The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-20

ttonttnurd FROM rage W
beard and this new air OF self-respect
upon him. Perhaps they had for
gotten him. bat II was no loss than
he had done 20 them Tho prison
walls seemed already rs n they hadn't
been true. lie loved every minute OF
the Journey. freshness instead OF
Nth. freedom instead OF confinement.
fragrant fields and hiosaoming flow
era Even the stars and tho moon.
remembered Of old. yielded him a
peace and happiness beyond his
power 70 tell And his gratitude 20
Exram grow apace
Besides seif-confitcnce and the
constant. slow unraveling OF his
memory problems. each day yielded
rich gifts, no less than added trust
IN each other. Always they found
Each other sseadfast. utterly 20 ~ re-
NED upon Exram never regretted
for Q moment HIS offer 20 Hen. The
young man had seemingly developed
under his eve and was real aid 20
him IN all the problems Of tho Jour
ney.
A the days pas-~d. the whole tone
ana key Of the iana had seemed 20
change They were full In the noun
tain. now. snow cleaning on the
heixhts forests hiue-oiack on tho
slopes: and Rcn's response was q
growing excitement that At first he
could not anaiyTe Tho air was
sweeser. more bracing. and some
times he disccrned fiecting. delicate
odcr that drew him up short IN HIS
talk and held him entranced. There
was q sparkle and stir In the air.
unknown In the cities re had left:
and 20 breathe II deeply thrilled him
with an unexpia,nahie happiness
someway II was all familiar. all
dear 10 him as n Il had once been
close 10 his iifc, The SPARKLE In the
air was not new. only recalled: long
and long ago hc had Weakened to find
Just such q delicate fragrance In his
nostrsls But tho key hadn't como TO
him yet His memory pictures were
ever stronger Of outline. clearer IN
his minds eye. yet they were stiil
too dim for him 10 interpret them.
in these days Fzram watched him
closely. with . curious intense inter
est
y II was no longer pleasant 20 sleep
out In the hay. For the sake Of
warmth alone they were Obliged 10
hire their nights lodging NJ cheap
hotela Spring was fun In the land
they had left: u was Just beginning
here. The mountains. visible from tho
village OF saitsviilc where they left
the railroad. were ssiii swept with
now.
Pan felt that he would have liked
to take . day off At this point and
venture with his companion into tho
high. wooded hills that frontsd tho
town. but he agreed with Exram
that they could not spare the time
Thsy swiftly mads preparations for
their journey down-rfver. a canoe
was bought for . reasonable sum
they were told they had . rood
chanos OF sailing II again when thsy
lsft the rfvvr near Hrowy 0ulch--
and - the general store thsy bought
an ~. rsdimsnfary fishing tackiA
tobacco. blankets. and AL manner Of
simpler providons. such ~ -four.
rice. bacon. coffee. canned milk and
sugar And for = ridfcuiousiy small
sum which he mysteriousiy produced
from the pocket Of his faded jeans
Exram bought . secondhand rife
an ancient gun Of large caiiber but Of
enduring auaiity--and box Of shells
10 match.
-Old Hiram left mo q gun. but
wen each need one Exram ex-
planned And they tell me there's
. chance TO pick up game. like az
not. goin' down the river"
They would have need OF good
canoe-craft before the Journeys end.
the villagers told them. Ezram had
not bossted Of any such ability. and
at first Ben regarded the plan with
considerable misgtvinss. And II was
with the most profound amazcment
that. when they pushed off. he saw
Ezrnm deliberately seat himself In
the bow. leaving the most important
place 10 his young companion.
Good heavens. I'll caps'ze you In a
minute" Ben said How do you
dare risk t."
Push off and stop botherin' me-
Exram answered. There's n paddle
go ahead and shoot 'er."
The waters caught the canoe.
speeding II downstream; and In APP
prehension Of immediate disaster hen
seized the paddle. Swiftly he thrust
Il into the streaming water at his
side
He was not further aware OF FL
rams searching gaze. He did not