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About The Bend bulletin. (Bend, Or.) 1903-1931 | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1921)
PAm rt tHtnu Mi.i.mt tmtit unntHin, 'tiumii,ir,M,HutU in, iwi, me 'VrOKC2JE!j M id OJFTfM "You're wasting time, yon two," hf said. "Kcmcmlicr, nil our foot) Is gone If you atnrt now, and walk liani, may lie you enn make II out." "There lire several things to dt tlrst," Van answered simply. "I don't know what thoy nre. It Isn't coins to tic any picnic. Dan. A man can travel only so far without food tc keep up his strength, particularly cvei such ridges as you have to cross. II will be easy to rIvo up and illc. It the test, man : It's the test." "And what about you his daugh tcr asked. "Oh. I'll be all right. Besides ll' the only (hlng that can be done. I can't walk, and you can't carry me on your backs. What else remains? I'll stay here and I'll scraim together enough wood to keep a Are. Then you can bring help." De kept tils eyes averted when he talked, liowns afraid for Dan to sec them, knowing that be could read the He In tlicm. "How do you expect" to find wood In this siiowl- Dan asked htm. "It will take four days to get out; do you think you could lie here and battle with a Ore for four days, and then four days more that It will take to coiue back? You'd have two choices: to burn green wood that I'd cut for you before I left, or the rain-soaked dead wood under the snow. You couldn't keep either one of them burning, nnd you'd die In a night. Besides this Is no time for an unarmed man to be alone In the hills." Lennox's volco grew pleading. "Be sensible. Dan!" he cried. "That Cranston's got us, and got us right. I've only one tiling more I care about and that Is that you "pay the debtl I can't hope to get out myself. I say that I can't even hope to. But If you bring my daughter through and when spring comes, pay what we owe to Cranston I'll be content. Heavens, son I've lived my life. The old pack leader dies wheu bis time comes, and so does a man." His daughter crept to him and shel tered his gray head against her breast. "I'll stay with you, then." she cried. "Don't be a little fool. Snowbird." be urged. "My clothes are wet Al ready from the melted snow. It's too long a way It will be too hard a fight, and children I'm old and tired out. I don't want to make tho try hunger nnd cold; and even If you'd stay here nnd grub wood. Snowbird, they'd find us both dead when they came back In a week. We can't live without food, nnd work and keep warm and there Isn't a living creature In 'the hills." "Except the wolves," Dan reminded blm. "Except the wolves," Innox echoed. "Itemembcr, we're unarmed nnd they'd find It out. You're young. Snowbird, and so Is Dan and you two will be happy. I know how things are, you two more than you know yourselves and In the end you'll be happy. But me I'm too tired to make the try. I don't care about It enough. I'm going to wave you good by, and smile, and He here and let the cold come down. You feel warm In a little while" But she stopped his lips with her band. And he bent and kissed It. "If anybody's going to stay with you," Dan told them In a clear, firm voice, "It's going to be me. But aren't any of the cabins occupied?" "You know they aren't," Lennox an swered'. ""Not even the houses beyond the Nprth Fork, even If we could get across. The nearest help Is oyer sev enty miles." "And Snowbird, think I Haven't any supplies been left In the ranger sta tion?" "Not one thing." the girl told him. "You know Cranston- und his crowd robbed (he place InM winter. And the telephone lines were disconnected when the rangers left." "Then the only way Is for me to stay here. You can take the pistol, nnd you'll have n fair chance of get ting through. I'll grub wood for our camp meanwhile, und you can bring help." "And If the wolves come, or If help didn't come In time," Lennox whis pered, pnRglon-drnwn for the first time, "who would pity what we owo to Cranston?" "But her life counts flrnt of all." "I know It does but mine doesn't count at all. Believe me, you two. I'm speaking from my own desires when I say I don't want to make the fight. Snowbird would never make It through alone. There are the wolves, nnd maybe Cranston (00 tho worsl wolf of nil, A woman can't mush across those ridges four days without food, without some one who loves her nnd forces her on J Neither can she slay here with me nnd try to make green branches burn In a Ore. She's got thrce-IHtle pls'pl halls and we'd nil die for n whim. Oh, please, please" But Pan leaped for hl hand with glowing eyes. "Listen, man!" he cried. "I know another way yet. I know more than one wny; hut one. If we've got the strength. Is almost sure. There Is an ax In the kitchen, and the blade will still be good." "Likely dulled with the fire" "I'll cut a limb with my Jackknlfe for the handle. There will he nail In the nshes. plenty of them. We'll make a rude sledge, and we'll get you out too." Lennox seemed to be studying his wasted hands. "It's a chance, but It Isn't worth It." ho said at last. "You'll have tight enough without tugging at a heavy sled. It will take nil night to build It. and It would cut down your chances of getting out by pretty near half. Ilemember tho ridges. Dan" "But well climb every ridge be sides. Its a slow, down grade most of the way. Snowbird tell blm he must do It." Snowbird told him, overpowering him wtth her enthusiasm. And Dan shook his shoulders with rough hands. "You're hurting. hoy!" Lennox warned. "I'm a bag of broken bones." "I'll tote you down there If I nave to tie you In." Dan Falling replied. "Before. Pve bowed to your will; hut this time you have to bow to mine. Tm not going to let you stay here and die, no matter If you beg on your knees I It's the test and I'm going to bring you through." He meant what he said. If mortal strength and sinew could survive such a test, be would succeed. There was. nothing In these words to suggest the physical weakling that both of them had known a few months before. The eyes were earnest, the dark face In tent, the determined voice did not waver at all. "Dan Falling speaks I" Lennox re plied with glowing eyes. He was re calling another Dan Falling of the dead years, a boyhood hero, and his remembered voice had never been more determined, more masterful than this be had Just heard. "And Cranston didn't get his pur pose, after all." To prove his words, Dan thrust his hand Into his Inner coat pocket. He drew forth a little, lint package, half as thick as a pack of cards. He held It up for them to see. "The thing Bert Cranston burned 'The Thing Dert Cranston Burned the House Down to Destroy." II10 house down to destroy," he ex plained. "I'm learning to know tills mountain breed, Lennox. I 'Kept It In my pocket where I could light for It, ut any minute." Cranston had been mistaken, after all. In thinking Unit In fear of hluifcelf Dan would be afruld to kec' the racket on Ids person, and would crav. fiily conceal it In tho house. Ho would have been even more surprised to know that Dun had lived In constant hope of meeting Cranston on (he ridges, showing I1I111 whut It contained, and lighting him for It, hands to hands. And even yet, perhaps the day would come when Cranston would know at last that Snowbird's words, after the fight of long ago, were true. The twilight was falling over the snow, so Snowbird and Dan turned to lite toll of building a sled. The snow was steel-gray In the moonlight when tho tittle party made their start down the lopg trail. Their pfeitnfrtiinti pimple rtmf tnuU M thtf ncft. Umt mrif hour of tmnrtm lif Ml lfi(t fiflrf of III IllfCc- 'fill At (f rife duller hf damn and tu bnmttt flurried it wit, had been fooled In ttd annw, nnd with one sound rtfnt. f.rnfin find driven Hip" hot nails' that SwwMril giilhereif from Hip ihIic" of otic of (he ntittiiilfdlnic. Tim ctnlirM of the hnusn ((self mill glowed red In (he darkness. Dan find tnl din green limbs of Ihe trees and planed (Item with hi at, Tim sled Inid been romplfled, Imndles attached for pushing l(, and a piece of fence wire fastened with nails an a rope to pull It. The warnt macktnnw of bolli of them as well as the one blanket that Lennox had saved from the fire were wrapped about tho old frontiersman's wasted body Dan and Snowbird hoping to keep warm by the exercise of propelling tlio sled. Ki cept for the dull ax and the half empty pistol, their only equipment was n single charred pot for melting snow that Dan had recovered from the ashes of the kitchen. The thn-fl had worked almost In silence. Words didn't help now. They wasted no sorely needed breath. But they did have one minute to talk when they got to the top of the llttlivrldgo that had overlooked the house. "We'll travel mostly at night." Dan told them. "We can see In tho snow, nnd by taking our rest In tho daytime, when the sun la bright nnd warm, wo ran save our strength. Wn won't have to keep such big Ores then and nt night our exertion will keep us as warm as we can hope- for. Getting up all night to cut green wood with this dull ax In the snow would break us to pieces very soon,- for remember that we haven't any food. I know how to build a fire even In the snow es pecially If I can find the dead, dry heart of a rotten log but It Isn't nny fun to keep It going with green wood. We don't want to havo to spend any more of our strength stripping off wet hark and backing at sanjlnga than we con help; and that means we'd better do our resting In the beat of the day. After all. It's a fight against starva tion more than anything else." "Just think," the girl told them, re proaching herself, "If I bad shot straight at that wolf today, we could have gone back and got his body. It might have carried us through." Neither of the others as much as looked surprised at these amazing re Lrots over the lost, unsavory flesh of n wolf; They were up ngalnst reali ties, nnd they didn't ralnce words. Dan smiled nt her gently, nnd his great shoulder leaned agalust tho traces. They moved through a dead world, Tho ever-present manifestations of wild life that had been such a delight to Dun In the summer and fall were quite lacking now. The snow wni trackless. Once they thought they saw a snowshoo rabbit, a strange shadow on the snow, but ho was too far away for Snowbird to risk a pis tol shot The pound or two of flesh would be sorely needed before the Journey was over, but the pistol car tridges might be needed still more, she didn't let her mind rest on certain possibilities wherein they might be needed. Such thoughts stole the cour age from the spirit, and courage was essential beyond all things else to bring them through. As the dawn came out. they nil stood still and listened to the wolf pack, singing on the ridge somewhere behind them. It was a large pack. They couldn't make out Individual voices neither the more shrill cry of the females, the yapping of the cubs, or the low, clear (Mielow-mlddk-C note of the males, "If they should cross our tracks " Lennox suggested. "No uso worrying about that now not until we come to It," Dan told him. The morning broke, the sun rose bright In n clear sky. But still they trudged on. In spite of the fact that the sled was benvy and broke through the snow crust ns they tugged nt It. they had made good time since their departure. But now every step was a pronounced effort. It was the dread ful beginning of fatigue that only food nnd warmth and rest could rectify. "We'll rest now," Dan told them nt ten o'clock. "The sun Is warm enough so that we won't 'need much of a Are. And we'll try to get dvo hours' sleep." "Too long. If we're going to moke It out." Lennox objected. "That leaves a workday of nineteen hours," Dan persisted. "Not any too little. Five hours It will be." He found where tho snow had drift ed ngalnst o great, di-nd log, leaving the white covering only n foot In depth on tho lee side. IIo began to scrape the snow nwny, then hacked nl the log with his ax until he had pro cured a piece of comparatively dry wood from Its center. They nil stood breathless while he lighted (lie little pile of kindling and henped II with green wood llm only wood procur able. But It didn't burn freely. It smoked fitfully, threatening to die out. and emitting very little heat. But they didn't particularly core. Tho sun wns warm above, ns always In tho mountain winters of southern Oregon. Snowbird and Dun cleared spares beside the fire nnd slept. Len nox, who had rested on tho Journey, lay on his sled nnd with his uninjured arm tried to hack enough wood from tho saplings thai Dan had cut to keep the fire burning. At three they got up, Mill tired and aching In their bones from exposure. Twenty-four hours had passed since they had tasted food, and their un re plenished systems complained. There i 1)2 lil.'.C Pns!QS. !H thfi, wide world. Former Pantor In Harding's Church U Speaker Her6 Formr-Hr paslnr tif (ha church itllemlnf Uf llm man who Friday (ipfrtinn president 4 of Hip UnKed Wale. Iler W It Ferris, of Portland, filled dm pulpit of (ho Baptist church 4 4 In llend Sunday, and will re- 4 4 main In this city for n 1 1 met (o 4 4 assist tho congregation In Jay 4 4 lug plans for construction of a 4 4 building to replace the frame 4 4 structure destroyed by fl.-o, 4 4 liar. Ferris left Ohio eight 4 4 years ago, 4 The Htato street church In 4 4 Marlon, of which the entire 4 4 Harding family wore members, 4 4 was ono of tho first of which ho 4 4 was pastor, Tho Harding used 4 4 to occupy ono of tho pows well 4 to tho front of tho building, 4 4 Iter. Ferris recalled. 4 Tho Portland pastor spoko 4 4 before the students of tho Bond 4 4 high school this morning. 4 44444444s 44 GETS FREIGHT RATES FOR FOOD PRODUCERS Clifford Thorno of Chfeago. Is tho man who will soo to It that farmers and stockmen got. the best freight rates. He has just taken charge of tho transporta tion department of the American Farm Bureau Fcdoratlon. Embarrassing Moonlit The cur was crowded and as we ncurcd our destination my cousin and I decided to make our way toward tho door. I suddenly missed my -purse, 10 ve started back through tho car to look for It. A number of people helped 'is In the hunt, and then a woman fBld: "Why, your purse Is hanging vn your umbrella." I should havo liked to have made an exit through the nearest window. Chicago Trib une. than the human IiimIv. It will stand more neglect nnd nbusc than tho lines! steel motors ever inndo by tho hnnds of craftsmen. A man may fast many days If he lies quietly In ono place and keeps warm. But fasting Is a deadly proposition whllo pulling sledges over thu snow. Dan was less hopeful now. His face told what his words did not. Tho lines cleft deeper about his lips and eyes; and Snowbird's heart ached when ho tried to encourage her with a smile. It wns a wan. strange smile that couldn't quite hide the llrst sick ness of despair. . The shadows quickly lengthened simply leaping over the snow from tho fast-falling sun. Tho twilight deep ened, the snow turned gray, and then. In a vaguo way, the Journey began to partake of a quality of unreality. It was not that the cold and tho snow nnd their hunger were not entirely real, or that the wilderness was no longer naked to their eyes. It wns Just that their whole effort seemed like some dreadful, unburdened Journey In n drenm n stumbling ndvnnco under difficulties too many nnd real to be true, Tho first sign was the far-off cry of tho wolf pack. II was very faint, simply n stir In the eardrums, yet It was entirely clear. That clear, cold mountain air was a perfect telephone system, conveying a message distinct ly, no matter how faintly. There were no tall buildings or cities to dis turb the ether waves. And nil three of them knew nt the same Instant II was not exactly the cry they had heard before. They couldn't have told Just why even If they hnd wished to talk about It, In some dim way, If had lost the strnugo quality of despair It had held before. It was tin If the pack were running with renewed life, that each wolf was calling to another with a drendriil sort of exultation. It was an excited cry, too not the long, sad song they had learned to listen for. It sounded Immediately behind them. They couldn't help but listen. No human enrs could have shut nut Hie sound. But none of them pretended that they bad beard. And this was the worst sign of nil, I'ncli ono of' tho three wns hoping against liopo In his very heart ; and nl Ihu same time, hop Ing Hint the oiherH did not understand For 11 long time, ns the darkness deepened about them, the forests were still, 'crimps. Dnn thought, he hnd been mlstuken after all. Ills shoulders straightened. Then tho chorus blurvd again. (To bo continued,) ! W.UMWr'JI.lHITall"Ji Wll' Ninety Per Cent of Interior Decorating Is Done by the Woman ofthe House. VVc arc siivlntf yon n Little Hooklct on House Finishing-Exterior nnd Interior. Tells you how much nnd what to apply. Ask for one, Use More Paint Do Less Scrubbing Kalsomine and Paint Makes tho old house look "Like What It Aint" BEND HARDWARE NO TEN INCH RULE IN TROUT FISHING Many people nro of tho belief that thero Is no closed season for trout mure than 10 Inches long, District Oamo Warden Karl 1). Houston de clares. But tho law which formerly afforded no protection for fish of this size, now makes tho samo closed soason for all gnmu fish, ho empha sizes. A close watch Is being kept EASTER GOODS- A full lino of Easter Novelties, Post Cards, Folders, Place Cards, Napkins, Natural Chicks, Ducks, Cotton Rabbits, Candy Hoxes, Easter Candy Eggs and every need to make Easter a joyous time for all. THE FAIR STORE ii:::i.-:::::i::::::n:::::!:m:n:n:::!::::!;::!MK :t:::!:!:::::!:::i:::ai:::iti:mii:s:::ii:::iiau:ui:iu::i:i::ii::i!ii::i:i:iiuiM iiainniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiitiiimitntmiiiiittiiiiiaTJV Stationery Special Monday to Saturday Inclusive A Six Day Sale which deserves more than ordinary consideration. One Pound of Cascade Linen Writing Paper Jy One Pound of Cascade Linen Writing Paper, 45c The regular price, G5c. Pound packages of Cas cade Linen contain 9G sheets of folded note paper standard size a splendid quality with a smooth linen finish. Horton Drug Co, wmium !mw"!ii!wiiiimummi!iui!iiiiiuiit UHJVtHf'4 mt'V ffl"WIWW 1n mil for violators. I'livsiiMii itiiiKerou i.kavkh K. A. Brandenburg, for several months physical director nt the Y M. C. A loft Friday for Minnea polis, following tliu closing of the gymnasium building by tho Bend Holding corporation. Mr. Ilrnndvn burg Intends In take up I1I1 former work ns nn accountant. 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