Part 30 (1/2)
Days passed The thaw spent itself and a freeze set in Again there was excellent skating and ice boating, though the girls were a bit timid of the latter Then came several winter affairs--parties in country-hoh the courtesy of Mrs Franklin
The girls enjoyed every one of the its coldest spell The Christ the disputed claim, Mr Jallow appeared to have matters in his favor His men continued to cut the choice timber despite the protest of Mr Ford, as in despair at his inability to prove what he believed to be his right
Alice Jallow and her friends remained in their winter cabin, but our friends saw little of them Occasionally the boys s little was said
A big snow storirls went in for snowshoes, no one being very expert on theone to town for soo for a little tramp It was not cold, and the snoith a heavy crust, was just right for the ”tennis racquets,” as she soaily dubbed the snowshoes
They walked for several miles, and were about to turn back, when, unexpectedly they calade
”I wonder who lives there?” said Ao too close It h
”That's no trap!” insisted Grace ”It's a regular cabin I' to look in Maybe an Indian used to live there, and we can find some relics”
The others rather reluctantly followed as Grace advanced She peered in one of the s, and, as she uttered a cry the others heard a distinct groan
”What--what's that?” gasped A in a bunk!” exclai at one another with fear-blanched faces, they heard a hollow voice calling:
”Help! Help! Get me a doctor!”
”Some one is hurt!” cried Betty ”We asped Grace ”I saw him!”
”Well, a man can need help as well as anyone else,” said Mollie, in defense of her chum Betty ”Come--I'm not afraid”
Resolutely she went to the front door It opened at her touch, and the others, standing behind her saw a figure huddled up on a bunk built against the cabin wall
”Oh, thank the dear Lord soroaned a et a doctor or so is broken, and I've been without help for two days!”
Then his voice trailed off weakly
”He's fainted!” cried Betty, hurrying to his side
CHAPTER XXII
THE OLD LUMBERMAN
Finding an injured man in a lonely cabin, practically snowed in, was not the only surprise the girls were to receive that day The other followed quickly on the heels of the first It was Mollie who ”sprung it,” as Will said afterward, and even Grace did not rebuke hi