The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-20

teen to the strangers lips, and rubbed
him vigorously, but it was an hour be-
fore he could get him up the path. Al
the while, in his over-wrought fancy,
he heard the cry of the mOther-wolf
for food, and once he was sure that a
pair of luminous eyes were watching
them from the dusk.
ITS no use" said the man at last, 81
can't make it," and he sank Imply on
the bank
Langfeld took off his coat and rolled
it into pillow, then started below
again. In the outfit there would be
matches, and blankets enough for the
night.
just as he reached them a long, whin-
ing howl broke the stiffness. Another
followed, and another. They were
tracking along the trail.
To the man, straining every sinew
under his heavy load, it meant but one
thing. Mechanically he he'd to his
burden and stumbled on. His head
swan dizzily, and the brush about him
seemed to swarm with uncertain
shapes. With a superhuman effort he
hoisted the blankets over the last little
ledge of rock and drew himself up be-
hind them.
The sick man lay where he had left
him. but creeping toward him on the
bank was 1.-the, gray shadow. 1t was
less than dozen feet away.
Langfeld drew his revolver, then,
Nv b., of !,
what he had done.
"Shivers!" he cried. There was a
glad whine of recognition, as the dog
tried to drag himself toward him.
Langfield was kneelng beside him in a
moment. "Shivers, old friend" he said,
and somewhere on his Journey to the
Dog Star" Shivers heard. His stump
of a tail wagged an answer, and in his
glazing eyes there was look of perfect
trust.
The night wore on. Slowly the gray
skirts of dawn swept across the east
ern sky.
Langfeld still sat with the dog in
his arms. The prospector could not
see his face, but the slight dropping
shoulders seemed familiar. The pain
was growing unbearable, and he
grOaned.
Langfield started. Eyes, yes" he an
swered, absently, I'D forgotten"
He put the dog gently from him and
stood up. The morning light was flood.
ing everything, and it fell full upon
the two men as they looked into each
others eyes. Langfeld drew in his
breath with sudden sharpness. The
other muttered an oath and leaned
weakly back against the bank.
tom Perry!" CALCULATED Langfeld,
taking a step toward him, "You"
! The man nodded.
The lines on Langfeld's face were
tense and drawn, and he steadied him
self with an effort. "Well." he said at
last. cts three miles to the camp, and
we'd better be moving"
| There were a few drops left in his
| canteen. He offered them to his
companion, converted himself into a
prop for the wounded side, and the
slow, painful journey down the trail
! began.
Neither of them talked much. The
! mist hung midway on the mountain,
and when they emerged from it, the
company's quarters lay on the ledge
| below. Already the camp was astir.
The two men upon the path paused
exhausted. Langfeld eased the sick
man down and threw himself before
! him. He had not eaten since the day
before, and was weak and giddy. The
! solitude was oppressive. Blue-faced
glaciers smiled mockingly out of the
ravines, raven croaked from the
alders, and the memory of Dolly
seemed lowering in the light. For
the first time Perrys helplessness
tempted him. Why should this man
not have everything which he had
been denied? He felt again the dumb,
pleading eyes of Shivers. Shivers had
loved him; he had never known that
his master was plain and redheaded,
and Shivers-was dead.
Langfield mechanically slipped his
hand to the sheath in his belt, stole
a sideways glance at his companion,
and saw that his eyes were closed.
He drew out the knife and held it be-
| hind him. His breath came in short,
cOnvulsive gasps.
just then Perry gave a stifed
moan. The sound brought Langfrld
to his senses. What was that he had
intended to do? A fit of trembling
seized him. He rose to his feet. though
he reeled as he did so. There was a
swift movement Of his right arm, and
something glanced in the light and
fell far below them in the brush.
mo one needs me-" he thought,
land Tom"
Come" he said aloud, ''we must
get you down for-your wife's sake =
The man did not reply at first.
When he did his voice was trife husky.
Il, have none," he said.
Langfield stared at him. ''Why-
Dolly" he blurted out. "She-" he
began and stopped again, but Perry
understood.
"N-o," he replied with an effort,
"she didn't want me-" He turned his
head and looked unseeingly across
the valley. There was some one
| a1c - ba I'D