The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-02-13
CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Doris estimated that II must
have been about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon when she heard the
running steps Of the man coming
down the beach.
Although she had never heard
the sound Of snowshoes on sleet.
she knew at once that was the
sound she heard now. II could
mean only one thing, Steve had
succeeded in finding help. They
were coming right now-perhaps
several.
Could Hardly Breathe
Her heart beat so wildly that
she could hardly breathe as she
ran to throw open the door. The
big man kicked off his snowshoes
as he ran straight into the room.
He had a great pack on his
back and he was bundled so tight
ly in wraps that she could scarce
ly see his face.
He said. well. I'll be-" and
then stopped at sight of Doris as
though he had seen an apparition.
who are you? l thought you
were Steve" Doris said.
I'm not Steve" he said. Il
certainly am not" taking in the
room. TT doesn't matter who /
am, but who the devil are you
And who is this on my bunk?'
rs this your cabin ?"
ut certainly is my cabin And
the man STROBE back to close the
door they had left open in their
amaZement.
1--WE had an airplane accident
near here. The plane burned. We
hadn't anything. Steve found this
cabin and We took possession of II.
We would have frozen to death if
we hadn't"
Big Man
'I imagine you would" the man
said. He had dropped his pack on
the floor and now he was getting
out of some of his outer wrap
pings.
He was a big man, well past
middle age, and his face was
covered with a stubble of beard at
least two days old.
We'll talk about that later. In
the meantime, fix up the fire,
You may not know it inside this
room, but out there it's so below
zero and going lower"
oh" Doris said, thinking with
dismay of Steve. What about
Steve ?"
rs that Steve on the bed % the
stranger asked. IF so, you ought
to know what about Steve He's
either asleep. dead. or drunk, and
from this distance I can't tell
which"
ut isn't Steve Doris explained.
That's Mark Tomlinson. He was
the mechanic on the plane. He's
dreadfully hurt. That's why Steve
went away-to find help"
well, I'm afraid he won't be
in very much luck. It's 40 miles
to the nearest town. No human
being could make that before he
froze to death.
Il camped four miles away. It's
taken me all day to come this far
and l knew just where I was COM
ing and was equipped to come.
Unless this Steve you tell about
is pretty well prepared to stand
it. he's on an outing from which
he won't come back"
Gallant Steve
Doris covered her eyes quickly
at the thought, Steve out there in
the cold and ice, gallant Steve
trying to bring help to them and
now lost in the snow and ice, never
more than she could endure.
Here, wait minute" the
stranger said. Don't throw any
Mysteries. l just can't take it
While there's life there's hope
Maybe your friend, Steve, will be
all right"
You're willing to let us stay
here ?" Doris said, trying to pull
herself together.
Not at ALL" the strange man
observed. you see didn't in
vite you and I'm not particularly
pleased to have you. But what
can't help. I can't help. Well let
1t go at that"
MY name is Doris Denton. ]
think you're very kind no matter
what you say. Well try to be just
as little trouble as We can be
Mark is dreadfully hurt. Do you
know anything about sick peo'
ple?"
Savage Look
She was not prepared to see the
savage way the strange mar
turned at her. Don't talk TO me
about sick people-or injured peo'
pie.
I've seen so many in my life
that I never want to see another
one as long as | live. Your FRIEND
is welcome To that bunk ovei
there.
IF he lives, o. X, II he diet
o. X. It's all the same TO me.
Just don't want to be bothered
with him. You hear ,"
yes. 1 hear" Doris said