The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-11-05


her other cravings. She said nothing
even when, at the end of the meal,
her father drew on Huxby's flying
suit over his clothes and started off
with Garth.
Though Garth had spoken of a
climb, he first led along the lake
shore to the beginning of the mus
key swamp. Then turned and slanted
gradually up through the belt Of
spruce trees until the west side OF
the trugh was reached at timberline.
He stopped to look at Hubby while
Mr.. Ramill caught his second wind.
The mining engineer gave no heed
to them. He was hard at work pan
ming out gravel, midway up to the
discovery stake.
Garth led across to the east side
of the trough. After every halt he
started the portly millionaire on
again as, soon as he could draw a
deep breath. They kept plodding up
the tundra slope until at last MI.
Ramill's legs gave out. He staggered
and collapsed. He lay, purple-faced
and quivering, spent.
When able to speak, he gasped an
appear: sKa-quit! 'U'll kill-me!"
mo such luck" Garth bantered
him. cts only the fat. If it was your
heart, you'd have died long before
this. Open your coats and let the
sun soak in"
The exhausted man turned flat on
his back and basked. Within few
minutes he drowsed off. Garth let
him nap a long two hours, then
started him on up the long climb.
Three hours later found them still
below the lower end Of the glacier.
Garth at last called halt to the
clomb. He headed back.
Midway down to timberline, RAM
ill collapsed, so utterly spent that he
could not get up even after a long
rest Garth took him on his back and
packed him on down to the camp,
without a halt.
Hubby and Miss Ramill were
feaSting. They had pried the moose
leg out of the fire hole and broken
off the clay shell. The meat had bak-
ed to juicy tenderness. Even the
gristle was melted into gelatine.
When Garth laid her father in the
leanto, the girl brought big chunk
of the best meat. But the millionaire
climber was too exhausted even to
eat.His daughter turned upon Garth.
"Another of your damnable pokes!
He's dying! You've killed him"
Garth smiled approvingly. $50,
after all, you're capable OF feeling a
little concern for someone else than
yourself. Boil the cup two-thirds full
of water, and put in enough of that
sweet tea to cool it for drinking.
''The tea is hot already I've kept
back Dads share. I'll give it to him
straight"
You'll warm that water"
The mining engineer stood up.
give told you to speak respectfully
to Miss Ramill.''
Garth paid no more attention to
him than to the buzz of mosquito.
The girl looked expectantly at her
fiance. He stood waiting for Garth
to apologize. When Garth neither re-
piled nor so much as glanced around
at him the engineers cold assurance
gave way to doubt. He turned and
went down to the lake.
Miss RamilPs eyes widened. She
glanced from his stiff back to the
buckskin clad shoulders that had so
lightly toted her father into camp.
All this had been matter OF Sec
onds. In another moment she was
darling over to the rill with the tin
cup.
When she came to the leanto with
the almost scalding hot mixture of
boiled water and tea, her father
muttered, between groanS, that he
did not want it. Mono! Uh-oh-h!
Let me die-in peace!"
Garth heaved up the lax head and
shoulders, and held the cup to the
quivering lips. 'Drink, or I'll pour it
down your throat"
A few minutes later the dying"
millionaire began to eat. He bolted
down the juicy tender meat until
sleep overlook him in the midst OF
bite.
''Roll the blanket over him and let
| him sweat" Garth directed. "HeI
wake up a new man. I'll wager he
has worked off ten pounds of fat, to
say nothing of the toxins he's burned
UP. Next climb he'll make the foot
of the glacier"
Though spoiled, Lilith was far
from being a fool. She had begun to
realize that to get what she wanted,
something more than wishing was
necessary. Her father had gone over
to Garth. Even Hubby had failed
her. She could not believe her fiance
cowardHe was undoubtedly brave
in his way. Garth had admitted as
much. He had called the engineer
wolf, not fox.
The rub was over for Garth. Miss
Ramill's surrender meant that he
was now the acknowledged master
of the party. Huxby had also admit
ted the fact by going off, instead of
following up his implied threat of
attack. He, however, would require