The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-09-27

abon, SIX thirty IN two hours more
Il would be too dark 20 make his way
AZ all
lie examined the mud about tie
sprine and there WAS plenty ~ esi
nence that the forest creatures had
passed that way Here was little
triangle where hmcs had stepped
and further away he found two pairs
~ deer tracks evidently those ~
doe with fawn 4 wolf had stopped
90 cool hls heated tongue m ihc WA
tiers pnsslhls in the middle ~ some
terrible huns 10 the twilight hanrs
Then De found = huge Intrusion IN
the mud that puzzled iam siiA more
AZ The first he conldng believe ihat
u was a track The reason was sim.
ply that toe size ~ The thing was 10.
credihle-as " some enc had laid
four sack IN tie mud and taken "a 10
again. lie DID not think al any ~
the modern day forest creatures is
being uf such proportions Il was
very stale and hnd been almost oblll.
Grated by many days ~ sun. PERHAPS
he bad been mistaken Ia thinking Il
an imprint of living creature lie
went 20 his knees 10 examine Il.
But In one instant he knew that he
had not been mistaken. II was a
tnck not greatly different from tha,
of an enormous human foot and the
separate toes were entirely distinct
II was a bear track. Of course. but
one of such size that the general run
of little black bears that Inhabited
the hills could almost use "a for o den
OF hibenatlon
lie got Up and went on-farther
toward Trails End. lie walked more
swiftly nov. for be hoped TO reach
tl'e end Of Pine Needle Trail before
nishtfall but he had no intention Of
halilng IN case ught came upon him
before be reached a. lie had wnlfed
too long already to fnd Linda.
Another hour ended the days sun.
lighf The shadows fell quickly. but
IL vas . long time yet until darkness.
He yei might make the irail.ond. lie
gave no thought 70 fatigue. In the
FIRST place. he had stood up remark.
ably well under the days tramp Tor
no other reason than that be had Al.
ways made point of keeping IN the
best Of physical condition Besides
there was something more potent than
mere physical strength 70 sustain
him now. Il was the realization Of
the nearing end Of the irail-a knowl.
edge OF tremendous revelations that
would come 10 him In a few hours
more.
Already great truths we're taking
shape IN his brain: he only needed .
single sentence Of explanation 20 con
meet them all together. he began
10 feel Q growing excitement ard In
patience.
II was quite dark now. and he
could barely see the trail Tor the
frst time he began to despair. frellre
thai anoiher night of o,erI,swering
impaiience must be spent befoge BE-
could reach Trails End The stars
hegan 10 push through the darkenlnr (
sky. Then. fainter fhnn The CLEAN 81 I
a freag. be saw the faint light Of q /
far distant camp Ere.
Ills heart bounded lie knew what 1
was there. II was he end u tie /
trad 81 last And {, guided hIm the /
rest of the way. When he reached /
the top of little rise in the traIl. the 4
whole Scene was laid out in mystery 4
below him.
The Gre had been built at the door
Of . mountain house-a log structure 4
of perhaps four rooms. The freight
played in IFS open doorway. Some
thing beside II caught his attention.
and instlncilvely Re followed Il with
dis eyes until II ended In an increI- I
ible region Of the stars II vas a
great pine tree. the largest he had 4
ever see1-seemingiy q great sentinel /
over ali the land.