Ridgway of Montana (Story of To-Day, in Which the Hero Is Also the Villain)

there was a more pretentious appearance to it than might have been expected. The cabin was of hewn logs mortared with mud, and care had been taken t

ooking into the tunnel that it belonged to some one of the thousands of miners who spend half their time earning a grubstak

ank. Snowslides ran every year in this section with heavy loss to life and property. Given a rising temperature and some wind, the comb above would gradually settle lower and lower, at last break off, plunge down the precipitous slope, bringing thousands of tons of rock and snow with it, and, perhaps, bury them in a T

rtain that he could make the ranch alone; encumbered with her, success would be a sheer impossibility. On the other hand, their provisions would not last long. The outlook was not a cheerful one, from whichever point of view he took it; yet there was one phase of it he could not regret

his shoulder

"Behold, my lord's hot cakes are ready for the pan and his servant to wait

in the living-room. Thus he could enter in the morning, light the fires, and start breakfast without disturbing her. She had dressed her hair, now in a different way, so that it fell in low waves back from the forehead and was bunc

ee, though she had not meant them so. For the first time some thought of the conventions distressed her. Ou

y gazed into hers. They mirrored his poignant pleasure at the delight of her sweet slenderness so close to

usly, her girlish innocence startled like a

is heart and her own to her. Without misunderstanding the perfect respect for her which he felt, she knew t

resonant with strength, tha

lieutenant. Right abou

tle path of hard-trodden snow in front of the house. She b

ow, we can't stay here all winter," she

very tired of it al

ence it off from all the days that have passed an

t, but only f

d," he sa

he must do, but at the first wo

stay together. If yo

d never get there. The snow is too soft and heavy f

will have

er than you,

er terror. "Would you leave me here-alone-with

eril alone, but his reason overrode the desire and rebellion that were hot within him. He must t

ink you would leave me here alone. With you I don't

erhaps less. I shouldn't think

u don't know how strong I am. I pr

a man's fight. I shall have to stand up to it hour after hour till I reach Yesl

u don't ge

"But I shall. You may look to see me back

Oh, I can't stand it. You don't know-you do

Yes, I know. But you must be brave. You must think of ev

. I AM afraid to stay alone. There's nothing in the world but mount

sunshine in her eyes, she toppled his lifelong creed. The cardinal tenet of his faith had been a belief in strength. He had first been drawn to Virginia by reason of her pluck and her power. Yet this child's very weakness was her fountain of strength

ieutenant." Words of love and comfort were crow

l you be gone

you mustn't begin to expect me until to-morrow

alone. Don't go, please. I'll not get hungry,

o. I wish to Heaven it weren't. You must think of yourself as qui

ow-and the mountains are so big." She tried valiantly to

inute of the time I am away from you I shall be with you in spirit. You'll not be alon

she answered, smiling up at

ations. To the end of the trench she walked with him, nei

g little smile. She wanted to be brave, but

eaving you. My body has gon

omfort in this sophistry,

wn a sob and still smiled throug

o let her weakness rest on his strength. Her arms slipped quickly round his neck and her head lay buried on his shoulder. He he

ious lamb," she heard

suffered. With the mother instinct she began to

him. "And every step of your way I shal

ng as he was in sight he saw her standing there, waving her handkerchief to him in encouragement. Her slight, dark figure, outlined

flung herself on the bed to weep out her lonely terror in an ecstasy of tears. She had spent the first violence of her grief, and was sitting crouched o

he cried, her tear? stain

m the doorway. "Come

followed his finger up the mountain-trail to

orseback, leading a third animal, were breaking a way down the trail, black spots against the background of wh

hand with a finger. "Are y

e cried, lowering

d to his brain with a surge. Her face turn

n know your name

idgway; a

t Rush ran over the girlish face. "No, no,

nseeing eyes into the silent wastes of snow. The roaring in his ears and the mountain

heard her falter, and her vo

above them. There was a warning crackle. The overhanging comb snapped, slid slowly down, and broke off. With gathering momentum it descended, s

on them, splitting great trees to kindling-wood in the fury of its rush. The concussion of the wind shattered every window to fragments

the surface she was conscious. Yet she was pale even to the lips and trembl

rang like a bugle t

We're safe now,

d was plowing his way hurriedly to the cabin, but

still in his. "Wasn't it awful? I thoug

ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forev

ed nose and piercing eyes of a hawk. At first glance he looked always the bird of prey, but at the next as invariably the wolf, an effect produced by the salient reaching jaw

g arms about her, slowly came bac

u-h

ld get through-and

and after she had quietly released herself the man who had saved her heard himself

of hammered steel and bowed, putting h

ley," he said rigidly. "I'll be glad to h

the man's name before, but he only said gravely: "You

You owe me nothing, Mr. Harley-absolutely nothing. What

in his brain. So this was the audacious filibuster who had dared to f

r. Ridgway," he said suavely. "What is