The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-22
CONTINUED from saturday.


Then for the FIRST time sha went to
hes knees beside the prone form.
Han was free OF the imprisoning
limbs. but was his soul already FREQ
Of the stalwart body broken among
tho broken houKhxf She had 20
know this first. further effort was
unaVailing until she knew this. Her
hand stole over his face.
She found no reassuring warmth.
II was wet with the rain. cold 60
tho touch. ftis hair was wet. too. and
matted from some dreadful wound IN
the scalp. Very softly she felt along
the skull for some dreadful fracture
that might have caused instant
death: but the descending trunk had
missed hts head. at least Very gent
~ she shook him by the shoulders
Her stern srlf-control gave way
little now. The strain had been too
much for human nerves 10 bear. She
gathered him into her arma still
without soeoing. but tho hot tears
dropped cnto his faco.
speak 10 mo. Ben.- she said
Quietly. The wind caught her words
and whi.ked them away: and tho
rain played It's unhappy music IN the
tree foliage but lion made no
answer. speak 70 me- she repeated.
her tone nfting My man. my baby
tell me you're not dead
Dead Was that it--struck 90 tho
earth like the caribou that fell be-
fore his rtflef And In that weird.
dark instant light far moro bright
than that the nickersnx pine knots
cast 80 dim and strange over the
scene beAmed forth from tho altar
flame OF her own soul IL was only
the light Of knowledge. not Of hope.
bat n srankfigurcd her none the iesa
An at once she knew why she had
hurled tho poison cup from his hand.
sven tho her fathers nfe might DO
tina price OF her weakness She I'M
dervtcod. now. why ths-s long wrecks
had been q delight rather than
torment. and why her fears fer him
had gone 90 straight 10 her heart
She pressed his battered head tight
against her breast
My love. my love-" she crooned In
his ear. pressing her warm cheek
cio-s TO hlk Il DO love you. DO.
l DO she told him confidingly. a. n
this message would call him back 20
life Her lips sought HIS. trying 10
give them warmth. and her voice was
low and broken when she spoke
again Can't you hear me. Ben
won't ycu try 70 come back 20 met
II you're dead I'll die too
But the man did not open bis eyes.
Would no, even this appeal arouse
him from this deep. strange sleep in
which he lAyf He had always been
20 vatchf1i Of her--since that fir-t
day-eo snAious fer her safety. shs
he,d him closer. her iipa trembling
axninss htA
But shs must get herssif In hand
Rxa,ni Perhaps tifs had not ysf
completely fiicksrsd out. ana she
could nurn Il hack Gha dropped
her sar to his b~~ast. fssssnfns.
Tea she fs1t the fktns stirring Of
his heart n va 20 feeble shr
throes vsrs % FIR apart. yet thSy
meant lffs-iffs that might 1ush his
chsshs again. ana might yet bring
hfm hack 10 her. into her axma He
was hrsathfng. too; hreAths 20 faint
that she hardly dared 10 believe In
their reality. And presently shs re-
Allied that his one hope Of iifs iay IN
Tssting back TO the ira
For long hours be hAd been Tying
In the cold rain: . few more minutes
would likely extinwuish the spark Of
ME that remained IN his breast Her
hand stole over his powerful frame.
In An effort 10 gst some idea Of tho
nature Of his wounda
One Of his arms was broken; It's
position Indicated that Some Of his
ribs were crushed. soo-what inter
nal injuries no had that might end
him before the morning she did not
know. But she could not take time
70 build . siefgs and cut away the
brush She worked Der shoulder IN
der his body.
wrsnching with all her fine. young
strength she lifted him upon her
shoulder: then. kneeiing in the vines.
shs struggled for breath. Then
thrusting with her arm she got on
her feet
His weight was over 50 pounds
greater than her own: but her woods
training. the hard work shs had
always done. had fitted her for Just
such a test as this She started with
her burden toward the cave.
She had long known how 20 carry
an injured man. suspending him over
her shoulder. head pointed behind her.