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

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be foolish" he cried, shortly. II
know what need and know what
l can stand. These men are friends
OF mine. and you needn't be uneasy.
Now. kid. you let me find place
for you to spend the night"
Not until you're ready to go
along
All right. stick around for little
while. won't be long Old Sam
drew a bench up beside the stove and
seated the girl upon it. I'm all
broke up and I've just got to keep
moving he explained. more feeling
ly. Then he returned to the bar.
Realizing that he was completely
out OF hand and that further argu-
ment was futile. Roulctta Kirby set
tied herself to wait. In spite Of her
misery it never occurred to her to
abandon her father to his own de-
vices, even for an hour-she knew
him too we'll to run that risk. But
her very bones we're frozen and she
shivered wrctchedly as she held her
shoes up to the stove. Although the
fire began slowly to dry her outer
garments, the clothes next to her
flesh remained cold and clanmy.
Even so, their chill was as nothing
to the icy dread that paralyzed the
| very core of her being.
Pierce Phillips told himself tina,
this had been a wonderful day-an
epoch-making day-for him. Lately
he had been conscious that the
North was working change in him
but the precise extent Of that
change, even the direction it was
taking, had not been altogether
clear; now, however, he thought h.
understood.
He had been quite right. that frs,
hour in Dyea, when he told himseli
that Life lay Just ahead of l,im-jus,
over the Chilkoot. Such, indeed
had proved to be the case. Yes
and it had welcomed him with oper
arms; it had ushcred him into new
and wondrous world. His hand.
had fallen to mems tasks expert
cncc had come to him by leaps anc
bounds. in rush he had emerged
from cropping boyhood into full ma
turity: physically. mentally. morally
he had grown strong and broad ane
brown. Having abandoned hinsel
to the tides OF circumstance. he l,ae
been swept into a new existence
where Adventure had rubbed Shout
dcrs with him, where Love had
smiled into his eyes. Danger had
tested his mcttlc, too, and today the
final climax had come. What reused
his deepest satisfaction now was the
knowledge that he had met that eli
max with credit. Tonight it seemed
to him that he had reached full
manhood, and in the first flush OF
realization he assured himself that
he could no longer drift with the
amlcss current Of events, but must
begin to shape affairs to his own
ends.
More than once OF late he had
pondercd certain thought, and
now, having arrived at decision. he
determined to act upon it. Ever
since that stormy evening at Under
man his infatuation for Hilda had
increased, but, owing to circum-
stances, lie had been tllwarted in
enjoying it's full delights. During
the daylight hours OF their trip, as a
matter Of fact, the two had never
been alone together even for a quar-
ter of an hour; they had scarcely
had word i'll confidence, and in
consequence he had been forced to
derive what comfort he could from
a chance look, smile, some inaec-
ton OF her voice. Even at night,
after camp was pitched. it had been
little better, for the thin walls OF
her canvas shelter afforded little
privacy, and. being mindful of ap-
pcaranccs, lie had never permitted
himself to be alone witt, her very
long at a timc-only long enough.
III fact. to make sure that his happi-
ness was not all dream. A vibrant
protcstation now and then, a secret
kiss or two, a few :.-olcn moments
of dclirium, that was as far as his
lovc-affair had progressed. Not yet
had he and Hilda arrived at def
mite understanding; never had tll-y
thoroughly talked out the subject
that cngrosscd them both, never had
they found either time or opportu-
nifty in which to do more than sigh
and whisper and hold hands. and as
a result the woman remained almost
as much of mystery to Pierce as
she had been at the moment OF her
first surrender.
1t was an intolcrablc situation,
and SO. under the spell of his buoy
ant spirits. he determined to make
All end OF il once for all.
The Countess recognized his step
when he came to her tent and She
spoke to him. Installing her greet
ing for permission to enter. he I'M
tied the strings and stepped inside.
only to find her unprepared for. his
reception. She had made her sl,el-
ter Snug, a lively fire was burning.
the place was. fragrant of pine
boughs, and a few dcft feminine
touches .h-'c aud there. had trans
formed it into q boudoir. Hilda had
| removed her jacket and waist and
| was occupied in combing her, hair,
but at Picrcc'S unexpected entrance
she hurried!y gathered the golden
shower, about her bare shoulders
and voiced protest at his intrusion.
He stood smiling down at her and
refused to withdraw. .r
Never had Phillips seen such an
a1luring picture. Now that her hair
was undoie. its length and its pro-
fusion surprised him, for it COM
pietely mantled her, and through 1t
the snowy wilderness of her bare
arms, folded protectinglY across her
rounded breasts, was dazzling. The
sight put him in con quering mood;
he. strobe forward, lifted her into
his embrace, then slnothered her
gasping protest with his lips. For a
long moment they stood thus.