The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-05


three years ago"
They landed. Nan produced a
map, and spread it on a log.
Here we are. Right here. This
creek-Otter-is alive with trout,
and beaver ponds make it splendid
fiy-fishing, which is what the sort
Of folks who might buy will want.
There are bass and other fish ga
lore in the lake. One of the best
yarding areas for deer in the coun-
try runs down into Section Twelve,
here. There are some moose too,
and plenty of grouse.
"This happens" she continued,
''to be the northwestern corner of
our holdings. The road we used
today is the only one that comes
close. There's no one at all in the
country beyond. Tod West knows
it like a book and I guess he's the
only white man alive who does"
Tod West. The name struck tenn
per within Young. Tod West, who
had ruined one he loved in boy
hood; who now sought to ruin one
he perhaps was to love in ma
turity.
Little did Kerry reckon in that
moment that Mans idle remark
connecting West and that vast lone
ly country beyond them would one
day come back to him, would pound
in his ears with the rush of fe-
vered blood, that he would fight
fog of sickness and pain to re-
member it to remember that
none but Tod West knew those
vast swamps and untracked up
lands
They went on. A cOvey of half
grown grouse fluttered out of the
way, not particularly alarmed. A
spotted fawn ran before them and
spruce hen stared stupidity from
a low limb. Bear sign showed in
the game trail and wolf had
passed that way last night. Off
to the right sounded sudden tre-
mendous crashing which could only
have been a moose, making away
from man, his worst enemy.
Here was an old burning where
lightning had started fire. Wild
grasses and firewood abounded and
Young stopped, watching bees work
in the brilliant blossoms.
He was about to go on when a
small movement on the ground at
tracted him; he stopped and gently
put down one hand. palm cupped,
and rising showed Nan a bee craw-
ling upon his fingers.
"Pigr he chided. Hes loaded
up so heavily that he can't fly Go
on! Try it from here!" He waved
his hand and the bee took wing,
going slowly and groggily, but with
that aid finally making successful
attempt at flight.
He stopped over again, watching
another busy worker.
"Pretty fair Italians" he said
"Not pure; hybrids, but they look
like right good honey-makers."
Are you among other things, a
bee expert?" Nan laughed.
mo, but once l had to live for
while with an old cOdger who
kept 'em. That was about the best
time I had when l was kid.
got real chubby with bees &.
liked 'em. When I get so old I
can't ramble any more maybe I'll
settle down and keep 'em and let
'em keep met"
'Is that the only plan you havew
He Strengthened and looked at
her so intently that she flushed.
Maybe not" he said gravely.
"I'll know before long"
Later they stood shoulder to
shoulder, waiting for the compass
to come to rest that they might be
certain of precise directions, eyes
Of each on the swinging dial. Mans
breath was caress for Kerrys
cheek and his hands began to trem-
BILE.
A few days earlier he would have
laughed at this reaction but now
he simply moved without explana-
ton and placed the compass on
boulder where it would have sta
bility.
"That hemlock stub is due
north"
SSH"
Young cut off her words with the
low warning, making no move
ment.
"Wait!" he whispered. "Some-
thing coming. Hear it?"
The girl did not, at first, but
after a moment Of strained listen
ing nodded her head silently.
Something was coming their way,
slowly, perhaps hesitantly. Then,
as breath of breeze stirred the
foliage, blowing from them to the
direction from which the sounds
came, that approach became more
rapid.
Hoof beats and scrapings of
brush and finally queer, inquiring
grunt or two.
"Oh!" Nan whispered as it came