Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-09-21
mV TWO RTs-PART Two)


copyright; 1875: 81 ErHEL LIMA WHITE
ON TWO PARTs-PAR TwO)
So Stella danced and tried to forget
her fears She told herself that II was
hopeless to try 70 control the situa-
ton. In any case it was not her bus
mess. In two days time she would
never see any Of these people again
:. Life went on.
On her way up 10 bed she met Ivan
on the narrow staircase. He Was car
rying a suit case and his face was white
and his eyes glazed as though ne had
been drinkinglw
''Are you going away7" she asked.
Eyes" be replied thickly. I've been
kicked out Of the hotel by the blasted
millonatresH
What DO you mean2"
Il complained to the proprietor about
their filthy behavior. And he had the
damned insOlence to ten me TO go
Mel"
The triumph Of his laugh and the
hrayado OF his swagger told Stella that
the ultimate disaster had happened.
He was now a martyr to his cause.
She tossed sleeplessly in bed, q prey
to every kind Of foreboding fancy, and
when at last she dropped into q doze
she had horrible Nightmares Of dark
places. She was drowning into the
darkness. Choked in the darkness.
Crushed by the darkness. Sinking down
| into the bottomleSs CULTS Of darkness
It was a relief TO wake up and see the
rare sunlight streaming through her
window and to remember that she was
not going 10 the caves.
But all the same she could not snake
off q sense Of her own responsibility
l % r1faF,1r,lnf che felt EHTQ
whenever she looked around the reStau-
rant. The young people we're IN the
highest spirits and their shouts OF
laughter tore at her heart.
She told herself that they were going
to their doom like sacrificial lambs. IL
was true that they were graceleSs, noisy
| lambs, but they were so unconscious
Of any overhanging fate. Their races
had the bloom Of youth; some OF the
boys had only begun TO shave; they
were merely spoiled, reckless Daoes.
She alone was forewarned and hao
any influence over Ivan. At cr1tlcai
moment she might prove the driver,
able to control a mad machine. One
word might mean all the difference
between life and death. If she stayed
safely at the hotel and later heard
of some catastrophe in the caves she
would never be able to forgive herself
or to forget.
Presently Lewis crossed to her table.
aChanpe your mind and come to the
caves" he pleaded. 1T Is our last eA-
cursion together. Come Tor me.
AS Stella looked at his clear eyes anu
the clean cut corners of his mouth she
suddenly realized that he meant more
to her than she had guessed. In tfiat
moment she changed her mind.
can right /" she said. "Ill CO..
Although the rest of the party were
in the highest spirits, Stella IeIC ~
though she were in the tumbr1 on her
way to the gllillotine as the car tore
through the sunlit countryside. Wnen
they arrived at the village, wnicn was
the starting point Of their expeoltl0n,
the little train was already waiting py /
the side of the road. But MlCz ana heL |
crowd. with whoops Of giee, rushed 70
oaf. drinks at the hotel. outside which |
stood the usual painted IRON ladies
stella seated herself beside the two
English school teachers. one was Tan
and rather gloomily handsome, Jne
other was a little, pale girl IN glasses,
with a vivid face and an astounding
store of information.
what are we waiting forY COM
planned the tail teacher.
''Those boys who are drinking, It.
piled her little friend. People Ike Ihlae
spoiI things for every one.
Stella mentally agreed with her. Al
though Ivan was not on the train she
held her breath with suspense, fearing
every second to see him hurry down the
street. But at last, to her JOY, tne
train began slowly to move. IL 1oiIeo
through the town and then ran unoer
a tunnel of shady trees. An amber
river flowed beside the avenue. put
gradually its water cleaned below
them as the engine chuggeo up Ine
hillside.
AS they climbed higher and higner
through the gaps IN the rocks tney nao
visions Of the country spread out below
like q painted map. Inc scarlet %
noppies and yellow Of mustard made
bright splashes, amid the multi-shaoes
81 green. while the shadows OF racing
Clouds swept across in tremulous piue
and purple patches
The Journey was short and soon the
conductor came and took Stella's ticket.
Thinking he had made a mistake she
held It firmly as she explained that she
wanted it for the return journey.
"Pas de retour," he said. 49,
Sounds ominous," laughed the hgsle
,chooI mistress. No return. BE
means We lOll ~ oANH ~ /
yak back inside the mountain to our
starting point"
Although the explanation was sound
Stella felt absurdly depressed by the
Incident. as though the conductors
lords were prophetic mo return. the
phrase rang In her head as she got out
f the train. The rest Of the tourists
we're crowding to look over the lip OF Q
)anteesque gorge at the source OF tne
liver. which foamed in a dark boil
through the rocks far below.
Turning away with q shudder she
ollowed her companions down slip
cry path which Jagged along the
ase Of the mountain until the entrance
0 the caves was reached.
She looked nervously around her as
he passed through the turnstile,
reading to see Ivan's white, sneering
ace. Although he was apparently not
DH