The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-02

NAhhA t'N NJ
A chilly twilight had fallen by tho
dnio tho oastJways arrived ut tho
envampmcnt above the rapids, Tho
Countess Courttau hurried on ahead
10 start a nro IN her tent and thither
she Insisted upon taklug Roulvtta,
while her men attended 20 the
fathers comfort.
RoulCtta's condition was pitiablC
enough, hut she was concerned less
with IL than with her fathers cN-
traoriinary behavior aud whom the
Countess undertook 10 procure fog
her dry clothing she protested,
Please don't trouble, IN warm
az a biz then l must go hack 20
dad
MY dear. you're chilled thru
you'll dio IN those wet things the
older woman told her.
Rqul0tt1 strained her ears 10 catch
the sound of voices from the neigh
boring tents, u don't hear father "
said She Il wonder II he could have
sunrg"
Perhaps the men have put him 10
bed
But Miss Kirby would not accept
this explanation. I'm afraid
Agdn she listened apprehcnsively,
once ne gets a taste OF liquor there's
no handling him; he's terrible. Even
Danny couldn't do anything with
him; sometimes oven / have failed "
Hurricdly she took down her soddcn
skirt and drew 1t on,
sum Kirby wa at tho bar when
his daughter discovered him. and her
first searching look brought dismay
10 the girl, Pushing her way thru
The crowd, she said quietly:
Father
"Hello. nc exclaimed IN surprise.
what you doing hero7
y want 10 speak 20 YOU"
Now, Lefty he protested. when
she had Drawn him aside, haven't
o been thru enough FOR one day.
Run back 10 the Countess camp
where l left you
Don't drink any mogc, she i'm
plored, with an agony OF dread in
her face.
klrhy's bleak countenanee set H.,
self in stony lines. i've got 10.
said he, I'm cold-frozen 20 tho
quick, l need something to warm
me up"
Lefty could smell the whisky on
his breath. she could see a new light
IN hts eyes and already she sensed
rather than observed n subtle
change in HIS dcmcanor.
oh. dad she quayered: then
she bowed her head weakly upon his
arm and her shoulders shook.
Realizing that ne was completely
out Of hand and that further 0rEu.
mcnt was futile, Roulctta Kirby set
tied herself TO wait.
Pierce Phillips told himself that
this had been a wonderful day-an
cpoeh-makiug day-for him, Lately
he had been conscious that the North
was working a change IN him. but
the precise extent OF that change,
sven the direction Il was taking, had
not been altogether clear; nov. how
ever, he thought he understood.
He had been quite right. that first
hour in Dyca. when he told himself
that Life lay just ahead OF him-just
over the ChiIkoot, Such, indeed, had
proved 70 be the case. Yes. and II
had welcomed him with open arms:
Il had ushered him into a new and
wondrous world. HIS hands had
fallen TO mems tasks. experience had
come to him by leaps and bounds. In
a rush he had emerged from cropping
boyhood INTO full maturity: physic.
ally. mentally, morally. he had grown
strong and broad and brown. Having
abandoned himself TO the tides Of cir
cumstance, he had been swept into a
new existence where adventure had
rubbed shoulders with him, where
love had smiled into his eyes. Dan.
ger had tested his mettle, too, and
today the final climax had come.
What reused his deepest satisfaction
now was the knowledge that he had
met that climax with credit. Tonight
il seemed 10 him that he had reached
fun manhood, and in the first flush
Of realization he assured himself that
he could no longer drift with the
aimlezs current Of events, but must
begin to shape affairs to his own
ends.
More than once OF late he had
-zrJn1ra = 1arsR1r shHFfrEt aud nrsg
having arrived at a decision. he de-
termined TO act upon II. Ever since
that stormy evening at Linderman
his infatuation for Hilda had in
creased, but, owing to circumstances,
he had been thwarted in enjoying its
full delights. During the daylight
hours Of their trip. as q matter OF
fact, the two had never been alone
together even for a quarter Of an
hour; they had scarcely had n word
in confidence, and in consequence he
had been forced TO derive what COM
fort ne could from n chance look. n
smile, some infection Of her voice.
1t was an intolerable situation, and
20, under the spell of his buoyant
spirits. he determined to make an
end OF 1t once for all.
The Countess recognized his step
when he came to her tent and she
spoke to him. M%Istaktng her greet
ing for permission to enter. he united
the strings and stepped inside, only
TO find her unprepared for his re.
ception.
Never had Phillips seen such an
alluring picture. Now that her hair
was undone, It's length and It's pro-
fusion surprised him, for It com
pleteIy mantled her. The sight put
him in a c%onquering mood; he strobe
forward, lifted her into his embrace,
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