The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-22
THE SKYLINE
OF SPRUCE
by EDISON MARSHALL
Copyright iesa. Little. BROWN a Company

her arm clasplng his thigh. with
her free arm she seized tho tree
branches TO sustain her She had no
light now. she WIS guided only by
tho faint glow of tho fire at the
cavern mouth
After hundred feet the load
became unbearable. Except Tor tho
fact that she soon got ON tho welt
worn moose trail that followed the
creek. she could scarcely have pro-
gressed a hundred feet further. A. n
was. abe was taxed Go tho utmost +.
every ounce OF her reserve strength
would be needed before the end.
Az the end Of hundred yards she
stopped 90 rest. leaning against a
tree and stu holding the beloved
weight upon her shoulder. N she
laid Il down she knew she could no,
lift u again. Hut soon she plunged
on. down toward the beacon light.
Except for her love for him. and
that miraculous strength that love
has always given 60 women. she
could not have gone on that last.
cruel hundred yards Hut slowly.
steadily. the circle Of light grow
brighter. larger. nearer; ever less
dense were the thickets of evergreen
between. Now ahe was almost 20 tho
glade; now abe felt the wet grass at
her ankics She iunKed on and laid
her burden on her bed.
Then sho relaxed NJ hts feet.
breathing In sobblns Kaspa Except
Tor the eracklc OF tho fire and the
beat OF tho rain. there was no sound
In TIM eavc but this-thosc anruished
sobs nom her racked lungs
But far distant tho Ben was and
deep a. he siept-tust outside the
dark portals OF death tsseif--those
sounds went down 10 him. lie heard
them dimly ut first. like far-disiant
voice In a dream. but aa the moments
passed he began 10 recognise thnir
nature and source. Sohs OF exhaus-
ton and distrcrs-from the gfri who
was In his charge lie lay long
time trying 20 understand
On her knees beside him Beatrice
saw the FIRST fiutter OF his eyellda
In ava rather than rapture. her
arms crep, around him. and shs
kissed his rain-wet brow. His eyes
opened. looking wnnderinEiy into
hers
She saw tho first light Of recogni-
ton. then a haif-Nmlle. gentle as a
girls. as he realized his own injuries.
or course Ten Darby would smile In
suoh q moment as this; his instincts.
true and manly. were always 20 try
70 cheer her Presently he spoke In
the flsnce
The trce 20, me. didn't IT. hs
asked
Don't try 20 talk an. cautioned.
-res-,he tire fen on you But
you're not xosnw TO ci., YOU'RE going
20 live. live
He shook his bad ths half-sznis.
fick-rsng at his np> lat me talk.
Bcatrfce.- 10 MD. wfsh rust . wills
pr Of his CID detsrrnfnatson- -f,S
importans-and I dunv th6nk-I law
much TINA
Hsr syss vsd.1sa n hssvA Ten
donr maanr~
Tn gotng narA - . mfnutS--T
canr hardly hssp swakA. ~ asd
Ems vufoa. tho feshsa. Wa pr~tsr-
naturally clear. Ghs heard every
kind secent every gentle tons svsn
above thu crsckie Of the fire without
ana the beat Of thu rain 4 think
is's the limit be went on Z BE-
iieve the tree got ms--cisAr inside
but you must listen to evsrything 7
say
She nodded In that esrfe nornen,
Of suspense she knew she must hear
what he had TO tell her.
Don't wait 70 s~e what happens 70
me- he won't on III either 20 cut
or IN iiwe-you really can't help me
any. Where's tho rffIer-
'-rhs rifls was broksn--whsn the
tree fell
Il knew n would be. saw n
coming He rested. waiting for fur
Their breath -fieafrsce--pleass
please don't stay here. trying TO s&vs
ma
do you think I would Eor- she
cried
You must The foods almost
Kon.. Just enough 10 last ono per-
son thru TO tho YuEa csbtns-with
berries, roots. Take the pistol.
There's nix shots or so--in tho box.
Make every one tell. Take the dead
grouse. too. The rifles broken and
we can't get meat. It's just-death--
II you wait. You can Just make n
thru now"
And leave you here 20 die. ~ long
as there's a chance 20 save your"
the girl answered You couldn't get