The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-16
"Do you know the Pass?"

DO you know the Pass?'
He shook his head She tapped
one glove against the other.
1T is impossible then. You"
III make it some way. Thank
you for helping me-"
II started on. But she called him
back.
It's dangerous+too dangerous, ="
and there was note Of pity in her
voice. ITS bad enough on foot
when there's no snow-if you're not
familiar with it. L"
Tell me the way. Perhaps |
made a promise to the child's mo-
ther Pm afraid she's dying"
A new light came into the girls
eyes, a light of compassion, of ut
most pity. Slowly she came toward
Houston, then bent to tighten the
fastenings of her snowshoes.
81 know the way" came quietly.
81 have been over tin summer and
winter. will show YOU"
"Yol Medaine l-i-beg par
dOa.' The outburst had passed his
lips almost before he realized it,
Miss Robinctte, you don't know
what you're saying"
81 know the way" she answered,
without indicating that she had
heard his remonstrance. 81 am glad
to gofor the sake Of" She nodded
slightly toward the tcndcrly wrap
ped bundle on the pack. II wo.ud
.o1 feel right Otherwisc.'
CHAPTER XVII
An hour found them in the hills,
plodding steadily, upward, following
the smoother mounds of snow which
indicated heavy, secure drifts. AS
they went higher, and the wind beat
against them with its hail of spint-
cred ice particles, Houston saw her
heavily glovcd hands go to her face
The man went to her side, and
grasping her by the snouIuer, stop
ped her. Then, without explanation,
he brought forth a heavy bandanna
handkerchief and tied it about her
features, as high as possible with
out shutting off the sight. Her
eyes thanked him. They went on.
"A mile more"
She said no more. He nodded in
answer and extended a hand to aid
her over a slippery stretch OF ice
coated granite. The snowfall ceased,
to give way to spasm odic flurries of
driving white. And it was in one of
the moments of quiet that Medainc
pointed above.
Five splOtches showed on the
mountain side-the roofs of as many
cabins; the rest of them were bur-
led in snow. No smoke came from
the slanting chimneys; no avenues
were shoveled to the doorways.
"Gone!' Houston voiced the mono
syllable.
eyes. Probably to Crcstline. It's
too late to turn back now"
She looked at him quccrly, then
turned away. At last they reached
the cabins. There was no wood; nc
tore the clapboards from nearby
cabin and the tar paper from the
wind-swept roof Five minutes later
H..
bent shouldcred, her eyes droopin,s
from a sudden desire for sleep, hud-
died near it. Houston walked to the
pack and took food.
81 shall be in the next cabin
awake"
Awake"
Eyes. I'd rathcr-kecp watch
"But there is nothing"
"lllness-a snowslide-a fresh
drift. l would feel easier in mind.
Good night"
Then with his snowshoes and his
pack of death, he went out the door,
to plunge through another drift, TO
force his way into a cabin, and there
60 suddenly about the duties Of
comfort.
The wind-swept night became
dawn, to find him still
grim and drawn and haggard with
and fatigue. Then he
rose at a call from without:
Are you ready?"
He affixed the pack. Together they
went on again, graceless figures in
frozen clothing she pointing the
way, he aiding her with his strength
in the final battle toward the sum-
NIT of the range-and Crestlinc.
Noon. And a half-cry from both
of them. a burst of energy which
soon faded. For above was Crest
Uneven as the little settlement
had bcen-smokeless, lifcless. They
had gone from here also, hurrying
humans fleeing with the last snow
pillow before the tempest, beings