The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-05


sprang up in the east, and Virginia
and Bill fell to sleep TO the sound
Of its complaint. And when Bill
went forth for his mornings wood.
cutting he found that his snow.
shoes did not break through the
crust,
The wind had blown and crusted
the drifts during tho night.
This permitted him to make a
dash over to certain stream
further down toward the Yuga
River in search Of any sign OF the
lost mine.
When about two miles from the
cabin he saw, through a rift in the
distant trees, human trail in the
snow.
He stood a moment in the drifts,
torn by an inner struggle.
all his fondest hopes, his dreams,
all the inner guardians OF his own
happiness told him to ktep his
search, to journey on his way and
forget no had seen the tracks
Every desire OF self spoke in warn
ing to him.
But Bill Bronson had a higher
law than self. Long ago, in front
Of the r1mshackle hoti in Brad.
leyburg, he had given promise
to find lIarold Lounsbury!
fi9 turned and went over TO in
yestigate the tracks.
He followed swiftly down the
trail, anxious TO know his fate at
tho first possible instant. He saw
that the trail was fresh, made that
morning: he had every reason to
think that hc could overtake the
man who had made 1t within a few
hours.
|. lie did not each up with the
traveller in the snow. But shortly
after tho noon hour his keen eyes
saw n wisp of smoke drifting
through tho trees, and his heart
leaped in his breast, He pushed
on. emerging all at onca upon a
human habitation.
1t was a leau.to rather than q
cabin. a fire smoldered in front
And his heart leaped with indie
scriOahle relief wi. n he saw that
neither OF the two men that we're
squatted III the lean.to mouth was
the stranger who had passed his
camp six years before.
Bill had old acquaintance with
the typo of man that confronted
him now. Ono OF them was Joe
Robinson-an Indian who had win
tered in Bradltyburg a few years
before.
His companion. Pete the Breed
q halflbrecd with a mixture OF
French, was man unknown to
Bill.
There arc certain laws, among
tho northern men, as TO trapping
rights. MOSTLY they are unwritten;
but their influence is felt clear
beyond tho Arctic Circle. They
state quito clearly that whsn q
man lays down a line OF traps, for
4 certain distance on each side Of
him the district is his, and no one
shall poach on his preserves. And
these Indians had lately been part
nors in an undertaking to clear
the whole region Of It's furs.
They had no idea hut that Bill
had discovered their trap lines and
had come to make trouble.
So they were considerably
amazed ut Bills first question. Ibid
one Of you make those tracks out
there he asked.
NO." Joe gruRted. Our pard
ner made It. Fellow 1t down
pretty soon fine another cabin"
TX
Bill only had to turn to see the
snowy roof of the cabin, two hun
drel yards away down tho glade.
1t was a new cabin, Just erected
and smoke drifted family from Its
chimney. Dill rapped on the door
Como along in" some one an
swersd gruffly. Bill did not have
to glance twice at the bearded face
to know In whose presence he
stood. Changed as he was. there
was no chance for mistake. This
was Harold Lounsbury, the same
man who had passed his camp
years before, the same lost lover
that Virginia had come to find.
Bill saw that the man was fright
ened. His lips were loose, his eyes
nervous and bright, his hands did
not hold quite stcady. Here was
one that the wilderness had crushed
in its brutal grasp.
This did not mean that his health
was wasted. His body was strong
and trim; except for a suspicious
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