Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-09-09

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But you wanted 10 come because
Joe would have liked it. Kitty. It's
Ike you TO hide your real feeling"
She laughed and made a little face
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 If she would walk
over to the portage to see Molly.
Tonight" she asked doubtfuNv.
Not if you're tired, Kitty"
Il thought YOU might be content 10
sit here and chat"
Il should be, Kitty. But I told her
was coming. And l said had a sur
prise for her. Can't you imagine how
pleased she'll be to see your"
why, of course I'll come with Won.
WILL" she answered.
And they strolled down side bv side
and made their way to the trading
store. They went 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 ghost. she put her hand 10 her
heart with a sudden gesture OF fear.
Molly, this is the surprise prom
ised you" said Wilton. What's the
matter, dear? Did we startle your"
Molly shook her head and came
quickly forward, swallowing as If
something was choking her. The ~o.n-
en- kissed each other. Then Wilton was
aware that both were watching him.
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.
Aet there was a chilllness 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 aud asked
abruptly:
"Wil, you are still as deeply in
love with Molly as ever, aren't your"
"Of course l am, Kitty" he an
swered.
Then am glad, for your sake and
hers" answered Kitty, and went
quickly into the house.
Wilton walked back to his shack, a
little puzzled. He had arranged to
show Kitty the progress Of the work on
the following morning; but when he
called for her he found her in the midst
OF her unpacking, aud she put it Off
until the afternoon. Wilton laughed,
chided her and went to his work.
She kept MIN waiting till three
o'clock, when they started. He felt the
pride Of the artist as he led Kitty from
one place 20 another. Locomotives were
snoring, and lines Of ballast trucks oc-
cupied the narrow gage that had been
laid down to the waters edge.
In the ballast pit. from which the
screech of steam was heard from morn
till night, the great unwieldy steam
shovel scraped its huge steel teeth into
the face Of the cm with the scrunch
Of an ogre's feast, and. turning, dis
gorged its plgnder into the empty
trucks alongside
Kitty shuddered and pressed VII
tons arm. IT'S like-it's like some
living monster, Will" she said. Lets
go on"
He led her toward the muskeg. But
on the way he stopped suddenly beside
the summit Of the ridge
Kitty" lie said, In a low voice. 81
don't know If ought to tell you-per-
haps you'd like to know. This 10
where Joe"
Her grasp upon his arm frightened
convulsively. mo, no, Willw she said
hurriedly. 81 don't want to see it.
can't bear to think Of It,"
They followed the line of ballast
trucks along the narrow-gage down to
the swamp's edge. Construction upon
the foundations was well under way.
Tons Of debris had been poured into
the muskeg. and had simply spread
themselves over the bottom. finding
their level like water. Soundings
taken had showed the bedrock hardly
raised from its level twenty feet be-
meath the surface.
Wilton and Lee Chambers had there
fore begun the construction of trestle-
work. Teams hauled bundles Of logs,
bound with a chain, to the scene of
operations The uprights for the lower
tier were driven into the ground. and
the horizontal members and diagonals
were nailed up, completing a crazy.
shaking structure just strong enough
to take a pair Of metals at the top.
AS they reached the edge Of this
structure the whistle blew. The work
men Knocked off and came slowly past
them toward the camp. Wilton and
Kitty stood alone at the edge Of the
embankment. where the fimsy struc-
ture Of the trestle began.
Kitty looked at Wilton breathlessly.
Its wonderful, VIII" she said. 1T
makes me feel so ont Of place and use
less"
Wilton looked at her IN surprise.
"Why, how can you feel that way, Kit
ty?" he asked repraachfully You
have been loyal 10 tie core 10 Joe, ."