Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-01-05
By Jackson Gregory
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons
tWNU servicel

him, WIS of pioneer stock.
Three times that night she made
the trip up and down the cliffs, bring
Ing wood. At the end, though near
exhaustion, she sank down by the fire
for but a few minutes. The bear meat
was boiling and bubbling; she poured
off a little of the broth, cooled 1t, and
then, as she had given King the coffee,
she forced some Of the strong soup
between his teeth. She touched his
cheek and dared hope that ii was not
SO Icy cold: she chafed his feet and
wrapped them again In a hot blanket.
And then. with all of her covers given
to him, she drew a coat about her
shoulders and sat down at his side. on
the edge of his blankets. And here,
throughout the night. she sat, doing
and waking, rising again and again 10
keep the fire burning.
She started up to find 1t full day:
n had been asleep, her head against
his knee. The fire was dying down;
she Jumped up and ~replenished 1t,
settling the broth back among the
GOALS King lay as he had lain last
night; his continued coma wcs like
a profound quiet sleep.
All day long she ministered to him,
going lack and forth tirelessly. since
love and hope inspired every step she
made. None of Brodie's men had
come; she felt a strange conf
dence that they would not come.
They were afraid Of King as jack
ais are afraid OF a lion; further,
they did not know that he was wound
ed. She thought little of them, having
much else to think Of.
AT a little before noon Gloria, stoop-
Ing over the fire started erect and
whirled about. Kings eyes we're
openi She ran to him, dropping on
her knees beside him, catching up his
hand, whispering:
MARX! Oh, Mark-thank Godl"
lie looked at her strangely. There
was a puzzled, bewildered expression
In his eyes. He str0ve to move and
again looked at her with that strange
bewilderment. She saw his lips move
he wanted to say something, to ask
something and. deserted now by all OF
that magnificent strength ON which he
had always leaned. was as weak as a
baby.
She gave his hand a last squeeze
and hurried back to the fire: his eyes,
still shadow-flled. followed her curl
ously. She came back to him with
cup and spoon. This he could under
stand he opened his lips for the
spoon. he accepted what she gave him
and when she had finished lay look
Ing un at her wonderingly.
Marx" she whispered, we are safe
here because-because You are SO
wonderful You were like a god
the bravest, noblest, best mar In afi
the world You came in time; you
saved me, Mark; they had not put
hand upon me. And / am well and
strong now; | am going to take care
OF you you must Just lie still and get
well-Oh. Mark"
His eyes closed again; he seemed
very faint, very weary. flushed, she
sat tense, her eyes never moving from
his face After a long time he opened
his eyes again; he tried again to
speak when the words did not come
he managed q strange. shadowy smile
with bis bloodless lips and In another
moment had sunk again into that
heavy sleep hat was SO like death.
When next, two hours later, she
again brought his broth, he stirred at
her touch and awoke. This time his
eyes cleared swiftly; he remembered
the other awakening and her words.
He looked at her long and searchingly
and she understood what lay back OF
that look he was wondering how she
managed. how she endured to care for
them both. how without his active aid
she withstood hardship. And this time
she smiled at him.
i have been dining sumptuously on
bear steaks she told him lightly.
And have slept and Kept warm.
There has been no one near. And the
days are fine again. 1t was clear last
night the sun has been shining all
day. Now. when you've had your own
lunch. I'll tell you anything You want
to know. Only you must not try to
talk yet. Mark not until tomorrow. +
want you strong and well again, you
know; It's lonesome without you"
She gave him, for the first time, a
whole cup of broth, glorying In the
certainty that already he was stronger.
But ever yet his weakness was so
great that. before she had spoken q
dozen sentences, he was asleep again.
Clearly. even TO Gloria, If but a little
more blood had ebbed out Of the
wounded side, he would never have
awakened; clearly to Gloria, triHm-
plant. 1t had been she who had held
him back from death. She, Gloria
King, alone, had fought the great grim
battle: hers was the victory.
King was awake. Awakening, he
tried TO move. His utter weakness.
like q great weight bearing down upon
him, held him PoweFless. But his
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