Ruth.

"Let's see if this one is open," proposed Alice. "They may be hospitable
enough to have left the door unlocked."

As she spoke she tried the latch. Somewhat to her surprise the door did
open, and then to the astonishment of both girls they found themselves
in an unoccupied cabin.

"Oh dear!" cried Ruth. "What a disappointment!"

"Isn't it?" agreed Alice. "Well, we can try the other."

They stood for a moment in the main room of the small cabin, and looked
about. There was nothing in it save a few boxes.

"We could make a fire--I have matches, and we could break up the boxes
on the hearth," said Alice. "Shall we?"

"No, let's go to the other cabin. I'm sure someone will be there,"
suggested her sister.

"Come on!"

They stepped to the door, but at that instant the snow began again,
harder than before.

"No use!" cried Alice. "We're doomed to stay here, I guess."

"Well, it's a shelter, at any rate," sighed Ruth. She was not frightened
now.

"And there's another good thing," went on Alice. "These cabins are a
definite place. If a searching party starts out for us Mr. Macksey will
be sure to think about these, and look here for us. I think we are all
right now."

"We're better off, at any rate," observed Ruth. "I believe we might make
a fire, Alice."

"That's what I say."

They had taken off their snowshoes, and now, by stamping and kicking at
the boxes, they managed to break them up into kindling wood. Soon a
little blaze was crackling on the hearth. The warmth was grateful to the
chilled girls.

They stood before it toasting their cold hands, and then, when Ruth
went to the window to look out, she called:

"It's stopped snowing again. Don't you think we'd better run to the
other cabin while we have the chance?"

"I suppose it would be wise," agreed Alice. "We really ought to start
for Elk Lodge, and we could if we had a guide. Come on."

Together they started for the larger cabin, but when half way to it they
saw three men coming out. The men had guns over their shoulders, and
they headed down the trail, away from the girls.

Not before, however, the two sisters had a good view of the features of
the trio. And instantly the same thought came to both.

"Did you see who one of those men was?" gasped Ruth.

"Yes, it is he! And those are the same two men who were with him
before," answered Alice.

"Dan Merley--the man who is going to sue daddy for that five hundred
dollars!" went on Ru