The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-07-24


mo. Only men with something on
their conscience are afraid"
She looked At him queerly. then
turned away. Houston again took
tho lead. rounding the stretches.
thcn waiting for her. hating at tse
dangerous guilcya and guiding her
safely across. but silently. lie had
said enough. more would require ex.
plantations And there was a pack
uron his back which contained a tiny
form with tigha.enried hands. with
eyes that were cioscd--a poor. name.
less little thing that he had sworn
to carry 70 grace and 10 protection.
Al last they reached the cabins.
Houson united the bond which con.
nccted them and ioosened his snow.
shoes. that he might plunge into the
smallest drift before a door and
force his way within. There was no
wood: he tore the cispboaris from
nearby cabin and tho tar paper
from tho wind.swcpt roof Five min.
utica later = firr was booming; girl
tired. bent.shouidered. her eyes
dropping from sudden desire for
sleep. huddled near u. Houston
walked 70 tho pack ana took food.
you would rather eat aicner''
Yea
4 shah be In the NEXT cabin
awake"
-Awakef-'
Yea ia rathcr---ke>p watch
But there IL nothing"
would feel easier In mind. Good
night"
Then with his snowshocs ard his
pack Of death. ne went out the door.
20 plunge thru another drift. TO force
his way into cabin. and there, a
Flooding. dumb figure. go soddcniy
about his duties OF comfort. And
moru than once IN tho bowling. hlus.
terry night which followed. Houston
shivcred. shook himself into action
and rose 10 rebuild a fire that had
died while he had sat huuched In
the hard. uncomfortable chair beside
u. trying TO fAthom what ,he day
had meant. striving 20 hope for tho
keeping Of the promises that an
hystsrical woman had mada. str1x.
Cling for the strength to 60 onz--on
with this ehccry, bravo little Bit Of
humanity In the next cabin. without
word IN neif.extenuation. withou.
hint to break the lack OF estimation
In which shc held him. without
plea in his own defense. And sorse
way. Houston felt that such plea
now would BE- cheap and tawdry,
they were in q world now where
there were bigger things than human
aims and human frailtlss. Beztdce.
no had locked hts tips at the com.
unand o. brief ridden woman. To
open them In self extsnustion would
mean that she must be brought into
n; for she had been the one who had
eiinched the poinfs Of suspicion in
the rnsnd Of Afedaine Roninette.
Were he now 10 speak Of proof that
she had lied
II was impossible The windswept
night became wind.swcps dawn. TO
md him stiii huddied there. sflu
thinking. stiii grim and drawn and
haxgard with sieepieasness ard IA.
tigue. Then he rosc al call from
withouss
Are you rcsdyr.
He AFFIXED tho pack Towethsr
they want on again. graccless figures
tn frozen clothing. the pointing tho
way. he aiding her with hts strength.
In tho final battle toward the sum
nit Of the ranse--and Cresfilns
Hours they pioddcd and climbed.
climbed and Flooded. the blood again
dripping from his lips. her features
again shielded BY the heavy folds Of
tho bandanna: the moisture Of their
breath AZ times swirting about them
like angry steam. at others invisible
tn the areas az sudden dryncss. where
the atmosphere tapped up even tho
vaporx Of iaboring lungs before u
could visualize. snow and cloud and
rising walls Of granite. this was their
world. and they crawling pigmies
within m. Once she brushed against
the pack on his hack and drew away
with q sudden recotl. Houston duly
realized the reason. The selfish.
gripping hands Of winter. holding
nothing sacred. had invaded even
there.
NtJU. anu uaAsGrt IFvIu u9IH
OF them, burst Of energy which
soon faded For abovs was Crest.
Uneven AZ the little Croatian set
tlemant had beon--snlokeiess, life
less. They had gone from here also.
hurryfng humans fleeing with the
last snowplow before thu tempest,
beings afraid TO remain. once the
lines Of communication were broken.
But there was nothing 70 90 but 20
on.
Roof1ess houses met them, stacks
Of crumpief snow. where the beams
had cracked beneath the weight Of
high piled drifts: staring. classics
windows and rooms filisd with white:
stoves that no longer fought the
clasp OF winter but ifuddled instead
amid piles Of snow: that was all.
crestiine had fled; tiacro was no life.
no sound, only the angry. waiiing cry
OF the wind thru haIffrozen roof
spoufs. the slap OF gathering boards.
loosened By the storm. Cloomily
Houston surveyed the desoiste pic.
ture. at last 10 turn to the girl.
Il must 60 on. gave my prom