Adventure, August 1917 — page 34: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

32 You'll find that the new outlet of this lake is subterranean. It’s more than probable, with the lake itself so high above the country around it.” “But it’s worth trying for,” pleaded Wallace. “Yes, it’s worth trying for. Ill give you three days to find out where your water’s gone.” ‘‘Come on, then!” cried Wallace, leading the way back down the river. ‘“Three days isn’t much.” They scrambled back along the edge of the gorge until they were again at the mouth of the slough. Across the empty bed of the river they picked their way to where the three canoemen were staring in wonder at the phenomenon. Frank, excited, still incredulous, was talking almost hysterically of the river that had been there only a few days before. “Make camp right here,’”’ Wallace com- manded. ‘There is enough fresh water in the pools for several days. I’m going up to the mission, Mr. Madison, to learn when the level of the lake began to fall and if they know anything of it there.”’ “T wouldn’t ask too many questions of any one,” advised Madison. “If there is any opposition to your work we want to find out where it is coming from.” EE] JOAN came to the door when Wallace knocked. = “Oh!” she cried. seen it? What does it mean?” “That’s what I don’t know,” he replied. “‘T got back Jess than an hour ago and there wasn’t any falls.” He was so different than when she had last seen him the girl’s heart went out to him in a surge of tenderness. The con- fidence, the exultation, the assurance, the expectancy, with which he had left her, all were gone. He was almost humble in his dejection now, and there was a restraint in his manner and words that told too plainly that their relations were not the same as when he had left. To Joan, who had been waiting her lover’s coming to encourage, to sympathize and to share with him in his defeat, this new attitude was both baffling and disappoint- ing. She resented it a little, too, this recession on his part from the position he had taken with her, all because of a tem- porary setback in his business. “Have you Adventure But after a moment’s thought she realized what a blow to his pride and to his hopes he had suffered and she determined not to fail him at this time through want of understanding. Instead of allowing any expression of pique to creep into her answer, she went on in almost forced cheer- fulness and in a real desire to help. ‘“‘But Wallace, it may be for the best after all. I don’t know anything about engineer- ing. But I’ve been over at the falls and it seems to me there is a wonderful op- portunity for you to do your work there without being bothered by the water. And if you can only find out where the water went you can stop up that place and have your falls again.” “T have thought of that and have asked Mr. Madison to wait,’ he answered almost absently. ‘Is Mr. Bancroft here?” Wallace did not intend his answer to be discourteous. In his disappointment and his angry desire to confront Bancroft he had not realized the spirit in which Joan had spoken, hardly had realized that a suggestion had been made. And because he had never before looked to Joan for help © it did not occur to him now that she was offering this aid unasked. Nor did he com- prehend the hurt behind the girl’s short answer when she said simply: “He is down at the beach mending a canoe, just around that point of spruce. Tl call him.” “No, please don’t. I’ll go.” He turned down the trail to the beach, leaving Joan at the door. Stanton glanced up from the birch-bark canoe which he was repitching when he Seek Wallace’s step on the sand behind im. “Hello, Searles,” he greeted. “It’s hard luck, and I’m sorry.” He extended his hand and there was no embarrassment in his eyes as he looked at the other. In the five days of. Wallace’s absence, Stanton had fought out with himself the situation that confronted him, had forced himself into an acceptance of his fate. He had thought it would be easier, after the long years of planning for Joan, but the final realization of the fact that he had lost her came as unexpectedly as though he had never considered it. Still he had so mastered himself and his emotions that it was with perfect sincerity that he expressed his regret because of the | cCoMmicdook CO 5}