The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-12
CHAPTER XII

cncalnpnlent above the rapids. Xii
by and his daughter were shaking
from the cold The Countess Corr-
tcau hurried on ahead to start a fire
i'll her tent. and tlithcr she insisted
: upon taking Roulctta, while her men
attended to the fathers comfort.
On the way up there had been
considerable speculation among
those who knew Sam Kirby best,
for none Of them had ever seen the
old fellow in quite such 4 frame OF
mind as now. His misfortune had
crushed him; he appeared to be
numbcd by the realization OF his
, overwhelming loss, gone entirely
was THAT gamblers nonchalance Tor
which he was famous. The winning
or the losing of large sums Of money
had never deeply stirred the old
sporting man; the turn OF card,
the swift tattoo of horses hoofs.
often had meant far more to him III
dollars and cents than the dcstruc-
ton Of that. barge-load OF liquor; he
had seen stable fortunes come and
go without sign OF emotion, and
yet tonight he was utterly unnervcd.
With a man OF less physical cour-
age such an ordeal as he had under
gone might we'll have excused a
nervous collapse, but Kirby had no
nerves; he had, times without num-
Der. proved himself to be a man OF
steel, and SO it greatly puzzled his
broken.
He referred often to Danny Roy
ais fate. speaking i'll a dazcd and
diSbclicving manner, but through
that dazc ran lightning OF
blind, fcrocious ragc--ragc at the
river. rage at this hostile, sinister
country and at the curse it had put
upon him. Over and over, through
blue lips and clattering teeth, he
rcvilcd the rapids; more than once
he lifted the brokcn-necked bottle
to his lips. OF thanksgiving, OF
gratitude at his own and his daugi,-
tcr's dcliverance, he appeared to
have none, at least for the time
being.
Rouletta's condition was pitiable
enough. but she was concerned less
with it than with her fathers cN
traordinarv behavior, and when the
Countess undertook to procure Tor
her dry clothing she protested:
please don't trouble. Ill warm
up bit; then l must so back to
dad
my dear, you're chilled through
you'll die in those wet things the
older woman told her.
Nice l. ,.i,,y s1All- 1cr lcoI o,,I
in a queer, strained, apprchcnsivc
voice, said: You don't under
stand. He's had 4 drink; if he gets
started---' She slivercd wrctchedly
and hid her white face in her hands,
then noancd: oh, what d day!
Danny's gone! | saw him drowll-'
There, therc! The Countess
comfortcd her as best she could.
you've had terrible experience.
but you mustn't think OF it just yet.
Now let nc help YOU
Finding that the girls fingers
wsre stiff and useless, the Countess
removed the wet skirt and jacket.
wrung them out, and hung them UP.
Then she produced some dry under
garments, but Miss Kirby refused to
put them on.
You'll need what few things you
have" said she, ''and-l'll soon
warm up. There's no telling what
dad will do. l must keep all eye
on him
You give yourself too much con-
Germ. He's chilled through and its
natural that nc should take drink
My men will give him something
dry to wear. and MEANWHILE
Roulctta interrupted with a shake
. OF her head, but the Countess gently
persisted:
Don't take your misfortune too
! hard. The loss of your outfit means
nothing compared will, your safety.
i 1t was great tragedy, OF course
/ but you and your satl,er were saved.
| You still have him and nc has YOU"
Danny knew what was coming"
{ said the girl and tears wcllcd into
Il her eyes. then slowly overlooked
Il down her white checks. But he
4 faced it. Hc was game. He was a
Il good man at heart. He had his
Il faults. Of course, but he loved dad
and he loved me; why, he used to
9 carry me out to see tho horses be-
B fore could walk; he was my friend,
H my playmate, my pal. He'd have
4 done murder for mel" Through her
II tears Rouletta looked up. It's hard
4. for YOU to believe that l knew. after
4 what he did to you. but--you know
Il how men are on the trail. Nothing
matters. He was angry when YOU
N cutwittcd him. and SO was father.
n for that matter, hut I told them it
d served us right and I forbade then,
N TO modest you further
You did that? Then it's you !
& have to thank" The Countess
NJ smiled gravely. 81 could never un-
n derstand why | came off so easily"
81 I'm glad I made them behave.
M You've, more than repaid" Rou-
ssletta paused, she strained her cars
:Sto catch the sound Of voices from
1.-THE ncighboring tents. II don't hear
ssfathcr," said she. Il wonder it he
could have gomez"
Perhaps the men have put him
TO bed"
S But Miss Kirby would not accept
this explanation. "I'm afraid"
Again she listened apprchensively.
Once he gets taste of liquor
there's no handling him; he's terri
bic. Even Danny couldn't do any
sthing with him; sometimes even Il
sghave failed" Hurriedly she took
down her sodden skirt and made as
I il to draw it on.
"Oh, child, you mustn't! You
4 simply must not so out this way.
Wait here. I'll find him for you
sAtNsTALMENT TWENTY-FIVE
S Sak Me- 4