The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-10-01
Continued Prom Our Last I,.ucl


That gets you a little. doesn't
~ he tainted. Ned stralghtcned
staring AZ him as II he were a
ghost Your sweetheart - that
you'd sworn was yours 10 the last
ditch. l don't mean that she'd
sive herself 70 me-yet. she's
Just the kind OF girl ia expect a
walking like yourself 20 pick out
the type that would sooner go
wrong than endure hardship. And
that's why she's more or less safe
Tor the time being az least. from
me. Even n Sindy wasn't coming
back home tonight probably al,
ready there-you wouldn't have &c
fear"
Ned could not speak. but Dooms
dorf looked az him with tho firo OF
scalot IN his eyes.
Il don't want anything that's
that easy he said with infinite
contempt. Sometimes tho game
Is harder. take back something
inferred n moment ago-ihat all
women would do the same. The
BEST OF them, the most OF them.
still will so thru hell for an idea.
and that's the kind whose spirit Is
worth while 20 break. DO you
know any one who right now.
likely enough. Il trudginE along
thru this hellish snow with 40
pounds OF traps over her back"
Ned shuddered. hurllng of his
doubt. believing yet in the fidelity
OF his star. Il don't know. and
l don't care" he answered.
That's what Bess Gilbert II
doing. and YOU know Il. There
young man. Is a woman worthy OF
my STEEL"
He turned and stroke out the
door. Ned was left 10 his thoughts
and the sim. small voices OF the
waste places. along with the vii.
derness night whose word was the
master word OF life. and with the
wind that sobbed unhappy secrets
as Il swept his cabin roof. He
couldn't help but listen. there In
the twilight. Thus the work OF
training Ned Comets soul went on.
Strengthening him 20 stand erect
when that stern officer. the Truth.
looked into his eyes. teaching him
the mastery OF that bright sword
OF fortitud and stcadfastnesa
whereby no could parry tho most
pitiiess blows OF fate.
XXI
Thus began a week OF trial for
Ned. For tho first time in his life
he WIS thrown wholly upon his
own resources. standing or falling
By his own worth. Should he fall
insensible IN the snow there we're
mono to seek him and bring him
into shelter. II he should 20 astrny
and miss the cabins there was no
one 10 set him on the right path
again. He was meeting the wilder.
ness alone. and face to face.
Cooking his meals. cutting the
fuel and building the fires that
kept him warm. meeting tho storm
In its fury and fighting n lone
fight from tho gray OF dawn 20
the days gray close. Ned made the
long circuit OF his trap line. The
qualities that carried him far In /
his home city--such things as
wealth aud position and culture
were as dust here. His reliance
now was the axe on his shoulder
and the hunting knife at his hip:
but most OF all his own stamina,
his own steadfastness. tho cunning
OF hts brain and the strength Of
his sinsws. And every day found
him stronger and better able to
meet the next.
Certain muscles most used in
tugging thru the snow. seemingly
worn to shreds tho first days
march. strengthened under the
stress. and he found he did his
daily stint with ever greater ease.
Ever he handled the little. daily
crisis with greater skin. and this