The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-02-28
CHAPTER XII

Ok1fAH 4GAt "A
Life is like husky-dog that re-
fuses to be entirely tanned. Quite I'M
expectedly the old wolf strain breaks
out.
Several weeks ago I'd arranged
to have young Ollie Eckstrom bring
me a quart of milk every morning.
And looked forward to Olie's daily
visits. For / liked Ollie and Ole
liked me. / liked the fash Of his
boyish wide smile and the friendly
warmth in those sky-blue Scandina-
Wan eyes of his. He was always
glad to fill my water pail and do
some trivial little chore for me.
But one day, instead of the tow
headed Ollie, it was his little sister
Frieda who proudly toddled to my
door. She made funny figure as she
stood there in her patched old cor
duroy trousers (plainly inherited
from Olie) and an equally abraded
old wolfskin coat that was much too
big for her. She couldn't have been
more than six years old but she
showed an active interest in my
school crayons and building blocks.
After she'd pored over a picture
book or two I tied her up in her
wolfskin coat, gave her an apple,
and started her off for home.
There was feeling Of Spring in
the air. I noticed that my shack
caves were dripping and my door
yard drifts were diminishing.
But about midafternoon Ollie ap-
peared at my door. He stood there
with his wide smile.
81 ban come for Frieda," he an
nounced.
"But F'rieda went home hours
ago." explained with a faint chill
ing Of the blood.
His face, as he stood frowning
over that, became suddenly mature.
She had not come home, he said,
and his mother had thought that
maybe I had kept her for dinner.
We began the search by first look
ing through the outbuildings and
skirting the clearing edges where
the shadows were growing longer.
It was foolish, suppose, but kept
calling out, "Friedal Frieda!" as
/ went. And there was, Of course,
no childish answer to that call.
Then we went back to the road and
examined the muddy ruts and the
sun-softened snow for any betraying-
ly small footprints. But there was
nothing there we could be sure OF.
Perhaps" told the solemn-eyed
Ollie, she's home by this time"
pinned my faith on that hope.
But it proved to be a hollow one.
And the stricken look in Mrs. Eek
.strom's eyes did not add to my hap
piness. She called her husband, who
came from the stable with hay
fork in his hand. The smile faded
from his wide blond face as Ollie
explained the situation. The sun, !
could see, was already low over the
mountain tops. And every hour
counted, with night coming on.
"We've got to have help" I told
them. We've simply got to find
that child"
That took my thoughts back to
Katie's Indian baby, the abandoned
little papoose who'd been found in
the valley birch grove. And the
god from the machine, on that &C.
casion, had been Sidney Lander's
sheep dog.
"Olie," said, could you get on
a horse and hurry over to Sock
Eye Schlupp's? There's man there
named Lander, who has dog called
Sandy. And something tells me
Sandy might find Frieda."
It wasn't Sandy / wanted, I'm
afraid, as much as Sandy's master.
He was off like the wind.
Lander arrived more promptly
than I had expected, with Sandy at
his heels. ! noticed, as he swung
down from his horse, that he had a
fashlight in his hard. His face, as
he hurried over to us, was stern
but not excited. And he didn't stop
to ask many questions.
''I'm having Sock-Eye notify the
settlers" he said. when they get
here, tell them to strike north and
south of the trail at fifty PAGES apart.
Let 'em work half mile each way.
And when they've finished their trip
in and out have 'em report at the
Jansen shack"
He turned for a moment to the
lost child's mother, who was quietly
weeping in the doorway. That's all
right, Mrs. Eckstrom. Wen find
your girl for you
There was such assurance in that
deep-timbred voice of his that /
haH-believed him.
Then, for the first time, he looked
squarely into my eyes.
Its only trouble" he said in a
lowered voice, ''that seems to bring
us together"
1--WE haven't seen much Of each
other" answered, resenting the
quaver in my voice.
'sIsn't that what you asked for?"
he demanded, almost sharply.
ssWas it," ! temporized, arrested
by the deeper lines in his face.