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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1905)
BY HAROLD BIND LOSS. 'IE white peaks wpr fading Into the darkening f I fast, and the mi!t which rises at tunnt rolled I I like steam trnon; the pine, when Henry Jar JL I dine sat talking with Eva Tourmaine on a hill side of Prltish Columbia outside her father' ranch. Tourmaine owned lands and cattle, aa well aa mining stock, and at first was not pleased when hla only daughter, who might have made a brilliant match In Victoria, amlled upon Jardine. The latter had studied engineering 'theoretically before ha 'eft the old country, and after a mixed experience In the Canadian dominion had purchaaed a small holding on mort al g In that valley. Tourmaine hinted that It would take him fen years to clear It sufficiently to make a poor living, but Jardina said he did not Intend to try. He expected there would t mineral developmenta presently. The rancher slow :y chanted his opinions when Jardine creditably executed contracts for building rude brldgea and blowing rocks clear of new wagon roads, and finally agreed that when Jardine could accumulate $4,fKi and build a decent house he might claim Eva, who would not go to him portionless. "My daughter shall not wear herself down trying to do a man's work in the bush as her poor mother did. It's bet ter to do without the good things than get them too late,' hf said, with a sigh. So if you want her. use all the grit that's In you. You can't get much for nothing In thia world, rry." J.irdlne had done his best, and as he leaned over the back ol Eva's chair hard, and ban. and brown, but a handsome man and vigorous from the clean life of the woods withal, he looked back on the struggle aa well aa out acroaa the valley, one snow peak still flamed crimson in the laat glow from the west, but intensified by the song of the river the hush cf the summer evening brooded heavily over the darkening tarth below. " What are you thinking of, Harry? You are quiet," aald the girl, looking up at him from under long, dark lashes, while the light from an open window torched her winsome face, ripened Into warm bloom by mountain wind and sun. " I was thinking of the first day I saw you, and remem bering how you hired me at the railway to pack in a box for you," answered Jardine, smiling, and Eva colored. "Don't. That Isn't kind." she said. "How vai I to Know. Harry? And you really looked so " "Like a wandering hobo. Well, that was what I was," Interposed Jardine. And this time Eva laughed as she answered: " No. I was going to say hungry." "I was hungry often In those daya," said Jardine, a lit tle grimly. " I am sometimes tired now. Things have gone aead against me lately, but we have our legal Improvementa en the mine almost complete. There Is no doubt about the richness of the ore, and the Vancouver folks will finance me as aoon as I get the patent. Then" Eva blushed prettily and turned a way her head. But she had Inherited her father's shrewdness, ami said: "It Is a p'ty you (lid not take my advice Instead of delaying the de velopment Work so long." " We hardly thought the claim worth exploiting until that anrouvir broker came along and offered us $."HiU to clear out That gave us a hint, for we guessed the old Kootenay miner who drilled for us knew him. As you know, it was shortly afterwards we found what we did. I hadn't a chance to till you that the broker fellow offered $U.n(iO recently. It's a close race to get the legal Improvements In, but nubody about re would Jump us." " No," and Eva looked serious. " I don't think they would, but 1 would be afraid of that city man, Harry." "I am afraid of waiting any longer for Eva Tourmaine," was Jardine's answer. "The mine will give me a fair start towards prosperity, and It would break my heart to lose It. We have been working night and day and only need to put in the timber ready to constitute sufficient Improvement. In fact. I must, stay with the work until I get the crown grant, and come back to claim you victorious." He straightened his tall frame wearily, and then, as he sto.iped to kiss her, Eva said: " You look worn, Harry. I shall count the hours until the work Is done." Jardine tramped back down the winding valley, blunder ing over Mr roots and Into thickets, for he bad tolled with Shovel and cross cut saw all the preceding night, and his eyea were heavy from want of sleep. This, perhaps, explained 'why he did not notice that a thicker vapor than the mist tolled up above the dark pines on a shoulder of a hill. The air was also heavy with the smell o( burning, but bush fires were common at that season. At last, however, he halted with a shock of consternation, for the great trunks on the rise before him wire silhouetted In ebony against a sea of flame, and then, forgetting his fatigue, he broke Into a breathless run. A bush fire of the fiercest kind raged about th Bluebird mine. When he reeled panting Into the clearing where hla camp had been tent and tool shed had gone, while heaps of glowing embers fanned into flame marked where the great hewn down trunks had lain in awaths. The timber had been Intended for use In the mine. The forest crackled all around, stream ers of flame flung themselves from resinous branch to branch, and red tongues of fire Hiked up to the topmost sprays of the giant cedars. The heat was that of a furnace, but Jardine pushed on through It until he found his grizzled partner stand ing blackened all over shaking his clinched fist at the blaze and choking out strange expletives. "Are the sawn props safe?" he asked, hoarsely. "Cone!" growled Miner Marston. "Every blame one of them. We're burnt out. ruined, busted. The drills are melt ing, and there's a Jam of 2oo. foot hemlocks right over the adit. I Ht out to meet Freighter Davis bringing the powder In, and when I came back the whole bush was blazing." "It'a all up," said Jardine, whose face turned a curious gray under the fitful glare as he sat down limply, mopping the sweat from his forehead, and for several minutes there waa only the roar of the fire. Then, because he was a sanguine man wko had faced dlaaster before, he caught at a faint hope, adding: " It s cruel hard luck. Still, none of the folks round here would be mean enough to Jump ua before we've straight ' ened things up. Accldenta will happen, and " "Accidents be blamed!" growled Marston. "This Isn't ai. accident. Some of them thieves who gave out they were hunting timber rights havt burnt us out, and the company man at Vancouver started them in. Can't you smell kerosene on this? And see here!" Marston held out a half burnt rag and a couple of unused matches before he continued! " Storekeeper Pierre don't sell that kind. We use allent smellers here. Crown mining re corders stand Ilka caat Iron by the law, and aaya the law:, If you've not put yuir legal Imi rivments on your claim In time anybndy can relocate- It P. rln to catch on. eh? Bush fires are common, aren't they? Anl them scoundrels knowing It have burnt us out so we can't put through the Improve menta before they jump ns." Jardine said nothing for space, only set his teeth and clinched his hard right hand, recognizing that a cunning enemy had outwitted him. He also knew that the poor man who fights an unscrupulous capitalist over a disputed claim generally goes under. But he was a stubborn man. who. deal Ir.g Justly with others, clung grimly to his rights, and there waa an ominous flash In his gray eyes when he snswered at last: "Then they shall fight for It. I'm not going to lie down while any man robs me, and if they want the claim they must take It the best way they can. Start now for Vancouver, borrow $.vm from our friends there, and pay It Into crown offices as composition for work not done. Then get hold of Lawyer Elmore and stand by to strike the rascally broker for conspiracy." " And what are you figuring to do?" asked Marston. and Jardine answered quietly: " Stay here and stand all Jumpers off the claim." The elder man looked at the speaker approvingly, but he shook his head. "There's sand in you, but it. won't work out that way. and the law's too strong to buck against." he said. "It's forty miles to the railway, and by the time I got there the Pacific express would b? through. It's too late for the composition already. You're young and Innocent, Harry, or I guess you'd know how the case would go If you started to bluff off with two matches mine riggers who could put down $10 for every cent we show." the dollars. It will make no difference. Two to make a bar giln. sweetheart, anl two to break it and I hold you fast. There. ;ou can let your exaggerated sohse of honor rest- It la all decided. I-ut promise, even if those unprincipled mea rob you, oil Will use no violence." " Itob mel" said Jardine presently. "Are they not rob long you?" And Eva sail, softly. " Hush: Hive you not forced me to speak plainly enough? Von are rash anl stubborn. Harry, but the men behind thera re ton s'rong for You must promise." " I promise, unless they use force." sal I Jardine. reluc tantly. " Heaven bass you. Eva. for your faith In me!" And i re- uitly. comfort. d. but still uncertain If he had acted Just ly, he r !e hack to camp on one of lourmaint's best horses he had a reason for borrowing. The partners held a counsel, and Jardine said: "Our time runs eoit at midnight, and Evans has promised to restake the cnim for us. He would take his chances with the Jumpers, ond when we had fought the lawsuit step out again." " Mighty poor chances!" said Marston. "They'll have all fixed ready fast horse relay. If wanted, a locomotive, and " Then," said Jardine, hoarsely, " do?" is there nothing we can " Not much, 'cept to sleep over It. Maybe we'll See light In the morning; we're badly played out now." It sounded absurd counsel, but Marston waa right, for suspense with hope Is torture, while a beneficent providence decrees that definite disaster often brings with It a mental numbness which blunts the victim's senses. Therefore, when Jardine, who bad mocked at the thought of sleep, rolled the thick' blanket round him among a hemlock'a roots he found the scent of cedars even more soothing than the boom of the river which seemed drifting him away to a peaceful region wherein claim Jumpers were unknown. When he awoke gold er sunlight touched the cold white peaks, dew glinted like diamonds on every cedar spray, and the world seemed fresh and beautiful until he rcmemlwTed what he had to do; then all the brightness faded. Neither of the parlne-rs ate mueii breakfast, while, when the talk that followed It was flniesnel, Jardine plodded moodily towards Tourmaine's ranch anil found Eva under the veranda. The sunlight kissed her face into brighter color, heightened the shy pleasure In her eyes and the sparkle in her hair, and the man. groaned inwardly. Then Eva started as she saw his face. " You have had a misfortune with the mine?" she said. " We have lost it. We are going to make a last stand, but all hope has gone!" said Jardine, huskily. Then the girl listened breathlessly to his hurried words until she clinched one hand aa he concluded: "I shall stay until the curtain comes down and then go away to some place where a poor man has better chances than in this valley. How could I stay here to be a reproach to you? and It may be years be fore I have a home to offer you. Some day I shall win the dollars, perhaps too late, but. meantime, after the loss over Fuller's dam, I am a hopelessly ruined man. Heaven knows how this hurts me, but I must do the right thing, and, Eva, can't you see?" " What would you do If you won those dollars?" aaked the girl, with a wave of color In her face. "Come back, If It waa from across the world, to Tour maine's ranch," aald the man, In a voice that waa atralned and hoarse. " And find me waiting." said Eva. with a catch In her breath. " whether you come soon or late. It la perhaps well you should go, Harry, but when you return, with or without they'd beat our man to the recorder's easily. Lawsuit! riey ii buy enough witnesses and bring them along to break before we'd almost begun." Jardine, answering nothing, "tared across the valley. A clft, snow fed river came roaring down between the long tanks nf climbing pines, swung In a mad, white streaked whirling round a deep, rock walled pool, and then plunged with a muffled thunder Into a treat rift between the ranges. Eight leagues over the high pass on the further side the rall way stretched hack to civilization, but ford there was none, and the trail wound round seve ral leagues further by a rude log bridire. " The claim Is recorded in your name; there Is nothing to prevent me relocating it." he Bald; and Marston nodded. " No. The fact that you found the money don't count r.ut what's the difference between you and the other fellows we could trust to?" " Just this." said Jardine. " If I can record first the claim Is mine, and I would take risks no money could tempt them to. I could ge t a long start by swimming the river." "Have you gone mad?" asked Marston. "It Is a flood, not a rive r. nd no living man has ever swum It here." "That is probably because no man has ever tried to," Jirdin aurwered, quietly. "I'm tired of failing, and I'm tired of being pour. Hesldcu. jou ought to know my prize Is worth any man staking his life for." Further discussion followed, until Marston ngre,d that there was method in his ojmrado's mucinosa, and walked out to meet tlm scattered neighbors who had promised to attend UN witne sses, or allies in case of necessity. It was dusk when he returned with th -m. an l found his partner carefully rub bing down Tourmaine's horse, a big. stanch beaut of pedl-gr.-e. Then, as the linge -rln'? darkness fell. Jardine lay down, to re st, but not to slee p. This time every nerve va.c strung up .ml the suspense intense. The ne Ighltors and MarUon sat smoking ubout a fire, and the red light which flickered athwart the charred trunks showed their faces were ex pectant until it paled as a broad, silver disk sailed up benind a shoulder of the range. The whole misty valley seemed to vibrate with the roar of the river, for the drainage of leagues of snow fields waa (touring that way In mad hurry to the sea. Jardine. as he noticed the side long glances towards him, felt he could understand the feelings of a condemned felon the night before he played a leading part In the spectacle of a public execution. At last a thud of horse hoofs trembled through the woods, and there was a sound of whe-els crunch ing over rock outcrop, also wild language, apparently, when they sank In the softer places. "The Jumpers are coming," said somebody. Two men rode Into the moonlight presently, leaving shad owy figurees nliout the wagon behind them, and Marston stood up, leaning on his rifle. " Get off our claim before we put you off." he said. "Anything to oblige!" was the answer. "Don't want a fuss. It's yours for half an hour or so, and then we purpose to restake It for you. There are six of us. all certiflVd min ers, and quite ready to maintain our rights." " Miners!" repeated Marston, with unutterable scorn. " A common thief's roustabouts, you mean. Anyway, you'll wait until the time's up, or we'll hurt one or two of you." " We want to save you trouble," answered the other, with a grin. " The first man to get this record in will win. and we've an express service ready laid on. Do you hold anything to beat It?" "Get off the claim," said Marston, sullenly. Jardine rose ns the others withdrew, carefully tightening the saddle girth, then took up four square pegs and a ham mer, and stood eiuivc ring with suspense Iteslde a man who held out a watch. Shortly his turn would come. The min utes passed slowly; the others whispered hoarsely nbiut him until there were footsteps in the bush, and a strained voice said : "Time! Pull the stakes up." There was a rush for the first boundary post, but as Mars ton pulled one peg out Jardine drove another, marked " No. L Discovery," in. A souffle took place at the next, but he was first again, and the remaining corners were staked simul taneously. Then, amid a derisive howling, he shunted: "Hear witness. 1. Ib-nry Jardine, free miner, have legally relocated the Bluebird claim." One man Hung himself into the saddle, Jardine did the same, two leaped Into the wagon, and. ns with a quickening boat of hoofs and whirr of wheels the cavalcade swept reck lessly clown the trull, Marston's roar broke through the mock ing crie of the rest and the ranchers' cheers: "Ride for jour life, Harry. Good luck to you!" For a space friend and f'te rode level, muzzle to muzzle, and tall to tall, dropping the Jolting wagon behind; then Jardine. driving his beast at a screen of bracken, vanished among the pines, leaving his rivals bewildered. " I figured he'd have made a better race for It," said one. It was a steep slope to the river, matted with salmon berry, ilippery with shale; but he went down It at a gallop, swaying low In the saddle to clnar odd branches drooping be tween the great columnar trunks. Then he was out on the shingle under the moon with the flood roaring past him to wards the pool, and the snorting beast went in with a plunge, as he drove the red spurs home. Jardine, who cleared his feet from the stirrups, slipped from the saddle when the bat tering hoofs lost their grip on the stone, loosened the bridle, and twined one hand In the mane, shifted It to the saddle, and saw nothing but frothing ridges while he trusted the brute's instinct to take it safe across. Whether he swam or waa merely towed he was never cer tain, but at least the water supported him, and the horse, which was used to shallower rivers, managed the steering, though now and the-n when they swung together across a smoother eddy he could see the dark pines sliding quickly up stream, and knew the big whirlpool lay ominously close below. But most of the time froth and water beat Into his eyes, and the water WIS Cold with the d-it' U c'.ii'l of the gl.ioa-rs; so tit last It was with a gasp of f. rv t.t t'-..i:.i f i.r.-s ih't lie heard sliding shingle rattle beneath h a !. I;. iv': his own feet, he gripped th bridle and il "i ) .- i : wards waist deep In water. He was In the' si ll . x: :n .nvnt. crashing at headlong gallop through the b ir.-h -u mup crass.-i toward the forest, while, wl.tn he swept i'wo a - irrow. tunnel like trail, s half so, t, man di tkc. d two K - s c i r of It. and a voice crod: " Y. : ,1 .ne. well duo' ; rt sic. the be ast. Jardine.'' As he n shed past 1 ke a wtiit'eAit d a s.emb ! v. hi! rle1 figure waved a hand to n.'a. .A, th- r.der - '. 1 blo.t.l stirreel within h(:n. tor it w.is T irn . to - . h en couraged htm. and h spae--d ueiilor tV ! t Vrnse if AM trails are bad in th it r gum. out t : - .: h i over a hegttae-kM spur w V h no nio.'i I m e,- i" 1 p i ii breiad daylight, wlua e . t v en;"i.' w - tmlnie had calculated Hint n loaid Just . i'.-.m ' s press and reach Yale al bast be , t ti r , - -ii lie lug herseback Journe to aieUirr !iv.:::' c levr.' : s Nation. They had taken it for gran:. 1 v..- in in I i river At last be elisinounte'd. and lo if:e'e - i Mil, pulled the horse up almost ver:i.a'! a mile. . -i when he tried to shine It. w as badly k kel f r !i - , ' Any one ti n used to them would t.u.l i; d HI !': ' .c; -t. ite ni st British Columbian pissi's without a row i- d ,;!; ":o,k. but the y went up. over slippery outcrop' and it! t ' n''i'U pines, through stunted Jani-r. and aero- br nd .' of treacher ous shale, until the' spectral i-iKs I i - .-f t :'i'e.-r 1 onied out above them in uiuarthh m.ij M . a: .1 .tai d.n.' w uulere-d in the pale light of dawn how he was e ve r to g t d n Into the vallev Neither did he n inemlr how It wis cV"io. though Oi.ee a blanch thing him out of the' i 1 lie' he.ivilx . and the horse als.i roib'd over, nearly crushing him. bat it last' mashing throuch thick-ts and floundering amid piirt bracken, they gained a narrow trail and the boi.-t responded gallantly to his last appe al. The sunlight was clear on the vallev, and low. Munglcd roofs rose up ahead, when a trail of white vapor thit moved swiftly appeared round tho shoulder of a hill, and J.irdlne, who dare show no mercy, drove' the clotted spur in nciin. The roofs rose highei anl higher among tip- somber fits; twinkling metal and lines of glass show e, I bmeath the advancing plume of smoke, and the' rattle .f tiling wheels quivered across the p!n-s, while the horse was b! indeting In Its stride and the sweat stood beaded on the rider's fore-head, rtut Just as the great mountain locomotive came snorting Into the little station they reeled, smoking, panting whitened by lather and flecked red by dust. thi. i.i;h the street of the wooden settlement, and Jardine, dropplrg fremi the saddle, flung the bridle Into a st.irtlevl lounger's liaid "Ten dollars if you feed and take the beast back to Tour maine of Red Cedar," he shouted His knees felt usx-less und. r him. but Just as the cars lurched out he charged into the- depot at a shambling run, and. clutching at a handrail, swung himself on to the plat form of the last one, where he sat down, ai d for nearly a minute fancied he was choking. " Is it a wage r or a fortune you were riding for?" asked the conductor, grinning. "Something wcirth more than a fortune." gasped Jardine. The big express stepped some minutes at Yale, and Jar dine, who leourned that no mining o!!lc! il was present, bad time to send a telegram to the crown offices at Vancouver be-fore he went on there with the train He hurried straight to the chief recorder's office when he reached the se aport city, and a soldierly looking gentleman stared with mild surprise- as the haggard, disheveled, and travel stained miner was nsro red In. "Mr. Jardine, who wind us? A dispute. 1 claim. I pre sume?" he said. " I am ready to consider any particulars you can give me." Jardine told the whole story unreservedly, and the listener mad a few notes during the"1 narrative It was a fairly com mon story to him, for there Is frequently litigation over a successful mine, and jierhtips as often over those that fail. He had also a long experience of the miner's character, and, though he did not say so, fully believed Jardine. " We shall doubtless hear from your rivals through the district recorder," he said, with a rpilet sinib. " You did well to come direct to me. H it the application may require con sideration, for while one's sympathy may be with the dis coverers the law Is stringent, and you were carelessly negli gent In postponing legal developments. 1 will advise you later If we can grant a revord." For several days Jardine wandeioel about Vancouver In anxious suspense Itefore he was Informed that the authorities had registered him aa discoverer of the claim, after which he called um a certain honorable mine financier and a luwyer. There are honorable ixplolters of milling ventur,, though the opposito kind are perhaps more numerous. The one agreed to send an exp-rt back with him and the latter said: "You haven't proif enough ugainst your rivals, anij It might Ite be tter to leave the er. geiitleman you mention alorie. Ills caff paws are hardly likely to ask an injunction again you now, and 1 could relst It successfully If they did." Jardine returned to his partner exultant, and the expert in duo time to Vancouver satisfie d, one result of which w4 that a few days later Jurdlm- laid a letter from the latter city before Tourmaine. "It's a fair offer, and I Intend acc epting It." be said. " Un less that surveyor Is far wrong the stock they offer me Should preivlde a reasonable income, and there will be' the director's fee. So I venture to claim the fulfillment of your promise." "Build your house and you shall have it," said Tour maine, smiling. " When you took my horse through the river I was willing to climb down. I figured you'd get the dollars some day, and most things you set your heart upon. O, yes, you have won her fairly, and I see her in the orchard. Eva, come In!" Eva came In fresh and dainty, n cluster of red rose at the waist of her white dress, and a smile upon her f.ice, until a flush of color surpassing that of the roses burnt In either cheek as she noticed the letter and the expression of the two men. " We never back down on a bargain, and I suppose you haven't changed your mind since you asserted your right to choose for yourself?" said fl"ourmaine, with a twinkle In his eyes. " Well, then, I wish you good luck with him, and I guess he has shown himself the kind of man I can trust you to. You're starting fair, Eva. and it was only remembering what your poor mother went through made me try to do my best for you. Well, well, I'm getting an old man; but I think, maybe, she Is pleased, too. And may heaven make the long trail you're beginning smooth for both of you." HP ill IN THE GLACIER'S KEEPING I. mmmm PRETTY tough climb. Isn't It, Max?" I The speaker waa a tall Englishman of per- ML Iihm 5(1, but looking as hard and tough and JL XX generally fit as most men of half his age. " Yes, sir," said the guide, who stood before eMpsTv'y nlm ut 'ie door; "and we'll have to start Lvs y eurly if we are to got back the same day." Sir Robert Hallard turned and reentered his room. From a desk he pulled out u sheet of pajier, and, pick ing up a pen, sail down at a table and began a letter. " My dear Harry," he writtt?, " I'm afraid 1 have not been quite fair to you. Thinking over things again, I can see that your foolish pranks, whicti so much offended me, may have be-een indeed, no doubt were the results of sheer youthful high spirits. I am, therefore, again altering my will, and instead of my cousin, James Reitnle, lieing my residuary le gatee, you will find the bulk of my property will eventually come to you. I trust this will have been a lestion to you, and that you will grow up a man worthy of the trust 1 am re posing in you. Your affectionate uncle. " Robert Rali.ard." Sir Robert sealed and stamped the letter, and then on a she-el of foolscap proceeded rapidly to redraft his will. It seemed an caasy enough matter, and took but few min utes. You would hardly have Imagined the amount tn ques tion was something like iHO.OiiO. The rapid pen ceased .lying over the paper, and Sir Robert touched the bell. " Call Max Schneider,'' he said to the waiter, " and you, too, come in. I want you to witness this signature for me." He signed the document, the two men affixed their sig natures, and then he folded It, placed it in an envelope, and sllpiied it into an inner pocket of his Norfolk Jacket. "What time do me start tomorrow, Max?" he asked. ' "Not later than hulf-past 3, sir," answered the guide. " Very well, then. I shall go to bed at once, and 1 suppose , you'll do the same." And twenty minutes later he was sleeping like a boy. II. "Great luck having such lovely weather eh. Max?" "Lovely indem-d, Sir Robert; but pray don't say anything about It till we're clear of the Ice. It's the worst of bad luck, sir." Sir Robert laughcud the laugh of strong man who Is thoroughly pleal with himif. Indeed he hud reanou to be plctted. Few men had ever climbed the bee tling cliffs of the Aiguille Vert at all. Fewer still could boast of having accomplished the feat within the hours of a single day. Half an hour later they reached the edge of the Ice. The sun hud now set. and tlui air, chill with approaching night, was no longer clear as it lead been. Pale wreaths of smoky mist hung in light bards, which se-e-nied to shift and change kaleidoscople-ally, though no brevze was felt. Still roied together, aa they had been during the entire climb, they crossed the moraine and started steadily tramp ing across the rough ice, whose surface waa broken by a hundred detp rifts ami lumpy, yawning crevexsees. The fog closed and fell thicker and thicker. Borne three hours later that night one of the guides burst Into the kitchen of the Mont vert inn. His face was white and drawn, and he was almost speech less with excitement, misery, and fatigue. At last he managed to gasp out his iiteous story how they had missed their way In the fog; how he had heard a sharp cry of warning from Max, who was leading the party; how next he had be-on Jerked oft his feet by a tremendous pull at the rope round his waist; and how he had desperately saved himself by driving his alpenmoc k Into the Ice. Next thing he knew he waa alone alone on the edge of a giant crevasse, whoese misty depths yawned silent as a grave. The instant they understood him a rescue party was formed, under the guidance of Herman, the Innkeeper. All night the devoted men worked, and most of next day. But It was useless. The glacier doess nut easily give up Its prey. III. A big, broad shouldered, good ooklng young fellow of about eight-aud-twrnty was sitting In a dingy little room tn iiloomsbury. answering a le tter he had Just received. Harry Pallard had bem looking out for a chance- of accom panying a resadlng party abroad during the long vacation, and by good luck an even better billet had come bis way. Ao old friend of his fathor a Mr. Ffolkes had written to him to engage his services as tutor and general bear leader to his son, young Evtrard Ffolkes, during a forthevtming Swiss tour. He had always wanted to get abroad, and now the chance had fallen his way he was rosolvesd to make the mocrt of it Young Everard, his pupil, was a thoroughly nice lud, and the whole expedition seemed to partake more of the nature of a holiday than serious work. The two trudged afoot througlj lovely valleys, tip turf clad s1ohh, ove-r rockUiund. magnifi cent passes, drinking In the ch-tar air and enjoying them selves rulhur like two choolUs than a tutor and bis pupiL 2 Alan MandeVille. Everard wanted to climb a mountain. Harry discouraged the Idea. He told the boy of the fate of his uncle, Sir Rebert Pallard. " Yes, I remember bearing ttf that when I was quite small," answered Everard sympathetically. " Were the bodies ever recovered?" "No, never," said Harry, "and probably never will be." They walke-d in silence a little way. Then Harry said: " Do you know, Everard, I should like to see the place. Suppose we go up to Montvert? We can do It In two days from Chamounix. Your father put no re-strlctions on our movements." " Thon let's go," replied the boy, keenly. Montvert had become quite a fashionable re-sort within the last few ye?ars. The old Inn had been much enlarged. It bouste-d all sorts of molern Improvements among them a drawing room, a band, and a visitors' book. Harry was studying the letter when he was startled by the names. " Mr. James Rennie and Miss Rennie and maid, Glasgow." " My cousin, by Jove!" he muttered. He had seen nothing of them for years not since Mr. Rennie had come in for all Sir Robert's money. The daugh ter, Muriel, he had never Been. James Rennie he knew by lepute as a hard and canny Scotchman; and here they were staying at the same hotel. They met that evening In the drawing room. "And this la my daughter, Muriel," Rennie said. Harry looked up. and saw a soft dot of a girl In a black evening gown, who gave him a warm, impluslve handshake. Somehow. Harry and his charge staid on at Montvert for a whole fortnight Harry was a new man The Inevitable was happening. Then the Kennies gave s picnic. It turned out a brilliant, sunny day, and It was decided to go up the valley to a wood near the lower end of the Aiguille Vert glacier. It waa at this j Icnlc It for the first time struck Mr. Rennie that Harry was a trifle more attentive to Muriel than there was any occasion for. He did not say anything, but he made up his mind to two things: Fltst, to watch the young couple pretty carefuly that day; secondly, to leave Montvert tomorrow. Harry and Muriel slipped off amongst the trees, and soon found themselves quite alone. They strolled down to where, from under Its arch of muddy ice, the glacier river started on its foaii.y career, and seated themselves near by on a great mossy stone under a pine tree. The biasing sun made the shade most welcome, and the two sat there quietly drinking in the warm scent of the woods. " I'm afraid our holiday will toon be over," she said. " We have lo be home by the 1st of October." Harry experienced a curious Bhock. With extraordinary Suddenness he realized what life would be without Muriel. " Muriel," be said, quickly and earnestly, " Muriel, will you care?" Apparently she did, for when, five minutes later, an Inter ested spectator walked quietly up behind them over the carpet ti noiseless pine needles, he saw a sight that made hla smooth face wrinkle with rage. The two cousins were sitting closer together than strict cousinship altogether entailed, and Muriel's head was leaning tn Harry's shoulder. James Rennie lost his temper. " You sneaking young scoundrel!" he said, with sudden emphasis that made the lovers Jump to their feet " I beg your pardon, sir!" said Harry, quietly. There was a dangerous gleam In hla eye. " You were saying " " That you are a achemlng fortune hunter. Your uncle cut you off, and now you think to regain the money In a low, underhand way by marrying my daughter!" Crash! A sharp, rending sound, followed by a heavy fall, made all three jump back. A great piece of Ice, loosened by the heat, had fallen away from the glacier end, and something else, too something dark had slipped from the broken mass and lay on the debris bvlow. For a moment no one moved. Then Harry stopped forward and stood by the fallen figure. The others followed. It was the body of a man. He was dressed In rough tweeds, and when they turned him over his upturned face had a quiet, peaceful expression. He might have died an hour ago. Instinctively the two men removed their hats. Then Harry looked at Mr. Rennie. " You know who It Is?" he said. " Yea. It's Sir Robert," he answered in a low voice. They picked the body up and lifted It Into the shade of the lines. As they did so a folded paper fell from the torn Jacket. That evening Harry met Muriel In the hotel garden. " Your father has told you what it was we found?" he said. " Yes. dear," she answered. "And he told me, too, about your suggestion. Harry, you are generous, and, do you know, father appreciates It." " I'm glad he doesn't think badly of me any longer, darling," said Harry. "Hut. you know, we shall be rich on half the money, shan't we?" Muriel s sniwer quite satisfied him. ,iv-'V T