Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-19

| Expensive four was already long and
dense in preparation for winter
land Dorothy found him even more
to be admired here in MS native set
ting-as he raced across a patch OF
old snow and shimmered in living
beauty-than as a neckpiece in a
fashionable fur shop in her native
city.
On the high, windy ridges and
just below the long, white sweep Of
the main range they flushed up d
small herd of caribou. They were
out of rifle range before ever Pete
got sight of them, far across the
gulch, and it was almost incredible
to Dorothy how quickly they dis
appeared.
Too bad we didn't see them in
time" Pete commented. Were 60
ing to need lots of dry meat for The
trip out in the dory-and for my
winter supply. And, by George, we
might get them yet"
Chase them down " the girl
asked.
with an airship, yes! That's a
blind canyon they are running up,
and it's an old caribou trick to come
swinging back. Mrs. Newhall, if you
want to be in at the death, you'll
have to travel quick"
GO on. If can't keep up, I'll
wait for you"
So they started at a fast pace
with the idea of crossing into the
town the steep slope of the ridge
valley and meeting the herd as it
swept back. Almost at once Dorothy
saw that she could not keep pace.
Pete was travelling down hill in long,
swift steps.
From where Dorothy stood she
saw that the man was Disconnected.
The gully was evidently almost an
abrupt precipice, to steep to de-
scend easily; and if he should lower
himself down without mishap, the
time required to climb the opposite
precipice would make him too late
to intercept the returning herd. He
hesitated but an instant, then turned
rapidly up the edge of the gully,
seeking an easier place to cross.
He soon reached a bank of old
snow stretching completely across
apparently a thick crust such as
often endures in these latitt,des
from one year to another over the
cold, deep gullies. He turned TO
laugh back at the girl, waved his
arm gayly-a vivid, cheering PIC
ture that the stress of civilization
would not soon wipe from her men,
ory-then started to cross.
Her first impulse was to shout a
warning. Did he not know that
often such snowbanksmelt from the
bottom until they were merely fra
lgile crusts? Her instinct was to
stop him at no matter what cost of
her dignity and caste-pride; to run
after him, crying; to order him
back; to stretch her arms to him.
Her fear was so great that it par
took of the nature of actual pre-
monitor. Yet he knew what he was
doing. This was his home land; and
If he took risks they were on his
own head. 1t was not for her TO
show such interest in him, guide.
| It was folly, at the best. The mar.
knew what he was doing. He was
advancing with some degree of eau
ton at least-one foot placed gin
gerly before he stepped. Surely ie
ne let his zeal for hunting-always
a passion with the Anglo-Saxon-
carry him into danger, it was no
cause for her to lose her cool poise
on which she prided herself. Likely
1t was only silly trick of the imagi-
nation.
Yet the shadow that had crossed
and darkened her had been that of
a predestined event. Her inner
warning had been true; and with
shameful falsehood to herself she
mad disregarded it. She mad watch
ed breathlessly, and suddenly she
uttered strange, small sound that
the wind scattered into the vastness
The elemental powers had been in
ambush, just as Pete had said. and
ne had fallen into their trap. When
he was halfway across, the fragile
crust broke beneath his weight and
ne dropped through as when the
TRAP Is sprung on the gallows.
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