The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-05-04

For a moment Scott did not realize
that he had escaped death. Then he
staggered forward and entered the
cabin.
Though desperately hungry, he did
not eat. He climbed into his bunk and
tried to sleep. But he could not lose
himself in Inconsistencies.
Through the long hours before dawn
he tried not to hear his partner move
about the cabin. Long pauses would
break the monotony of his pacing feet.
When the silence would become almost
~unbearable, the slithering patter would
take up the treadmill trod again.
Just at the first sign of dawn, when
pale streaks of light were half-illumi-
mating the cabin, Scott fell asleep.
When he awakened it was almost
noon. Osborne was gone.
Scott lifted himself from his bunk.
None of Osborne's possessions had been
removed. Only his shotgun was miss
ing.
Osborne wa not near the cabin. Not
knowing whether to search for his
partner, Scott prepared himself a
scanty meal. As he worked he remem-
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had since the previous noon.
Just as he downed the last bit Of
food with difficulty and turned his
back to the cabins door to place the
frying pan back in the fireplace, he
heard a slight sound behind him.
He turned.
There stood Osborne, haggard, dust
streaked, his gun held lightly in his
hands.
Osborne's burning eyes, red-rimmed
for lack of sleep, turned full upon his
partner. Scott could not return his
gaze. His eyes wavered.
AS his gaze, strangely enough, fast
ened upon the buckskin thong that
laced Osborne's leather shirt together
at the throat, he half-saw the mans
hands shift their hold on the shotgun.
Terrified, Scott looked up. What he
saw gave him relief.
Osborne,s head had fallen forward.
The insane blaze had died from his
eyes. Absently, he carefully placed his
weapon against the wall and walked
toward the fireplace.
Had something to eat?" he asked.
Scott was almost unable to answe
"A little" he said finally.
Osborne rekindled the fire and
cooked q sparse meal. He consumed it,
though apparently without desire.
When he finished, he m~ethodically
placed the utensils in their customary
place.
While his partner was eating, Scott
watched him intently. He made n
effort to help, but Osborne surlily de-
clined his assistance.
Before noon the two men had agreed
upon a truce. Neither could consider
the situation calmly. Each believed
he loved the Indian maiden. One
would not retire in favor of the other.
At first they wanted to break their
partnership. But they could not agree
on a division of their supplies. During
the summer they had Jumped their
take" from the gold boxes without
determining how much each had found
individually. Then, what was ones
was the others; they could not foresee
they would be faced with the problem
of division before real winter had set
in. Neither was there time for n
man to build a second cabin. One
would not help the other.
At last they decided to winter to-
gether. But both we're emphatic that
at the first opportunity they would cut
the tie and each follow his own des-
tiny. Then there would be no ques-
ton of how the supplies should be
divided. Little would remain uncon-
sumed.
During the long winter months then
they were bound to the narrow con-
fines Of their hut by the glacier-cold
that stilled the land, the tension be-
tween the former boon companions
was many times strained to the break
ing point. Only by almost superhuman
efforts Of will were they able to keep