Evening star., 1928-05-28

They gained the SUNNI nd looked
below them Patricia turg!1J 3swldered
eyes upon her companion.
Dan where's the trac..?"
Where ought it to be-" nc countered.
wv h Wv h y-right SlOng there
little frightened as her eyes went seek
ing IN vain for familiar landmark.
across the clearing. and through the
wooded rise OF the mountain opposite.
was only the unbroken surface OF the
snow. Stunnps, nuffed in hoary white,
rose through 1t here and there; a long,
furry mound marked the little station
platform and the low freight shed. In
every direction ran the spokes OF the
forest. The rising wind wllirled little
curtain Of white powder over the utter
silence and emptiness Of the world.
That's the answer" Dan said, after
q silence. THE train couldn't get
through! The chances arc that
wherever the train is the ThTock-
morton crowd Is, unless thy rsalized
the storm In time 10 get b2'E % the
cityI"
"But-but they'll send for .. Pat
ricia suggested.
Eventually clearing train viii have
to come through" Dan assured her.
But there's no use Of our plowlng
down there now I doubt If We could
make it. having TO come back" He
plunged gloved hand into his pocket
and produced an American flag that
they found in the cabin, flag that
reminded Patricia Of an unhappy Fourth
of July when Aunt Annie 5z1 .I3lSfe-
upon cross ss-examIning her about iIer
prospects.
The flag was attached prominently
| to a Snow-laden sapiing and the two
| fioundered back up the trail. The wind
! was in their face now and although
| Dan was apparently unaffected. Pat
! ricia felt almost spent.
| Chilled and cramped. she stumbled
| after him into the cabin. The fire was
! almost out and although he ifIan1edi-
| ately rebuilt it, for ten agonized minutes
| the girl could not enjoy 1t; could not
/ even straighten herself to throw aside
| her snow powdered wraps and the tangle
of soaked veil about her hat. Then at
| last the blood began TO run warm in her
veins again, she sat for a long time
saturating herself in the heavenly heat.
and indifferent to everything else in the
world but that she was warm again.
But at IL O'Clock she joined Dan in
elaborate preparations for their New
Years dinner The great turkey was
put into roaring oven. Dan kept both
I fires going: the cabin was flooded With
/ incredible warmth. The girl set a dainty
, table. enlbelliSEing it with white celery
| tops and scarlet cranberry sauce. The
napkin embroidered with big T. we're
laid stiffly at the two places, and boxes
and jars innumerable were opened TO
! find fresh plunder for the feast.
You ought to basoe that turkey or
/ something" Dan suggested, IN house
| holders responsible tone Then he seized
! the boiling kettle. and the dry pan tn
/ der. the bird steamed and sizzled under
/ pouring water That's it," Dan added
| confidently. And now you take q big
/ spoon and keep basting him with that"
But I don't know why you caH II
| basting," Patricia murmured. as she
| meekly obyed. He Is getting all brown
and crushy." she presently announced
rs II / o'clock? am fnished!"
1T is half-past 8" Dan said, aston
/ ished
well, then. make coffee" the girl
! commanded. "and stick those rolls in
/ the upper oven and they'll get hot And
/ pus butter on the table and give me
| that big platter from over the nlantel.
The sweet authority. the domestic
| Importance were to much. He stopped
| Just behind her: she could feel his
| breath on her hair.
Patricia" he stammered, do you
| know how wonderful you are?"
''PleaSe, Dau!' she said inarttcul-
/ ately. not moving A second later she
| heard him busy with logs in the sitting
room. ~ / S1 NJ r.
<I4g fcoDyrighi. ines<ls
CONTINUED in Tomorrows starr