The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-09-19

50 ' ' '''S''' 80 : VI
4 getting everything else, even
the weakness of hunger. he
had flung himself down upon the dirt
floor. thankful to be out of that bitter
wind which for hours had swept against
his face. and bulfeted him back. until
every muscle of his body felt sore and
bruised. He wanted nothing now so
much as to lie still and breathe. But that
laugh. brief and joylcss us it was. seemed
so inharmoniouS, so utterly out of place
in that cheerlesS hut almost within the
Arctic circle. that it came to him now as
physical blow. He lifted his eyes. yet
heavy with the snow glare. and. almost
at the same moment, flung himself for
ward. For an instant two human forms
struggled desperately in that sem-,lark-
ness, then Maynard slowly forced the
other back. and looked down into the
glaring eyes.
Curse you, O'Brcn.' he said coldly,
and the helpless man he addressed seem
ed to shrink back from the look in his
face. IF YOU attempt anything like THAT
again III throttle you like IL dog
But she's got food. Jack" the voice
almost whncd, it was 50 piteouS. Il
saw II back of the curtain there
The other turned partially around to
look, his hand still heavy on tthe PROSTATE
man, and for the first time saw the girl.
Ronghened as he was by long Years ON
the frontier. gambler and gun-tighter.
there was that yet in Jack Maynard that
compelled him to exhibit respect for Il
woman. No one would have called this
one pretty. yet there was that about her
which would lead IL man to look twice if
they met in crowd-a slender woman,
and her face seemed very pale it was
framed by such wealth of dark hair.
Somcway her eyes interested Jack: he
felt vaguely THAT he had seen them some
whore before.
Are You hungry = she asked, as he
sat there and stared ut her.
I'VE have eaten nothing since ycster-
day morning" he answered hoarSely.
He is craZrd by what he has PASSED
through"
Whatever she might be. this she under
stood. In quick silence. her dark eyes
full of pity, she handed out what she had
and, drawing back into the deeper shad-
ow. watched the furnished men eat. 1t
was not much. but to them it was as the
gift of the gods.
Suddenly Maynard paused and looked
up.
What made you laugh = he asked.
Il hardly know" she said YEARLY: Il
think | was nervous and YOU came in 50
suddenly"
His eyes We're rivctcd upon her face.
81 have it now" he said quickly. you
are Jessie Cole"
faint finish Sprang up into her cheeks
1T has taken You some time to guess"
she answered. u bit of sarcasm in the
soft infection of her voice. II had sup
posed | was well known i'll Dawson"
He bowed gravcly. feeling somehow
that her manner compelled Il respect that
he could not account for. considering
everything he had formerly thought of
her.
Il have never been interested in things
thcatricnl," he said in explanation. and
merely recognized You from your ltho-
graphs"
Then he added quietly:
81 certainly had no reason to expect
meeting You here alone.
She lifted her head, and faced him al
most proudly
You say You feel no interest in theatre
cal life" and her words were clearly dis
tinct, ''and possibly You possess but small
respect for any woman who is compelled
to earn Il living in that profcSSiun
Doubtless your Alaska experience has
not added greatly to your charity in this
respect. If this be 50. then you will scar
ccly comprehend my motive when | say
that | am here alone. and have been for
five days. by my own deliberate choice
that | preferred solitude. yes. even death
itself. with the bare possibility of being
overtakcn by honorable men. rather than
continue longer in company with THOSE
with whom | travrlcd.''
She hesitated, and he sat watching her
in silence.
"Whcther you are honorable men, she
continued calmly. Il do not vet know"
For the first time in years Il red flush
spraUg into the mans face. You NAV,
indeed, have cause to doubt it," he re-
piled, almost harShly. but without hest
tation. when | tell you am Jack
Maynard.'
He was conscious of her quick breath
of surprise. and it hurt him. yet he went
sternly on with all he had to say.
"Moreovcr, we left Dawson in some
thing of a hurry, and there is doubtless,
posse on our trail"
1t was almost totally dark there under
that low. Snow-covered roof, and he
could not distinguish her features clearly,
but the light of the one Pickering candle.