Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-11-29
g o. AppLEION-CtNTUkY co.
W.N.U. Service

heard SOMEBODY. LoSSle
tensed. Sounded like the from,
door,"
Three dogs, yapping, flung them.
selves suddenly out of the dark and
around the house. Virgie Morgan
pressed switches. The terrace out.
side, UNCOVERED and glittering now
with ice, was suddenly illumined.
And as swiftly, the dogs were still.
She could see them out there now,
in the drizzle, taut as so many ca
nine statues, facing tall figure in
a tan rain-coat and limp, rain
soaked hat.
There was another rap on the
door, and she could hear a calm,
slow voice, masculine, with youth in
it, speaking quietly to the dogs out
side.
Behind her Lossie begged, Don't
open it, Mis- Morgan. Let me call
Andrew"
"Shush!" Virgie was curt. Ger
tainly I'll open it. It's one of the
boys likely. Don't be a fool. Oh"
she said, as the briny gust of the
night rushed in the open door. How
do you do?"
Good evening"" Out of strange,
white, young face, strange dark eyes
regarded her. A mana young man,
whom she had never seen before.
q" he began, hoarsely, smiling in
wan, dazed way, "seem to be lost.
I-saw your light"
tT%nt,oa IN, ne 90 {I4
ordered. Lossie was making little
frightened, expostulatory noises but
Virgie paid no attention.
"My feet are pretty muddy" the
stranger objected. His voice had the
sound of cities in it. His clothes
had never, obviously, been made for
mountain travel. They were sod
den, soil-stained, briar-torn.
Come along in" repeated Virgie,
firmly. Where were you headed
for? You're long way off the high.
way. This road dc ISN'T go any far
Their"
This young man, she was certain,
was no thug. His face was star
tlingly pale, with hollow shadows
QHoeI tile eyes.
II didn't-come by the highway"
He removed the dripping hat and
she knew then that she had been
right about him. He had a good
head, his eyes looked at her honest
ly, though haggardly, and he could
not be much past twenty-five. 81
was trying to find the highway. I
came over the mountain"
"My heavens!" Virgie exclaimed,
warming to him, as she, denied sons,
warmed to everything young and
male except Bry Hutton. You mean
you've been walking-weather
like this? Come up here by the fire.
Never mind the mud-this house is
used to mud. Lossie, make some
hot coffee right away. You'd bet
ter take that soggy coat off quick,
young fellow, and let it dry out.
How on earth did you get lost on
the mountain"
The stranger sank into a chair,
slipping YEARLY out of the dripping
coat. He seemed at the point of ut
ter exhaustion. His breath came in
tired gusts. His hands shook.
Il came in-with JohnSton's out
fit" he said. 1--WE were making es-
Inmates on some bodybuilding for
the Government. We started to
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was
"You mean-you've been roaming
around these mountains since Tues
day?" she demanded.
Unjust have been. It seemed
like couple of years to me. You
see-1 was starting on ahead to
send a couple of kilograms from the
filling station down there at the
crossroads and the rest of the out
fit were supposed to pick me up,
when the baggage was loaded So
l walked down the mountain road
and I saw what l thought was GER
tainly short cut down to the store
"a perfectly plain trail"
made by bear, probably. Or
by hogs or hunters" supplied Vir-
gle, putting more wood on the blaze.
Then in little bit you found that
you were lost. Men born and raised
in these mountains have been lost
over there in those laurel hells, son.
Folks who know these hills respect
them. We don't 60 up there in the
big timber without guide. Even
I don't-and I've lived here in the
shadow of those big peaks, and cut
timber on them for a lot of years.
You were mighty lucky to get out
alive, if you ask me-"