The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-01
CHAPTER XXI. (Continued)

once again he skidded downward,
once again he went sprawling. Nor
were his subsequent attempts more
successful. Alter final ignomini-
Gus failure he sat where he had
fetched up and ruefully took stock
OF the damage he had done himself.
Seriously he announced:
Il was mistaken. Women are en-
titled to vote they're entitled to
anything. I've learned something
else, too-Mr. Ncwton's interesting
little theory is all wrong; falling
bodies travel sixteen miles, not six
teen feet, the first second
The girl demanded her skees, and,
without rising, Pierce surrendered
them; then he looked on admiringly
while she attached them to her feet
and went ziezagging up the hill to
point much higher than the one
from which he had dared to venture.
She made very pretty picture, he
acknowledged, for she was vivid
with youth and color. She was 1.-the.
and strong and confident. too; she
was vibrant with the healthy vigor
Of the out-ol-doors.
She descended with a terrific rush,
and this time she took the air with
grace and certainty. She cleared a
very respectable distance and rico.
chctcd safely down the landing
Slope.
Pierce applauded her with cnthu-
siasm., beautiful! My sincere con-
gratulations, o Bounding Fawn!'
That's the best I've DONE she
crowed. You put ME on my mettle.
Now you try it again" .
Pierce Cd try again; he tried
maniully, but with a lulniliating
lack OF success. He was putting and
blowing, his face was wet with per-
ton, lie had lost all count OF
I ne, when his companion finally
!,aounced it was time for her to be
;,oing.
"lou'rc not very fit, are you?" said
she.
Pierce colorcd uncomiortably.
Not very" he confessed. He was
relieved when she did not ask the
reason for his lack of fitness. Just
Why he experienced such relief he
hardly knew. but suddenly he felt
no great pride in himself nor in the
lie that had brought him to such a
state OF nabbincss. Nor did he care
to lave this girl know who or what
he was. Plainly she was one OF
those nice people, at whom Laurie
and the other dcn!zens Of the Rial,o
were wont to sheer with open con-
tempt; probably that was why he
had never CHANGED to meet her. He
felt cheated because they had not
met, for she was the sort Of girl he
had know IT home. the sort who
believed in tllings and in whom he
believed. Despite all his recently
acquired wisdom, in this short hour
he had made him over into boy
again, and somehow or oIner L. ,
experience was agreeable. Never
had he seen girl so cool, SO can
did, so refrcshingly unconscious and
unaffected as this one. She was as
lmpid as pool of glacier water;
her blacidity, he imagined, had never
been stirred, and in that fact lay
much of her fascination.
With her skces slung over her
shoulder. the girl strobe along be-
side Phillips, talking freely ON vari-
Gus topics, but with no disposition
to chatter. Her mind was alert, in
quisitivc. and yet she had that
thoughtful gravity of youth, wis
dom coming to life. That Pierce
had made a good impression upon
her she implied at parting by voic-
ing sincere hope that they would
meet again very soon.
Perhaps Ill see you at the next
dance" she suggested.
"Dance!" The word struck Pierce
unplca sanity.
Saturday night, at the Barracks"
I'D love to come" he declared.
DO. They're loads of fun. All
the nice people gos'
With a nod and a smile she was
gone, leaving him to realize that he
did not even know her name. Well.
that was of no moment; Dawson
was small place, and-Saturdav
was not far off. He had heard
about those official parties at the
Barracks and he made up his mind
to secure an invitation sufficiently
formal to permit him to attend the
very next one.
His opportunity came that night
when one of the younger Mounted
Police officers paused to exchange
greetings with him. Lieutenant
Rock was a familiar figure on the
streets of Dawson and on the trails
near by, tall. outstanding Canadian
with record for unfailing good
humor and relentless efficiency. He
nodded at Piercc's casual reference
to the coming dance at Headquar-
tiers.
Great SPORT" said he. TITS about
the only chance we fellows have to
play"
When no invitation to share in
the treat was forthcoming Pierce
told .of meeting most attractive
girl that afternoon, and, having OBJ
tanned his hearers interest," he del
scribed the youthful goddess Of the
SHOWS with more than necessary en-
thusiasm. He became aware OF q
peculiar expression upon Rocks
face.
Eyes. know her WE'LL" the lat
ter said, quietly. "D'yoia mean toI
say she invited you to the ball?"
1T wasn't exactly an invitation"
"Ohi l see. Well-Rock shook
his head positively-"there's Moth
ing doing. old man. 1t isn't your
kind of a party. Understand"
"I-don't understand" Pierce con-
fessed in genuine surprise.
The officer eyed him with a cool,
disconcerting directness. I'VE draw
the lines pretty close-have to in a
camp like this. No offense, / trust"
With smile and a careless wave Of
SS5$EAIl6EMI.T0RT