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Show page 76 echo from the gulches and ravines. Jim, without shifting position, without glancing from out his upturned collar and xvide brim hat, toyed with the smile that played at the corners of his mouth and answered, "It'll separate the men from the boys." He glanced' at Al and shook the snow off his collar. His smile widened and crowfeet around his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Cook's shack, kid. I'd like it myself." The kid heard. Falling snow was not in his vision. The cold stretched beyond and ax^ay. The dead feeling began in his feet and mounted to his throat and stuck there. It was from a very small world that he looked at Fritz and Jim. Fritz could feel his stare as he could feel the swirling snow. He gave as much talk to the subject as the wild country spared for anything. "Flora's been asking for you, boy. It's going to be a hard x«7inter." Al knew little joy. He recognized the soft-spoken answer that stood as law in this valley of strength. He could say nothing. The storm carried them to the corral in silence. The youth rode with a strange and unknown and unanswerable hurt. He heard no sound on the silent earth. He rode alone. But youth believes in youth's destiny. Thus did the white cloth of Flora's table become in |
