Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1932-11-24
CHAPTER TX

All night King kept his fire blazing.
His nerve were frayed. Within his
soul he prayed mutely that when morn
Ing Game Gloria would be alive. With
the first sickly streaks OF dawn he
came to stoop over the girl and listen
to her breathing. Then he descended
the cliffs for more wood.
In the moose OF his rope he dragged
up the cliff much dead wood. Through
out the noise OF his comings and GO
ings the girl slept heavily. While he
waited for the coffee to boil he took
careful stock Of provisions For two
people there was enough for some
twenty meals, food for about q week.
He even counted his rounds Of ammu-
milton; here alone he was a%frluent. He
had In the neighborhood OF a hundred
cartridges for the rifle. While he was
setting the gun aside he felt Gloria's
eyes upon him. He addressed her with
prompt f%rankness.
Inside fifteen minutes we've got to
be on our way out As we 60 well
look for the horse. But, find 1t or not,
we're going"
1.-THE storm Is over, then? ?"
mo. But we are not going to wait.
We have food for only six or seven
days. at the most"
She let her eyes droop to the fire so
that the lids hid them from him. 1t
was not vet full day 1t was still snow
Ing Grafton and the men with him
would, of course, have ample supplies.
She yearned feverishly to be rid OF
King and his intolerable domineering.
Il am tired out" she said family.
still not looking up. II can't go on"
He stared at her. There was a
flush on her cheeks. His old fear
surged back on him: Gloria was going
to die So he did what Gloria had
counted on having him do: he FASTENED
to serve her a piping-hot breakfast OF
crisp bacon, hot cakes and jam. Hers
was the victory. Mark King was again
waiting On her, hand and foot, sacri-
fcing for her.
II am going to look for the horse"
he told her. but don't count too much
IN my success. Another thing. II I
don't get Buck today he'd be no use
to us: that is II the snow keeps on.
But I'll do what | can"
When he had gone, she scrambled
mp and went to peer out. No sound
out there. She sought eagerly for
some sign OF Grafton. There was
none. But he would come soon he
must. She would wait, hoping for
Gratton's coming before Kings return.
Making his way back to the point
where Buck had broken his fether.
King came to the place whence the
horse had fled. He knew that beyond
two ridges was the valley OF the giant
sequoias. There a horse would find
water. shelter, and grass. If he failed
to find the animal there-well, then,
Buck was well on the trail or lost to
King In any one Of a hundred places.
When at last he came to the grove
OF big trees as he had more than half
expected, he found nothing.
Gloria told herself, when King had
gone, that she was glad to be alone.
Five minutes later she began to stir
restlessly another five minutes and
she was listening for his re-
turn. She drew on her boots and
up and down. When she
peered out across the desolate world
she drew back from Its bleak menace.
shnddering. returning to crouch mis-
srably by her fire.
Repeatedly she was tempted to 20
'orth and seek Grafton. to hunt up
ind down until at last she came TO
him. She sought to fell herself that
she was not afraid Of the snow. OF be-
NJ lost, Of being unable TO find Graf
on. But she could not climb down
he cliff: she knew that she would l