The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-08
Chapter %
RIDE TO THE NORTH

RIDE TO The NOR n
DIRK had got home early, and
~ dressed with care-black cut
away, white spats. white gloves and
gardenia. Could Rupert really mean
to go to Elinor's wedding? If so. then
Hope and Rupert would go together,
and he himself might hurry on alone.
He looked in Ruperts room. little
surprised to find that he had gone
out again. He knocked on Hopes
door and she opened it, still in
neglige.
Don't wait for Rupert" he said.
Get a dress on. and come with me-"
She said she was not going.
But you've got to-" Dirk an
swered. "One of you must"
At Adelaide's suggestion, he had
bought two wedding presents that
day-a silver dish and set Of salad
forks one from himself. one from
Mr.. and Mrs. Rupert JOris. lie felt.
however, inadequate to represent
the entire family in the matter OF at
tendance. =.
He shot out his wrist. looked at
his watch.
There's time if you'll hurry. 1t
will be the dickens to explain if you
both stay away. Please, Hope. You
may ask something of me some
day"
He doubted this. but she turned
from the door, and he knew that she
would go.
Ten minutes later she came out.
dressed Timothy told them as they
left that Mister Rupert had driven
up to the camp.
For few davs' hunting. sir The
grouse should be good now
Dirk explained to Hope that the
Joris camp was DIT Big Moose.
"Near Lake Placid. He goes every
fall. He'll be back by Monday"
AT the church he seated Hope
with Adelaide Joris. and then he
stood beside Isabel while the old
bishop united Elinor to Gage Sey-
mour. The world was hushed and
gray as they left the church and
later, when bride and groom de-
parted for their train, snowflakes
were flying with the rice.
Late Tuesday night Connolly tele-
phoned Dirk inquiring how he might
get in touch with Rupert. Dirk. who
had expected Rupert home on Mon
day directed him to phone the camp.
Yes, said Connolly, he knew where
Rupert was supposed to be; he had
met him Thursday in the act of leav.
ing for Big Moose. But he had been
calling the camp most of the day
without receiving an answer.
Dirk replied that he would drive
up to Big Moose in the morning and
discover what was wrong.
He was distinctly uneasy. The
snowfakes at Elinor's wedding had
been the edges of storm that had
blanketed the Lake Placid country
In white. calling out skis and tobog-
gans and jolly rotogravures in the
Sunday press. He and Hope had
looked at the pictures together. had
longed to round glorious Shady
Curve on the Olympic bob-sled run.
Rupert may have been hunting
when the storm came, hunting with.
out guide. Or he might be drinking
alone in the cabin. cut off from food
supplies and likely enough without
properly tended fire.
Dirk mentioned none of these ap-
prehensions to Hope. When he an
nounced to her that he would be
running up to Big Moose, she an
swered.
May | go along?"
eff you can get up at five." he said.
And If you can stand hardship. It's
pretty cold up there"
He had no objection to her going,
and he had no particular fear about
leaving her behind. Her secrets. he
had begun to believe. were innocent
enough. She loved the blond cowboy
any fool could see that. She had
gone with him. no doubt, from rodeo
to circus, in the company of this
Torrobin. who was their mutual
friend. or the relative of one of
them.
She had been tired of that life.
and glad to escape from it. But she
had not escaped from her interest
in the cowboy or from her anxiety
regarding him: and she did not wish