The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition Part 28

Bob's sister, Della, was sitting in the library, staring spiritlessly out at the Winter landscape. Mr. Temple stole up behind her and, reaching over her shoulder, thrust the message from the radio corporation under her eyes.

Della's glance fell and she began to read the printed words. Then she leaped up, whirled around, her eyes like two stars, and threw her arms around her father's neck.

"Oh, Daddy, Dad-dee," she screamed.

He held her off at arm's length and looked at her. Her eyes began to fill up with happy tears, and once more she threw herself into his arms.

"Well, kiddy, cry all you want to," he said, comfortingly, patting her on the back. "I guess that's the medicine you needed. You'll be all right now."

Mr. Temple's words bore reference to the fact that for months Della's health had been failing, and she had shown so little interest in her studies that it had been considered wiser to take her out of the boarding school which she attended, and bring her home.

"Oh, yes, Dad-dee," she sobbed, her face buried in his coat. "I'll be all right now."

Then she lifted her tear-stained cheeks and asked anxiously:

"It says they are all safe-_all_? Doesn't it?"

Mr. Temple nodded, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, kiddy," he said. "Frank's safe, too."

"Oh, Dad-dee, I didn't mean that," said Della, blus.h.i.+ng furiously.

"No need to fib to me, kiddy," said her father. "Bob is only a brother; but Frank--"

"No, you shan't say it," laughed Della, and she placed a hand over his mouth.

Nevertheless, it was to be noted that from that time on Della no longer moped and looked ill, but took an intense interest in all the daily affairs of life, even wanting to return at once to school.

"Marjie Faulkner will be dying to talk things over with me," she explained to her mother.

"Why, dear, what do you mean?"

"Well-you know-she's sweet on Bob."

"Oh, you girls," said Mrs. Temple, with a sigh. "You'll be the death of me. At your age--"

"At our age you were engaged to Father," said Della. "Now don't deny it.

Dad has even told me how you planned to elope, but were overheard by your mother who persuaded you to be conventional and have a wedding at home."

Mr. Temple looked across the dinner table at his wife and grinned shamelessly.

"George, did you tell her that?"

"Why not? It was the truth."

"Oh, George. Aren't children nowadays hard enough to handle as it is, without letting them know how silly we older people were once?"

"Now, Mother," said Della, rising quickly and going to her mother's side, and kissing her. "Don't scold Father. Can't you see he's dreaming of that day again?"

And dancing to her father's side, Della dropped a kiss on the spot where his hair was thinning out, and then danced gaily from the dining-room.

Once more Mr. Temple grinned at his wife, as he sipped his coffee. Then putting down the cup, he leaned forward and said confidentially:

"You do remember that time, don't you, dear?"

Mrs. Temple started to say something sharp by way of reproof for his silliness, but a softened look came into her eyes as she stared back.

The years that intervened since their youth seemed to slip away.

"Why, George," she said. "You look positively handsome."

As for Della, a telegram to her friend, Marjorie Faulkner, apprised the latter of the message from the Far North to the effect that the lost had been found. And Della soon followed her message in person. Thereafter the two girls were never tired of talking about the possible adventures that had befallen the boys, and while Marjorie sang Bob's praises, Della sang Frank's. Poor Jack, it is to be feared, was somewhat slighted in these discussions.

"I'll warrant you that Bob saved the day for them all," Marjorie said on one occasion. "He's so big and strong."

"Well," flashed Della, "Bob's my brother, and that's all right. But if they ever got in a tight pinch, I'm _sure_ it was Frank that got them out. He's got more brains than all the rest put together."

"Oh, Della, how can you say that?" cried Marjorie.

"Well, just because Bob is my brother must I be always praising him?"

demanded Della.

For a moment the two girls positively glared at each other.

Then the twinkle began to come, and they laughed.

Then they were hugging each other.

And then they were at it again.

CHAPTER XXVI.-TREED BY WOLVES.

One more adventure, and that a serious one, was to befall the boys as a final taste of life in the wilderness. One day towards the end of Winter, when the sky cleared after several days of tremendous rain, the three boys who had been cooped up in their quarters and had worn out even the amus.e.m.e.nt of listening to the Edmonton radio concerts or communicating with the Post of the Mounted, announced they were going hunting.

The supply of fresh meat had fallen pretty low, and additions to their larder would not be unwelcome. Accordingly, Mr. Hampton made no objection to their departure, but insisted that Art or Long Jim accompany them.

"I'd be no good," said Long Jim. "Sence I did that fool trick o' cuttin'

my hand with the axe a couple-three days ago, I cain't set finger to trigger. You better go, Art."

"All right, boys," said Art. "I'd like to stretch a leg, too."

The four, accordingly, set out. In the forest surrounding the spot where they had chosen to erect their huts, there was no longer any game, for the animals had come to learn that these strange creatures brought destruction and had decamped elsewhere. Finally, after they had proceeded some distance without sighting anything, Art suggested they strike for a higher level on the adjacent mountain side. The huts had been erected near the foot of one of the ranges r.i.m.m.i.n.g the valley.

"Maybe we'll run into a mountain sheep or a goat," he said. "Anyhow, we can see better from a higher lever, for this forest down here is so thick you can hardly see a yard away. The moon's out an' up there the trees is thinner."