The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-07-24
CONTINUED From Saturday,
CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER Xxi
silence was their portion as they
turned toward the mountains There
was little 20 say. New and then a.
Houston. In the lead. got off tho trail.
Medaine jerked on tho cord 10 draw
his attention. then pointed. and
Barry oheyed. Thus their pilgrim.
age progressed.
An hour found them IN the hills.
riodding steadily upward. foilowink
the smoother mounds Of snow which
indicated heavy. secure drifts. al
timss progressing easily. almost
swiftly. At others vcerlnG and tack.
tnx. making tho precipitous ascent
by digging their shoes into the snow
and literally pulling themselves up.
step By step. Hero. where tho crags
rose above them. where sheer granite
walls. too steep. too barren 20 form
q resting place even Tor the driven
SNOW. rose brown and gaunt above
them. whore the wind seemed 10
shrek at them from a hundred
places At once Houston dropped
slowly back 20 watch the effect that
Il all was having upon tho giri. to
study her strength and her ability
20 so on. But there WAS no weak.
eninS In the sturdy little step. no
evidence Of fatigue. As they went
higher. and the wind beat against
them with It's hail OF spiintered Ice
PARTICLES. Houston save her heavily
giovcd hand 60 70 her face Ia
sudden pain and remain there. The
man went to her side, and graspfne
her BY the shoulder. stopped her.
Then. without explanation. he
brought forth = heavy handnnna
handkerchief and. tied II about her
features. as high as possible without
shutting oft tho sight Her eyes
thanked him They went on
Higher--higheri the old cracks Of
Housscn's lips. formed In his days OF
wandering. opened ard began TO
bleed. the tiny. red drops falling on
his clothing and conxeaiing there
The flying Ice cut his akin: no knew
that his eyebaiis were becoming red
again. the hloodrred where never
xpscx Ct whits showed. only black
pupils staring forth from = sea Of
M&*<AU& A4tA HsAh"A ts<N
wind swept about them: its force
greater than the slight form OF the
woman could resist. Close went
Houston 70 her. his arm encireird
her--snd she did not resiss--shc who.
down there In the west country In
the days that had gone. would have
fsbclled IT the touch of his hand.
But now they were IN = strange Land
where personalities had vanished;
two beings equipped with human In.
tsillgence and the power Of ioccno-
tion. little more. All else IN their
natures had become subiux2ted 10
TIE greater tasks which fneed them:
fhs primitive had come 70 life. they
were fighting against every venge
ful weapon which an outraged Ma
ture could huri-fishting AZ cross
purposes. 10 to fuisill promise 70
woman who might even now Be dead.
abe 20 nssuags the promptsngs Of
merrcfful nature. even 20 tbs extent
q ths conpsnscnshfp Of q man she
had been led 10 rcvfls.
Afternoon came. and the welcome
shelter Of . ledge where the snow
had dF1fted far outward. leaving o
small space Of dry rock--so them
IKE IN Island 70 . drifting victim Of
Shfpwrsck. There thar stepped. 10
bring forth food from the small pro
vjzion pack which had been shiftcd
q Medaine's shoulders. TO eat silent
y. then. without word. to rise and
60 onward.
- - n.
Asors OF space after that. In which
huddlcd. bent figures IN the grip Of
sforudors. climbed. veersnE. swinging
about the carter stretches. crawling
1t painfully slow pace MP the steep.
~ lnciinee. Upward thru the sting
irS blast Of tho tempest they went.
toward the top OF stricken world.
Late afternoon: then Medaine turned
toward tbs bleeding man beside her.
"A mile more
She said no more. He nodded I'm
answer and extended hand 20 aid
her over . slipp~ry stretch Of Ice
coated granite. Timber line came
and went. The snowfall ceased. 20
give way 10 the grayness Of heavy.
scuddinR clouds ana the spasrnodIc
f1urrfes of driving white. az the gusty
wind caught up the loose fail OF the
drifts and whiried Il on. like
lost souls seeking In vain
= place they could abide. And n was
in one Of the moment. Of quiet that
Mcdafnc pointed above.
Five splofches showed on the
mountain sfdst--he roofs Of a. many |
cabins: the rest Of them were buried |
In snow. No smoke came from the |
rlantlng chimnsys: no avenues were |
uhovelcd 20 the doorways; the drifts |
we're unbroken.
Gomez Houston voiced the mono
syllable.
Yes. Probably on to crestlins. |
was afraid Of IT,"
Nights coming
It's too late 70 turn back now"
And In spite OF the pain Of bleed. |
Ing. snow-burned lips, Houston |
snilsd at her--the smile that man
might give a sister Of whom he was
proud.
Are you afraidr'
''Of whaf7"
NE"
she ala not answer for moment.