Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-02-28
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serial photographs, and every hne
& these was engraved On his mind.
1here were tie Tremendous sum-
m11D 70 lie north and west, there
49, thiD ridge, slipping southwark
80 eastward, where Hazel Fork
went splashing down to meet the
river. Il an had form. II fitted IN
With the thought that had entered
his mind when he studied the little
map IN virgie Morgan's desk. So
many Of the surveys had been hap
hazard, % much had been done
that had 10 Be done again.
stop here q minute" he said.
''just here. I'll walk 4 little way"
He unfoded the map again. He
had drawn il, sitting up most Of the
night, drawn II from sketchy bits in
tie notebook that remained in his
pocket. All his material had gone
On 70 Washington, but he felt that he
had enough.
Slowly he walked, studying the
terrain below. Above, on the mar
row road, where first Virgie Nor
gan had seen the two men in the
black car, Marian sat now, be-
hind the wheel, looking small and
lonely. For an hour, he secuted the
crest, and the sun climbed higher.
Icicles melted on the southern slopes
and the faces Of the crags began
10 drip. Down the gullies little
streams ran clear, finding their way
through q lacy network Of ice. On
. muddy bank, where he leaped
across, was . deer track, lately
made, clean-printed and plain.
He returned to the car and Mari
n sighed patiently. n she set the
motor going again.
Now where?"
Can we get down under-down
there where the big trees are?"
''We'n have to 20 far around.
Some Of It viii be rough. But I
know the way. used to come IN
here with Tom"
She fell silent, as they followed
the rough woods track, thinking Of
Tom. Just down there he must have
hidden, those two days-and below,
through the cathedral trees, ran the
abandoned road where Cragg and
the others had come in. A heavy
pain bothered her when she thought
that Tom probably would never see
hi beloved trees again. Never see
the hills again, perhaps-or the
shabby old mill that he had loved
never hear again the crows shrill
defiance or the answering insolence
Of the mountain raven.
It was noon when they reached
the lower slope Of the ridge, and the
sum had warmed and gilded the
rocks with false promise of spring.
Look here, you must be starved"
Wills exclaimed suddenly. SIS there
any place near where we can get
some sandwiches, or something?"
'Lossie made sandwiches. They're
back here and there's some coffee"
Saved! I was a chump not to
think Of it myself"
The coffee was not hot.
would the lady who owns the
stewpan mind il we blacken the
bottom of it," Wills asked. 81 can
make 4 fire."
''Lossie can scour IT,"
II only things were different, Mar
ian thought wistfully, what fun this
would be! If only he were not 50 ar
rogant and SO cold-if only she did
not detest him. Wills built small
IRE, expertly, between two up-ended
racks. Then he thrust a stick into
4 crevice and hung q white hand
hefchief on it.
'Truce!" he announced. "The war
il temporarily suspended while the
combatants are fed"
"only one cup" said Marian. 80
what do we dot"
''Pour your half back into the bot
lie. Then you drink from the cup
and imbibe from the stewpan."
Its hot"
In camps where I've dined we
used empty bean cans. Gives a rich
pork-and-catsup favor to the brew"
A winter sparrow came and tee
tered On q sumac bough, making
osAs9A hA40Ay 40 W WHculCI any
crumbs would remain. The sun lay
ardently On the face of the rock
and Marian held her palms to it,
catching the warmth in cupped, pink
1ngers.
Har head was cooked like the
birds, her eyes were cool and re-
na0te. wills looked at her and his
heart gave q savage. hurting clutch.
0is spine straishtened and q grim
liz hsrdened around his mouth. He
vas not defeated. Now she was n
fae nom him ~ the moon-but when
. man had caught 4 precious dream
u - hsart Il was not easy to let
= .. To-day shs was the daughter
q - 1seGan mins-and he WAS IN
GnQasVso n corduroy pants. Tomor-
sUU-hs elamped his teeth and
- Q ehananOs - tomorrow. And
an11snl1 - Cleared his throat