The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-05
CHAPTER TX
-

udpS, SlLllIlS III the OllICe Will
Nan Downer for hours each day.
Sometimes long intervals would
pass without a word being eX-
changed. Again, she would go to
him abruptly with some question and
her manner would betray her pro-
found respect for his judgment. He
had said that he could do many
things in and about the woods; she
learned the truth of his statement
Intelligent as she was, well as she
had been trained by her far-sighted
father, flaws had developed in her
procedure, errors in Judgment had
gone undetected.
did not offer advice. But when she
brought matters to his attention
in which he discovered flaws he
pointed these out.
Daily he assumed stature, and i'm
pOrtance to her undertaking.
You're right again!" she cried
once. You're always right. It's
you who should be running this
job"
ME, take root?" he laughed. "Me,
settled down in one placer"
why not?" she challenged and,
curiously, he asked that of himself.
Tip rose then from his place be-
meath the drawing board and muz-
zled Mans knee, which made it un-
necessary to pursue that question
further.
Il must run down to the mill for
a half hour" she said.
The dog watched her prepare to
depart.
"Want to go, Tip?" Young asked.
The dog wagged an affirmative. "All
right, then; go along"
Nan stood in the doorway, watch
ing. The retriever apparently could
not believe this order to follow an
other. Go on!" Kerry said. go
with Nan!' And doggishly dunn
founded with Nan he went, close to
other heels for the first time since
puppyhood.
1t became a little game between
the three. Whenever Nan went
out Tip gave evidence of wanting
to go, but always he awaited
Young's order before following. And
once, when the girl had crossed to
the Landing to send a telegram and
was urgently wanted by telephone
Kerry scrawled a note, gave it to
the dog and told him to find Nan,
-. He did, after much running here
and there and snuffling at the
ground. and it would have been diff
cult to determine which was the
more pleased, girl or dog.
You'll finish tomorrow" Nan
said, looking over Kerry's shoulder.
''Can l get you to make next a
new cruise of the stuff northwest
of Townline lake?"
You can get me-" he said with
odd sOberness, ito try to do about
anything you want DONE"
The words gave him a strange
giddy feeling.
We'll go tomorrow morning,
then," she replied, overlooking his
Inference.
With canoe on a trailer behind
her car, they drove to the end of
the road which gave access to Town
line lake. Then they set off on that
body of water to spend the day
making a swift reconnaissance of
the country in which Young was
to work.
A family of ducks swan before
them, ruffling the placid surface.
The mothers head was raised high,
she uttered low quacks of warning
and the brood clustered close about
her. AS the canoe drew closer, the
old one took wing and the young
Sters, doing their best, skittered
along the water, half flying, half
swimming, making a great to-do.
A little breeze arose and the lake,
which had lain like q FURNISHED
plate of steel, was touched to life.
Lobes of light blue appeared, turned
80 indigo, and ran together until the
body of water lay like a great sap
phire, flecked with emerald islands.
An eagle scared majestically above
and as they rounded a point a
deer, having late breakfast in the
shadows, lifted its head in quick
alarm and lOped noisily for cover.
Waters cold" Young remarked,
trailing a hand.
Like ice! This lake is terribly
deep in the channels. The Indians
say it never gives up its dead, and
Father said that was probably So"
YOung's eyes held on Mans com
petent shoulders, watching their
Rhythmic swing. Her voice came
back to him talking of the job, but
he caught only the music of it..
Why, he told himself, the thing that
had made of him a wanderer was
gone! He had at last found an an
swer to his doubt of responsibility
for running old Jack Snow. Know
ing that, why wander farther? Why
not take root and here? Surely
Nan Downer was the most lovely,
the most