The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-10


be a bird-woman.
incredible velocity was what seemed
at first glance 10 be a bird.woman.
a yaIkyr out OF the pages OF Morse
mythology.
Upon her feet was a pair % long.
Norwegian skees. As she hung out.
lined against the wintry sky. Pierce
caught snapshot glimpse OF
fair. flushed. youthful face set in
ludicrous expression Of open.mouth.
ed dismay at sight OF him. lie
heard, too, hish.pitchcd cry. half
Of warning. half OF fright; the next
instant there was a mighty up
heaval Of snow. an explosion OF
feathery white. as the human pro
jsctile landed. then blur OF blue.
and.white stripes rs Il went rolling
down the decliyity.
Good LORD Pierce cried,
Gghast: then nc sped after the ap-
partition.
He halted. speeches.. when the
gtrl sat up, shook the snow out OF
her hair. ginseriy felt one elbow.
then the other. and finally burst
into a peal OF ringing laughter.
GLORY be- he stammered. Il
thought you were-eompietely spoil
cd"
TIN badly twisted. the girl
managed to gasp. but guess I'm
all here. Oh. What a bump
Isn't skiing a dangerous way 10
amuse yourscit7 | thought skis
werc-tricky
Have you ever ridden thcm7"
the girl inquired. quickly.
Never"
You don't know what fun IS.
Here" The speaker stopped and
detached her feet from the straps.
Just have 20 at t." Pierce pro
tested. but she insisted in bust.
ness-like way. They're long ones
too long for me. They'll just
suit you"
REALLY. ] don't care to-"
ron yes. you do. You must"
Her hooking invitation spurred
him TO make the effort, so he re-
moved the skis and waded a short
distance UP the hill. When he
had secured his feet in position for
second time he called down:
I'm going to let 20 and trust
TO Providence. Look out"
THE same to you" she cried.
You're wonderful. but-men can do
anything. can't they?'
There was nothing graceful. moth.
ing OF the free abandon Of the
practised skii-runner in Pierce's ~
titude; he crouched ape.llke. with
his muscles set to maintain an
equilibrium, and this much he sue
ceeded In doing-until nc reached
the jumping.off place. AT that
point, however. gravity. which he
had successfully defied. wreaked
vengeance upon him; It suddenly
reached forth and made him its
rlndictive toy. He paved. he
fought, he appeared 20 be climbing
an invisible rope. With a mighty
flop he landed fiat on his back,
uttering a loud and dismayed grunt
az his breath left him. When he
had dug himself out he found that
the girl too, was breathless. She
was rocking in silent ecstasy, she
llugged herself gleefully, and there
we're tears In her eyes.
'I'm--so-sorry" she exclaimed,
in a thin, small voice. did you
trip over something"
Tho young man grinned. mot at
all. ! was afraid OF sprained an.
kIe. 80 hit on my head. We
meet on common ground, as it
we're"
You're not very III. are your"
said she.
Pierce co1ored uneomfortably.
not very" nc confessed. He was
relieved when she did not ask the
reason for his lack OF fitness.
with her skis slung over her
shoulder, the girl strobe along be.
side Phillips, talking freely on vari.
Gus topics. but with no disposition
10 CnatteT'
perhaps IN see you ct the next
dance" she suggested.
'Dancew The word struck Pierce
unpleasantly.
saturday night. Mt the Bar.
racks"
with a nod and smile she was
' gone, leaving him 10 realize that
II. did not cvsn know her name.
We'll. that was OF no moment.
Dawson was small place. and
saturday was not far off He Ind
heard about those official parties
4 the Barracks and ne made up