The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-02-12

drop his load OF wood and come rum
ming toward her. Steve announces
he has discovered a cabin and they
decide to move in Immediately. They
discover behind a false pantry
cavern full Of canned goods. blankets
and other necessities which cheer
them. But Mark is definitely sinking.
steve explores the cavern. finds
boxes with lids nailed on them.
Doris Is frightened in his absence
his arms. Steve kisses her. then
apologies for his thoughtlessness.
Next morning he departs in search
OF help again.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Doris busted herself around the
cabin. She heated water. and, us
ing the towel she had found in the
duffle bag and which she saved
carefully to take care of Mark.
she washed the injured mans face
and combed his hair. He watched
her gratefully all of the time.
Doris. I'm ashamed I said all
of the things about you when we
started on this trip"
What things, Mark"
Petulant Voice
That you were selfish and opin-
donated, a typical snob. You aren't
at all, Doris
MOI"
mo. No you aren't, you're one
of the sweetest girls I've ever
known. Doris, tell me some
thing"
Yes ?" Doris knew what was
coming. She had hoped to avoid it.
Doris, tell me, if we get back
to civilization-If I get back-do
have a chance with your
"A chance with me? Oh, Mark,
a handsome young fellow like
you? Why you'd have a chance
with any girl. Almost any girl
would like you and like you inn
mensely."
Doris, didn't ask you" his
voice was petulant, what chance
I'd have with any other girl.
asked you what chance I'd have
with you. Doris, l love you"
Mark, think you're the sweet
est boy in the world. OF course
you'll have chance With any
girl"
No Pain
And now we aren't going to
talk about such things, are we?
We're going to talk about you. Do
you think there's anything at all
that could do to ease you, Mark?
Are. you feeling any PAIN"
Not any" Mark shook his
head, Il haven't any feeling in my
legs at all any more. The first
day or two I had some pain. Now
they're just like dead weights.
That's what scares me So
Don't let it frighten you, Mark.
You're here and the worst is over.
You're comfortable now and by
night Steve will have a doctor
here. l know It,"
And so Doris hurried about the
cabin, trying not to let Mark
know how anxious she really was,
pretending all the time that be-
fore night help would come. Yet
in her heart she was already be-
ginning to know differently.
The sun had been weakly shin
ing when Steve left their shelter
and there had been some promise
that the day would be warmer.
II had been, though. just a
slackening' of the wind for a time
before it began in even greater
fury. The sky clouded over again
and the warm sun disappeared
from view behind banks of threat
ening clouds.
The wind sprang up again and
brought with 1t whiffs of sleet and
snow.
Filled With Hope
At first Steve had been encour-
aged in his lonely trek across the
lake. The sun shone. it seemed
warmer and his heart was filled
with hope.
He had not gone from the cabin
more than two miles at the most
when he began to wish he could
tun back. The line Of trees across
the lake that he had thought he'd
seen the day before had receded.
There must be a shoreline Of
trees in the distance. but it seemed
now further away than it had
when he first started out.
There was no doubt he was in
for even greater punishment The
wind held bursts of sleet and they
pelted hard in his face now and
then II only he could walk with
the wind instead of against il
The going was hard, too. The
lake was well frozen over but the
sleet, and sometimes drifted snow,
made his progress very slow.
And il seemed to Steve as
though he stumbled along on dead.
unfeeling sticks, his feet were so
cold.
Hands Numb
His hands. tingling at first with
the cold. now were numb. Never
in all of his life had he experienced
such intense cold. Every lunge
now was an effort
He no longer toyed with the
idea Of turning back. He must be
more than two miles from the
camp. He was not sure that he
could get back.
Perhaps ahead lay some village.