New Britain herald., 1922-01-10

ginia's trip into the North---not in hopes of finding his lost nephew, but to find the mine of which he also had some knowledge.
 In the same sweep of realization he knew why Harold Lounsburys face had always haunted him with hay, uncertain memories.
 Harold l.ounsbury was Rutheford's son-the son of his fathers murderer kenly Lounsbury was Rutheford's brother.
 All at once the smoke from the fire began to pour In upon him, choking his lungs and filling his eyes with tears.
 For a moment Bill gave little at teNtion to the deepening clouds of pungent, biting wood smoke that the wind, suddenly shifting. whipped in through the hole he had cut in the door.
 This was the most bitter moment of his life, and he was lost and remote in his dark broodings. The smoke didn't matter.
 The fight for life no longer seemed worth while.
 The smoke deepcned in the cabin. It seemed to be affecting his power to stand erect. He tried to think of some way to save himself; his mind was slow and dull.
 He knew that he couldn't get out of the cabin.
 There was only q little hole in the door; to crawl through it inch by inch as he had entered, would subject him to the full fury of the flames Meanwhile the fire burned higher, the wind blew the clouds of smoke from the green wood through the hole as if it were high pressure steam. It soon was impossible for Bill 10 see--even to hold his eyes open, the cruel smoke tortured them so.
 If ever a man were caught in a terrible trap of his own making that man was Bill Bronson.
 His ax! With his ax he could chop the door away. His hand fumbled at his belt. But he remembered now; he had left his ax outside the cabin, it's blade thrust into the spruce log that had supplied his fuel.
 Suddenly he saw himself face to face with seemingly certain death The smoke clouds were swiftly and surely strangling him. Already his consciousness was departing He leaped for the opening again and fell sprawling on the dirt floor. He start ed to spring up But he suddenly grew inert, breath ing deeply. There was still air close to the ground. Strange he hadn't thought of it before--just to lie still, face close to the dirt. 1t pained him to breathe; his eyes throbbed and burned, but at least 1t was life. Then all was confused-oblivon When Bill wakened again the last pale glmmer of the lighted smoke was gone.
 The fire had evidently burned down and out.
 His fumbling hands encountered the log walls; then he groped about till he found the plank door His hands smarted, but their sense of touch did not seem blunted.
 He had never known darker night!
 His muscles were more at his com mand now; with a great lurch he sprang up and thrust head and shoul- ders through the hole in the door.
 The hot ashes punished his face, and his hand encountered hot coali as he thrust them through. Yet witt mighty effort he pushed on untir his wrists touched the icy snow. He knew that he was safe.
 He stood erect, scarcely believing in his deliverance.
 The wind still blew the snow dust a stinging lash from the north and west.
 It was curious that a cloudy night could be so cold. Yet he could not sec the gleam of star. The coals of the fire, too, were smothcred and obsCured in ashes. lie stepped toward them, intending to rake them up for such heat as they could yield.
 Presently he halted, gazing with fascinated horror at the ground. He was suddenly struck with a ghasty and terrible possibility.
 His hand groped for a match.
 He heard it crack in the silence. but evidently it was dud! The darkness before his eyes remained un- broken.
 Filled with a sick fear, he removed his glove and passed his hand over the upheld match. There was no longer a possibility for doubt. The tiny flame smarted his flesh.
 "Rlind," he cried. "Out here in the snow and the forest-blind.
 It was true. The pungent wood smoke had done q cruel work.
 (Contirucd in Our Next lssue).