marry him?" ‘'Because.’’ she tn’d him softly, ' I love him. I do now ” At: h he understood She did love Ethan, a tender, maternal love "It isn’t lair or honest. A man has his honor. Ethan's my friend. I'll not betray him But he did. He didn't let his con science stand m the way. They held eland'stint- meetings every night ' He needs me, Dan. He loves me." The next day Dan and Ethan set out ' U their attempt t" r< ach (i ey slone' '■ summit At no- n they stopped ' n a little ledge above the line and at their lunch. B\ 1 o'clock they v ere well started a (ain. The ascent vra worse than Ethan had expected. Snow had fallen during tile past weeks. Footholds were preCnra tt Roped, etr.pl-'.v'''g their ice pa-'.- . gaining inches at a time, mid afteria an found them half-way up the glacier On a 11.' >• lodee Eth-dri paused to rest, ami undid the rove. It would, he said, be easy fro 1 then on: they could make better time v about the rone. He was stats'! -gt at the :: ott on! • i the t in of the; ledse. the -leeii incline "f the glacier behind him, and below that an 8000-foot drop. The wind was blowing hard. The ledge was narrow. Dan thought: 1 If I stood up and jostli 11 in i 1 tiny little hit-—” He broke off Suddenly, unexpect edly. the si nw beneath Ethan's feet gave way. It opened up and where there had been a moment before what seemed like a secure foothold—was noth."':. Leaning over as far as he dared. Dan watched Ethan i "it tig down the toboggan-tike s'ide of the glacier at a trrific pace, at a par that would cataj ult ! far over the brim and out into the .''.000-font drop beneath He caught his breath, involuntarily called out. And then suddenly he stopped breathing en tirely. Etl had n ted to turn over «m his 1 mach. to drive his ice-pick with his great strength into 'he sheer ice wall of the glacier. The break ictarded his speed, stopped it. stopped it with in L'O b et "f the brink. Watching, Dan saw I - friend's upternod face, saw him slip and slide a couple of feet more toward the brink, saw it happen twice more, knew that if he waited long enough he could watch Ethan disappear into eternity. Dan had a rope He could climb down the glacier He could toss Ethamtho ropi s end and haul him up before it wa • too bite. He knew this He was sere of it. Vet he sat there, thinking o! Gail, thinking how easy it would all be if he let Ethan go. He was alone, miles from anybody When he told his Story lat"!' they would behove him.

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