White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-05-30
The Crippled Lady Of Peribonka

Qerlv anu Wdrully UetWeeu ueT OWu.
Never had the thrill of her entered
into him as during these moments.
He closed his hands tightly about
hers. But he was looking at Carlal
Lucy-Belle sprang to her feet and
drew Derwent after her.
LET'S not get sentimental !" she
cried. I'm going to throw all kinds
of things down to my boa constructor
and see what he does with them
This TO begin with" and she flung
out q paper plate which curved and
circled, until. lighting gracefully upon
the surface of the torrent below, II
was caught like feather and whipped
with The speed Of bullet toward the
nav of the gorge, without so much as
getting It's inner side wet.
Claire gave gasp of amazement.
II did not dream the water sped
as swiftly as that!" she exclaimed.
But sect 1t is as saidl The plate
is going-it has disappeared into the
tunnel-and not once was 1t rufi1ed
or upset. Back where the water is
breaking and roaring 1t would have
been destroyed"
"Wait!" said Oerwent. He rolled
the short log which they had used for
seat to the edge of the cliff. and
with Paul's help tilted IT on end and
flung 1t over. "There goes man." he
laughed. "Now see what happens r
They stood close tn the sheer edge
of the table rock and saw the log as
it struck the water. There was an
oily splash, and for few yards the
wood drifted away as smoothly as the
plate had gone. smile of triumph
curved Claires lips, then swiftly q
frightened look gathered in its place
A hand had reached up, a terrible
unseen hand that had gripped the
log like living thing and dragged
it down until no chip or shadow of II
rode the liquid serpent under them.
"Hold your eyes near the rock r.
commanded Derwent.
Breathlessly they watched. Hall
minute later, as II spewed up by
the monster who had swallowed 1t
the log reappeared near the huge fang
which split the stream struck against
it, and climbed half its length out OF
the water, then sank back and disap
peared again, this time to be seen nc
more
"Gone," said Derwent. "And If you
stood at the other end of the gorge
five or six miles from here, you wouId
never see that log come through. II
Is ground to pieces. goes out of exist
ence in whatever there is between the
walls of the chasm, which no man has
ever explored, and none ever will
| Are you satisied?"
Claire was staring, wide-eyed.
II believe ft-now,'' she said.
Lucy Belle had turned little white
"Still-l would jump in," she main
tanned. looking at Derwent.
Again Paul looked at Carla. TIL.
calm and placid beauty of her face
seemed accentuated by what they hat
| seen.
4'And the wonder of it is there are
50 many who believe that Nature and
God are not One!" she said, only fol
him. us it possible that in the blind
ness of our egoism we shall always
fail to understand the significance Of
such things as that? It is written
word, in the hand of God, just as the
peribnnka, with its gentleness and
sunshine, is another and different mes
sage for us. That is what | be.
lieve"
Paul nodded. $50 do IT, he said
and felt the desire of all the world t.
take Carla's head against his breas,
and hold it there.
Guilt fastened itself upon him, ant
little later. inspired by the sweet.
ness of her manner toward him, he
whispered to his wife: "claire, you
are wonderful God knows hope
some day to make you happy!"
"You WILL" she answered, and the
gentle mystery IN her voice and eyes
stirred him with deep emotion.
Until the play grew tiresone the,
brought sticks and chunks of wnnt
from the edge of the timber and fed
them to the hidden hands of the
stream The result was always the
same, except that chips and grass and
very tight pieces OF wood raced swift
~ and safely away, like the paste.
board plate. as If they were TOO in
significant to attract attention from
below. But with the heavier objects
there was variation so small In wl,ar
happened that the watchers on the
rock were amazed and fascinated, and
started little game of guessing how
many seconds would pass before Lucy
Bellies huge snake spat up an Object
ant! ten swallowed 1t ugain.
To end their sport Paul and Der.
went staggered from the edge Of the
timber with forty-foot log, which
had lain so long in the drying sun
and wind that they could bear its
weight ON their shoulders, and befnre
this was tossed over the five made
their guesses, the lcser to entertain
the other four at dinner the next day
tTO BE CONTINuED)