Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-07-22

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his undershirt.
Jean gonei
In q moment he sprang to his feet
again and seized me by the arm. His
grip was stronger than he knew.
"She's not here, Frank? Straight now.
Frank. she's not hereT'
turned my open palms toward him.
III only she were |" exclaimed. !. !.
"When did you miss herr"
"Ten-fifteen minutes ago, when !
got up. found my lamp out Of oil,
and I went to her room to borrow hers.
She didn't answer. and went In. She
wasn't there. Her coat and cap are
gone. How she got out without wax
ing usl"
He turned to q window, peering
through a little bare spot in the pane
close to the sash. Looks alike
rough day." he said. quietly as though
trying to disguise the import Of his
words. "She's been melancholy
of late; trying to hide 1t, but could
tell Ny Cd. she may have
been gone four hours ]"
"Then It's time we were after heri"
/ exclaimed, sudden impulse for &C
ton bringing me out of my stupor. I
showed my burning porridge to the
back Of the stove and rushed to my
room to complete dressing. And In my
head was pounding one word Spool
Spoof-Spoofl
"Where?" Jack demanded from the
door of my room. "What's your guess7"
But was already becoming an
artist, that artist that Jean 50 eagerly
sought In me.
"Just two places" l said. "She's
gone to Mrs. Atoms or to Mrs.
Browns I don't think she would 70
to Lucy Burke's-didn't know them
SO WELL"
Jacks look Of relief was pathetic.
had always thought of Jack as being
in some way my superior, born to rule
while was born to obey. Suddenly
I found him a child in my hands.
"You think soY he grasped at my
words. "You think-that's-wh
she's goneT
Nothing surer. We talked a good
deal about Mrs Alton yesterday" I
added, out of the fullness Of my in
vention, "and she said how lonely Mrs.
Alton must be, and that we ought to
60 over and see her. She's started
worrying over that in the night and it's
got on her mind-upset her bit Still,
It might be Browns. The danger Is
that she may be lost in this storm.
Hustle back and finish dressing, and
then strike for Mrs. Atoms. I'll try
Browns first, then Jake's, then Burke's
Hustler"
It was new business for me to order
Jack. but he needed ordering to keep
him from utter futility at that mo-
ment. I gave his hand squeeze and
thrust him out Of the door.
snow. Mr.. Spoof-now for you'll" !
snapped to myself. I had a revolver,
an old rusty weapon which I never
used, but which kept lying around in
case Of something which ! called an
emergency. Clearly this was It !
found It and some cartridges and
thrust them into my overcoat pocket
then drew 1t out and studied 1t with q
peculiar sort of fascination.
"Don't be fool" enjoined myself,
as I threw 1t on the bed. But In q
moment picked 1t up again and put
1t in my pocket.
Outside the snow was flying In a
sitting wind from the northwest. It
was not blizzard; it was not even a
storm, but 1t had the threat Of both.
The sun was not up, and the gray light
of dawn penetrated the snow waste
not more than dozen yards. l
studied the wind for moment, to
make sure that It was blowing steadily
In one direction; having satisfied N.Y.
self as to this. my problem-one Of my
problems-was much simplified. Car
rying the wind over my right shoulder
/ bore OF toward the south and sec
ton Two.
The trail to Spoors had been
entirely obliterated In its weeks of nom
usage. and could do nothing better
than follow my sense Of direction. II
became apparent that the sky was too
overcast to give me any benefit from
the sun, although the gray circle Of
dawn gradually grew until the vision
would carry hundred yards or 30.
For the most part the crust bore me,
but here and there 1t gave away, and
once or twice sent me foundering on
my face. On such occasions / was
careful to test my direction by the
wind before continuing. If the wind
should veer I had a good chance Of
wandering of into the wilderness
the unknown.
That, too, was the chance which
Jean had taken. It bore more and
more heavily upon me as plodded
through that measureless waste Of
snow. / had no doubt that she had
started for Spoofs; whether she ever
had reached there was another ques-
ton. She was able to stand his neglect
no longer-she was bound to have 1t
out with him, just as, yesterday, had
been bound to have 1t out with
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