Show 5 t be TRAI 0 OB g V u i A 8 Romance 8 by Robert n W. W Service 8 U ILLUSTRATIONS S t UY DV IRWIN MYERS le I A 7 RY FROM THE START young youns Scot Meldrum Rho dO tills ten tells the tilt story leaves u brother Garry Gaff h r and n mother fortune fortun At San hll hie neg practicallY P penniless n a I laborers laborer's borer Job lob and adventurer whom who n II a fellow Prod I the tb Prodigal Prodigal- The ubI uba to loin Join the th rush rub i I. I and old Into Alaska l tom m a agrees agre to go with him r b hi t the lh prodigal r come cornu fm from a lilt to hi bl t ID to tk age East Athol In n InI ni 1 er I Deed eed d is I. befriended by Jim Jimr When bird r Salvation Jim Prodigal returns return the three loin loH the tb stampede Into the thea theten On lt boat la ten lID a o Bi obviously out of place ola ii la traveling with her grander grand grand- hr r end and nd a I bird looking couple ed td who figure ae u loci incle and aunt Athol hat has to befriend her ber she lb ht telli tell him a sad lad tor story atory of ot lit life She e s Journeying Into ka I to 10 take care of her grand Krand If ere who Is I. obsessed with the theof theof of or setting getting rich In Klondike f name mme she b tells tella him la is Her Her- Lan at Skagway A At Athol's hoi's hois tt at it ones one takes the trail trails i s on the lb Chilcoot 11 it which Berna and her ber com corn Ions had taken hundreds of i s ire lost Fearful for Berna i 11 Athol hastens buten to the nt nn He lie finds ands the old man dead learns biros that Berna Derna Is Ie pros proa led 14 i re rev re ei rs to let et him see aee the girl be he le l res a letter for her ber PTER IV Continued IV-Continued Continued 5 5 party part was well qualified to pass it of the troll trail The Prodigal all II 11 ol of Irrepressible enthusiasm Nays loaded to the muzzle with Sah atlon Jim Jm was a mine of ol hi hr and lad resource while the Jam proved himself an D for fur work Altogether we fared than the average party were pre camped ramped on the narrow l r water ater between Lindeman and andt n t and ond as us ha hay was two wo hundred ft n dollars a ton tun the first thins thing 4 l was sa to 0 butcher the ox The Theft Ther r ft es to 0 see Sloe about building a boot boat M of our own i but the timber Umber near ns us was wall or r out so ao that In the thee ther r p b bogh lumber paying for It Iti t tI I tents centi i a toot foot We were all ver very veryn rt r carpenters however by 10 Int 05 others we managed to make ot at looking boat booL Ire was ns going fast Strangers It still III coming In over o the trail awful tales of Its horrors borrors Bens Ben Ben- Bengas gas s ill all excitement and aDd seething Thousands of ungainly boats and nil scows avows were waiting to be b. tied het Already craft were begin begin- 10 ro tome come through from Lindeman Ilia m down o the tierce fierce torrent beIbe be be- beh bethe h the Ibe two lakes t C Ice was las loose and broken We all 11 H ready to start sar In a few dillS days mighty might camp ramp was In D a ferment Every one ODe seemed J I bt beyond md words On once onre more A grent great exultation d 4 l lip imp P In me me the voice of youth 11 the lust to tu conquer I 1 I 1 I 1 would wrest from fromm f. f tact m t lonely mysterious North of Its III treasure I 1 would be R a Mur r tat i and ab abstracted I looked Into disk of sheeny sky m mm dl 8 troubled 11 u I loll a ghostly hand iru and with a great start of ot Ie e I 1 turned ma gnu l I ctrl was wua wearing a thin black I around her shoulders but bU In lu wind l blowing from the lake Mol like a wand Her face Iule waxen almost olmos' spiritual In ir Ares pres len lwi and she looked at mt mr Just the Ille most pitiably swe sweet 1 In m the Ihl world urr I startled y you yuu i but fui i d to 10 thank you for your our letter etter t r fur fur sympathy You see see Im I'm ne now now- The voice rolce faltered Pili em un bravely Ive I've got gilt no nil Ial 1111 titres about me tae any anI more re Ie hn helD been sick 80 so sick I wondo t 1 V dUll dont i I few Mane blame knew you'd forgotten DI rue you But Ive I've nev ties I o y You Ut and nd I 1 wanted to see sel 81 St nuts nut's e more re u I was quite calmly ann ano lia nal I I cried i dont dunt say that reproach hurts ate uie so so- Indeed tr try j to 10 o m 1 and D y you Ut but its it's s 's such wt fI a mR P- P 1 There here are so of many thou people here ere nW Time ano OM I It V vl but bUI no one ne o. o Cerna I didn't forget forger n yf a night rye re lain laino thinking o of you ou wonderIng 11 hilt III See eh ee y you u KaIn- KaIn What a aV hr J I V you arel I You rou look tl would Uld blow you away treat Ial tee e out ul l tills ls niGht girt around n you you- come now ow alien 1111 her In ln It II a and I d v tl her I T saw v with Irti Ihl Shivering cease cense In tn the 0 ut I I he the I CIU sky net hen ryes ees were lustrous o n j Irre I In e aid JK again wb why did W jov 1011 why J You Tou should ba have havee VI e liok she Nhe d geYe Indeed 4 n I tle h 8 gladly flu lut you rob abet Hie let lei the I. I nail gut all 1111 his and they did get It though ther they swear he had bad they made nude me ml come on with them The They said I 1 owed them for his burial and for the tho care and attention they gave gUe me when I 1 was sick They said Sald I must TO COme on with h them and work for tor them I protested I 1 struggled Hut But what what's the OS use nse I t cant can't do anything them any more Im I'm weak and Im I'm terribly afraid of her She shuddered then hen a look of fear came carue Into her ber eyes I 1 put my hand 1 on her arm orIn rm and ond nd drew her close to ml me This Is terrible Berna nerna What Wha have you been doing all the Ibe time Oh Ob Ive I've been working working for them They've e been running a restaurant and oDd Ive I've waited on table But Dut were we're going down the lake take to tn morrow so I 1 thought though I would JU Jus I Islip slip awa away and say good good-by Not good by t I faltered not nor good by food by by Her Der tone was measured her eyes closed almost Yes Im I'm afraid I 1 mi t say ft St When we get ge down there Its It's goodby good good- by b good Fund The less you have bae to do with me mA the better beUer What do you mean meon Well I mean menD this These people are not Dot decent They're vile I must go with them I 1 cannot get away Go your way uy and und leave me to 0 whatever what hal ever fate Is In store stare for me Never everl I 1 said harshly What do doyon yoU yon take rite HIP fur for Berna 1 My friend you know after utter his lla death deatti hen when I was so sick 1 I wanted to die Then I 1 got gilt your yur letter let leI ter and ond I 1 felt I 1 must mus' see seo you for for I 1 thought a lot of you No Nu Noman's Nomans Numan's mans man's er e been so kind to me as you 1011 have hll They've Thee all been the been the other sort I used usell to think of you yon a good deal and I 1 wanted waned to do some little thing to show you I 1 was really grate gratefuL gratefuL fuL fut Oh come Berna never mind that Y Yes PS I 1 mean It IL I l Just wanted to 0 tell you the things a poor pour girl thought of you Hut But now Its It's all Oearl nearly over Weve We've neither of us got gol to 0 think ol oh each other any more and I 1 Iju ju just t wanted to give ghe you this thIs to to re remInd remind remind mind you sometimes of Berna BerDs It was a poor little locket and aDd It contained a lock lork of her silken hair Its worth nothing I 1 know but Just keep It for tor me Indeed I 1 will Berna Beroa kee keel It al always always always ways and wear It for you But nut I cant can't let you go like this See here bere girl Is there nothing I 1 can do Berna Bernu Berna look a at me listen to tome tome tome me I 1 Is there What can ran I do do Tell me tell me IDe my girt girl She seemed to sway to me gentl Indeed I 1 did not Intend It but somehow somehow some some- how she In my arms She felt so slight and frail a thing I feared to hurt borl her Then I 1 felt fell her ber bosom boom heaving anI am amI I t knew she was crying For or a little I 1 let her cry but bu pr presently I 1 lifted up the white face race that lay IllY on ni mi 01 shoulder It was Will We wet with tears Again and again I kissed her She hl lay passively In to my arms Never did she try to fo escape nor Dor hide her face but seemed to give Ive herself up to me Her ller tears were salt suit upon my 01 tips lips leiher yet lei her own lips were fold and she did dad not DOt answer to m my kisses At ln last t she spoke Her voice olce was Willi like a little sigh Ol Oar If It could only be bo I l IW W What ha t Berna Ceron 2 Tell me IV what ha 12 If you could on only I rake take me u n from them protect me care cure for me Oh Ob If It you ou could only marry me tae make me your 11 wife fl I would he be the best wife In the world to you I would work may tny lingers to ro I the hp hone bone for you yon I would starve e and suffer sutTer for you yuu and walk the world barefoot for your our sake tilt th m to dear my dear pity me I It 11 wined seemed ns as It If a U sudden light had dashed IM upon 1 m mj my brain stunning me DIe bewildering me DIe I thought of the 11 princess ts of rn my dreams I thought of or GUI Carry and of mother Could I take her to them Herna nerna I Md said sternly look ook at me She obeyed Berna tell me by all 01 you yon regard BS II pure lure and holy hol do you love lo me rite She SlIe w was DS as silent and averted B her eyes No terna I 1 said you rou dont don't youre you're afraid Its It's not no the sort of If love ove youve you've dreamed of ot Its It's not Dot your IdeaL It would be gratitude anti at at- love of a kind but bUI ne never er that great greo dazzling light that passion pos that thaI would raise to heaven beaven or drag to hell bell low How do I 1 know Perhaps that would coon come In ID time I l care re a great ireat deal deol for you I 1 think of you yuu always I would he be a true devoted wife wit wife Yrs Yes I l know Berna Herna but hut you yon dont don't love me love me OIl see dear Listen Berna nerDa I Heres Here's where our e I Id s e d 1 r rf t f Tk ri i Her Tears Teara Were Salt Upon My Lips Lip Yet Her Own Lips Lip Were Cold In race comes In You Ton would rush blindly Into loto this You would not Dot consider con conn sider alder test and pro yourself It Its It's the most serious matter In tn life lire to tome tome me something to be looked ai as from every ery side to be weighed and hal bill ancell As All I 1 said laid this my conscience wa was whispering fiercely Oil Oh fool I l Coward Cow ard ardi I Tattering despicable coward I This girl throws 8 herself on you Ou on your honor chivalry manhood and you screen creen yourself behind a barrier of convention However wever I 1 went ou You might come to love 8 me In time but bul we e must wait walt a while littie lit II tie UP girl girt Surely that Is reasonable I 1 care for you a 0 great great grea deal but bot I dont don't know If 1 I love you In the great wa way people pie should love Cant Can't Cantwe we welt walt a little tittle Berna eron Ill I'll look after lifter you dear wont won't that do doT She disengaged ed herself from me sighing woefully Yes I 1 suppose that'll do Oil OU Ill I'll never forgive myself for saying that thai thatto to you ou on I 1 shouldn't but hilt I 1 was so des pernie lerote You dont don't know what It II meant to 10 me sue please forget for It wont won't you No Berno Berna Ill I'll never neter forget furgel It It ano ann Ill I'll always alwa's bl bless ss you for having said It Believe e me rue dear It II will all oil come right Ill I'll watch no one harms you and love lo will come rome to both of as us In III good time lime that thai love lose that means life and und death hate and adoration rap lure ture and aud pain the 1 greatest thing In tn the world Oh Ob my dear my 01 dear trust trus' me met I Let us wait alt a little Ion long Ionic tr lr Just jus' a n little longer Yes Yea that that's tight right a little longer Her lIer vole voice was II taint faint and nd toneless She disengaged herself Now good goodnight they may ha hn have missed N tae me Almost before I 1 could l realize It sh alt bad had disappeared amid staid the tents leavIng leav leu Ing me Ine there In the gloom with In my heart full of doubt self self reproach reproach and aDd pain Oh despicable paltering coward t I CHAPTER V VIt VII VIt It II was spring when we set act sail null on Oil the sunlit waters of like Lake Bennett I Never Ne had I 1 felt so 10 glad And Indeed J It was 08 s a vastly merry mob that Iho stilled with m us training straining their eyes els once more inure h to the Hie 1 ot of their dreams r Yet under nil all the Ibe mirth and R gayety et you could feel tense lense ruthless and an dominant the spirit of ot the troll trait 1 Klondike or ar bust l I Once Onie more mort the slogan rang on bearded lips tips once more the lust gold soli t lu-t smoldered In their eyes The old primal lust Of all who had hud started out with ns us but hut a few had hod got Int this far Of nf these and we were far fur farIn farIn In ID front victors of or the he trail trull qualified to tu rank ronk with the the- theMen Men of the High thigh North the sourdoughs of the Yukon valley Three days days' start ahead were erl the I kept a keen lookout for them and aM ever every day I hoped we would overtake I their scow Irow for constantly I 1 thought of Berna nerna tier Her face so wistfully ten tender tener dor der er haunted me and over and anti over o In my mind I 1 kept recalling recoiling our 10 las Ins meeting At A times I 1 blamed myself for letting let letting ting her go to so easily and aud then again I 1 was wal thankful that I 1 had not Dot al allowed allowed lowed lowell my heart to run away with m head bend For I was WItS beginning to wonder If It I had bad not gl given ven her my heart 11 en It easily willingly and aM without re rev serve And In truth at the Idea I 1 felt felta a strange thrill of Joy The girl Irl seemed to me all nil w as fair loable lovable lov lo lovable able and sweet We were now skim skimming minK o er TagIsh Tag TalC Ish lake a dead calm a blazing sun lun suna a 8 seething mist of mosquitoes V WI We sweltered In the heat bent we strained with blistered hands at the ours oars wt WI cursed cuned and tolled like a thousand others oth othera ers era of or that grotesque fleet W We entered the 1 F mile Fifty river we wo were werl werlIn In a giant valley tier after tier Her of ot benchland rose to sentinel mountains of cf grandeur The river was our beast beat of or burden now a 8 tireless gentle beast Then one evening as we were sweeping down the placid river the current suddenly quickened The hanks banks were sliding past at Gt a strange speed SwIft Swiff Swiftly ly 11 we whirled around a bend nn and anil there we were right on OD top of the th dreadful canyon Straight ahead what seemed to be a solid wall of 01 rock The river looked to have no DO outlet i but as we drew nearer Dearer we saw sow that there here was a narrow chasm In ID the son stony face and find at this the water was rearing and ond charging wIth an nn angry roar I Will was la in the bow All at once I saw directly In front a scow struggling gling to snake make the shore In ID her there were three people two women and a man I f saw lIaw the man Jump out with a rope and try to snub loub the scow to 0 a tree Three times he failed tailed running along the bank und and shout shouting In frantically 1 I saw lew one of the women Jump ump for the HIP shore Then at I the hI same Instant the rope parted and the scow with the remaining woman went swirling on Into the canyon All this I saw and so was vos I 1 that I forgot our own peril I 1 heard a 8 shrill scream of fear I saw the flip solitary woman crouch down lr Ir II the bottom om of the scow burying tier her face fue In her ter hands I saw S the scow rise |