Plentywood herald., 1932-12-01
CHAPTER XII

Gloria awoke with a start She
had not heard King go. yet she knew
that she was alone in the cave. AIonei
BY now Mark was far away.
She sprang up and built a fire. Less
for the warmth, though she was cold
to the bone, than for the sense of com
panionship. She came close to the
fire and for long time would not
move from II.
She went TO the wall King had built
and stood there long time. A dead
hush lay over the world. Endlessly
long were the minutes Hours were
eternities.
The morning wore on. She was
vaguely aware Of a difference. Ii was
as though a presence. though what
sort she could not tell, had approached.
We're near her, all about her. She
turned and little glad cry broke from
her lips. A streak of sunshine lay
across the rocks at the caves mouth.
Tt was like the visit OF an angel.
More than that. like the face of be-
loved friend. She ran to the front
and looked out. There was a rift I'm
the somber roofing of clouds: she saw
a strip OF clean blue sky through
which splendid sun shone. she
watched that little strip OF heavens
blue eagerly and anxiouSIy: was 1t
widening? Or were the clouds crowd
ing over 1t again?
But though this seemed the one CON
sideration of importance I'm all the
world for her Just now, In another In
stant 1t was swept from her mind. for
gotten Far below her, down i'm the
gorge, she saw something movingi
And that something. piowing Iabori-
ously through depths and drifts of
loose fluffy snow. was a man. Her
thoughts raced 1t was King He was
coming back to her. No: 1t was
not King; 1t was Sven Brodie! She
began to tremble violently, but fas-
she clung to the rocks and
The man struggling weakly against
he pitiless wilderness. waIlowIng In
The snow. seemed to make his way |
along the gorge inch by inch. He car
led something on his back; something |
% which he efHHs tenacionsfy. He t
stopped and looked about him-how her
leart pounded thenI He was looking |
or something. seeking something.
Ieri
She remained motionless, poweriess
70 move though she remembered
Kings word OF the hiding place where
he would be safe; she peered out fas-
mated
In time the man came closer and
he first suspicion entered her mind
hat, after all, 1t might not be Brodle.
Then, he looked up. It was Grafton
Grafton alone; Grafton looking back
yer his shoulder more often than he
uested far ahead: Grafton In 4 mad
tfempt to make haste where haste
Tas impossible. He was escaping from
0mething. Then. wh1tf He had iefr
ne other men. he WIS running away
rom them A sudden squirt OF pity
Or him entered her heart: he seemed
beaten and bewiIdered and frantic
nd terrified: who. better than she,
ould sympathize with one In Graf
,n's predicament7 Then she forgot
yeryfhing saving that they had been
riends. that they were bound i'm u
Dmmon fate She leaned as far out
she could; he was Just below now;
le called to him She called again.
Your Had not the silence been
complete his gasping voice would
ave failed to reach her: as 1t was
le barely heard It '*Y0u7 Gloria7
ere? Ny G-d-have / gone mad7"
The mans villainy Of 80 few days
80 appeared now. In the blassed light
circumstance, pardonabIe, a for
table offense- The ugliness Of what
had done was chiefly ugly because |
had lain against ! background of |
and convention: here, at
le time when no considerations existed !
We the eternal and vital ones, all Of /
rafton's futile trickery was n though /
mad never been. She was calling to
N again. urging him to Chamber up
e ciiff, bidding him hurry before hs !
a. seen. r
Her words cleared his bewiIderment |
vay: he glanced again ever his shoui- /
=. He looked hack up 1t her. And /
en-, before her eager eye4. hs
1mred down where he stood, lying
the snow. Il
II can't I've gone through HI n i
ady. an-nearly dad. I couldast {
NIB mp thare. r Oh, my ID /
~ did ! cvsr csna into this inferneF L
frO - UDMr1MUuD.D