step was
heavy and slow on the threshold
when he came.
She couldat Interpret the expires
sion on his face when she saw him
IN the doorway. lie was curiousiy
sober and Intent perhaps even
little pale. Go 10 sleep. Miss Tire
mont. he advised. 'Iu make fire
for breakfast"
lie bert TO prepare kindiinR. The
giri swallowed painfully. but shaken
with dread shaped her question al
last. "What--what did you find
outg'
1 He looked squnreiy into her eyes
Nothing that you'n want to hear
Miss fremont" he told her sobcrly
looked across They--they----
They are gomez the girl cried
They've pulled freight. could
see the smoke OF their fire--it was
just about out. Not hors. in
sight. or a man There's no chance
[ for a mistake. I'm afraid called
and called. but no one answered"
The tears rushed to the girls eyes.
! hut she fought them hack. There
was an instant OF strained silence.
And what does II mean"
II don't know. Wen got out
someway--
"Tell me the truth. BIu," the girl
suddenly urged i can't stand IL.
W will stand it--don't be afraid 10
tell me-"
The man looked down at her IN
Infinite compassion. Poor little
girl" he said. what do you want
to know"
I She didn't resent the words. She
only felt speechlessly grateful and
soneway comforted--as baby
| might feel In her fathers arms.
Does IL mean--that we're lost,
after ALP
our lives7 Not at all" She
read IN his face that this. AZ least
was the truth. I'm tell you. Miss
fremont. just what think II means.
n we were on the other side OF the
river. and we had horses, we could
push through and get out---easy
enough. But we haven't got horses
even Buster IL drowned--and II
would be a hard fight TO carry sup
plies and blankets on our backs. for
the long hike down into Bradlcyburg.
u would likely be too much for you.
D t..
time we might 20 down 10 quieter
waters and build raft--out OF logs
but the SHOWS coming thicker all
the time. Before we could get IL
done and get across, We couldn't
muah out--for the SHOWS have come
TO stay and we haven't got snow
shoes. We could rig up some kind
OF snowshoes. ! suppose, hut until