The Washington times., 1938-09-05

Daily Short Story
~~~~>>~>~By Shane O'Nei~
BY Shane O'Neill~

GIle CIS Cdluc again. IL came IRON
little ahead, and above.
This time it was more distinct
and he knew in his heart that 1t
came from Lois, somewhere above
him, probably holding to life with
the last remnants Of her strength
Crouching. he cupped his hands
to his mouth, and put all mis-
strength into o great shout.
"LoiS-Lois-hold on, hold OIL, y
He listened for moment, but
could hear no answering cry. The
wind screamed high again, as he
began his dogged, painful attempt
to reach the place where, it
seemed, the cry had come from.
There was moment, as he hung
to the jutting rock with his hands
alone at the turn below the chm.
ney, when he felt that the last
shred of effort had been torn from
him, that he must let go and drop,
thousands of feet through the soft,
dancing snow.
1t is said that such thoughts
come to those whom the noun
tain claims. But he gathered his
vitality once again, and timing
the swing, he lurched around, and
found temporary shelter at the
base of the chimney. Then again
he called, straight upward this
time, and he was answered.
who is its it you, Jeff?"
came the faint reply.
MAKES IT SOMEHOW
He called once more to tell her
to hold on and to waste no more
strength by shouting. Then he
started the ascent of the chimney.
It was accomplished somehow
by shift of hip and shoulder and
knee. Afterward Jeff could not
have told how it had been done.
He reached her at last and wedged
himself just beneath her.
We'll rest here" he said, be-
tween set teeth. "You relax
against me until you get back
some strength"
She started protest, her indie.
pendence suddenly flaming. But
the protest died as she looked
down and saw the fierce purpose
in his eyes, and felt the dizziness
of exhaustion. He managed to
pass his canteen up, and q drink
refreshed her. The mackinaw was
passed up, too, and it sheltered
her fastnumbing body.
Then, after a quarter hour had
passed, and jeff had begun to
wonder how long they could last,
the storm cleared as suddenly as
it had begun, as is the way of
spring snow gales on the noun
tain top. He could see, and his
heart leaped as he realized that
the Chimney traverse was almost
completed-that only a few hun
dred feet of it remained. Above,
the way would still be hard, but,
once gained, they could reach the
top, to descend later by an easier
route.
REOPENS SUBJECT
Come on, Lois" he said,
quietly. This is the time to try
it,"
Following his directions to the
letter, and with his wedged body
slowly inching up beneath her,
she made the top, and lay for a
moment gasping on the rock
Strewn slope above. The feel Of
Solidity beneath had never been
so grateful to Lois Hale.
She saw him struggling, close to
exhaustion, for the last few feet
and then, when it seemed impoSSi-
BILE for him to Chamber over the
hip, make it, with a supreme ef-
fort. Great shame was in her
heart for what she had done, and
caused him to do, and her eyes
were humble as they met his.
They rested there awhile, say
ing nothing, and then struggled
to their feet for the last half mile
up the slope to the stone house
on the peak. The eyes of the
forester who met them were grave,
but he fed them hot coffee, and
they rested again on army cots
that seemed as soft as down.
When a few hours had passed,
thew knew that they would be
forced to spend the night on the
peak-sheltered and not in the
windy vaStnesS outside. They
stepped out Of doors, to watch the
sun set.
She took his hand timidly, and
looked up at him.
"Jeff-I'm so ashamed" she be-
gan.
For a moment he looked at her
sternly, and then his face warmed
in a smile.
Ashamed" he said, never be
ashamed. No matter what you
might do-youu hear no blame
from me-"
"Jeff," she said. 1--WE found
the answer to a question you've
asked me a good many times-if
you want to hear it" Her eyes
gave him the answer before she
could say any more.
And before Jeff gathered her
into his arms, he gave a great
shout Of joy which echoed for
miles through the mountain tops.
That year, no climbers died
upon the mountain. But the old
timers will tell you, Stubbornly
shaking their heads the while, that
"the mountain gets its man each
year." And, one way or another,
they're probably right.