West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-17
NUMBER 81
Naturally. l never have" she an.

| ewcrcd.
"wcli. here Il IL. have II from
tho lips OF great hunter OF tho
Tananas. He told it 20 me when I was
sick once I'm his cabin. and inasmuch
as he Is a wise Indian and has n
reputation for truth have no doubt
that Il Is scrupulously correct.
I'm the very old days before the
white man or corned beef had Invaded
| this land, the greatest tribe I'm all the
north was the Tananus Tho brayest
hunter OF these was itlka, the second
| chief lie could follow n moose TIL it
| fell exhausted I'm the snow, and no had
many belts made from the claws OF tho
| brown bear, which Is deadly wicked
and, ns every one knows, inhabited by
the spirits OF 'yabla men, or devils.
ono winter a terrible famine settled
over the Tanana valley. The moose
departed from tho gulchcs. and the cur
ibou melted from the hnls like mist.
Tho dogs grew gnunt aud howicd all
night, the babies cried, the women be-
came hollow eyed and pcevlsh.
"Thon IL was that ltika decided TO
so hunting over the saw tooth range
which formed the edge OF the world.
They tried 10 dissuadc him. saying it
was certain death because pack OF
monStrous white wolves taller than the
moose and swiftcr than the eagle was
known TO range these mountains, run
ming madly IN chase. Always on clear,
cold nights could be seen the flashing
OF tho moonbeams from their gleam-
Ing, hungry sides, and, although many
hunters had crossed the passes In other
years, they never returned for the pack
slew them.
Nothing could deter Itko. however,
so he threaded his way up through tho
range and, night coming. burrowed into
drift TO sleep in his caribou skin.
Pccrlng out into the darkness, he saw
the flashing lights thousand times
brighter than ever before. The whole
heavens were nblazc with shifting
streamers that raced and wrlthed back
and forth In wild rcvcl Listening, he
heard the hiss and whine of dry snow
under the feet OF the pack aud dis
tant noise as of rushing winds, al
though tho alr was deathly still.
with daylight hc proceeded through
the range till he came out above
magnificent valley. Descending the
slope, he entered n forest of towering
spruce, while on oll sides the snow
wns trampled with tracks as wide as
snowshoe. There came to him q
noise which as he proceeded Increased
TIL IL filled the woods. II was fright
ful din. as though n thousand wolves
We're bowling with the madness of tho
kill. Cautiously creeping nearer, ho
found monstrous white animal strug-
Cling beneath n spruce which had fallen
upon IL In such fashion as 10 pinion IL
securely.
"Ail brave men are tender hearted. !
so Itika set TO work with his AK and {.
cleared away the burden. regardless OF
the peril 60 himself When he had
There isn't half the disorder you
think there ls. There weren't any
crimes In this country till tho tonder-
feet arrived. We didn't know what n
thief was. If you came 10 cabin,
you walked In without knocking. The
owner filed up the cofIeepot and sliced
intQ the bacon; then when he'd started
your meal he shook hands and asked
your name. IL was just the same
whether his cache was full or whether
he'd packed his few pounds OF food
200 miles on his back. That was hos
pitality TO make your southern article
look pretty small. If there was no
one at home, you ate what you needed.
There was but one objectionable breach
OF etlquctte-to fail to leave dry kin
dlngs. I'm afraid OF tho transltory
stage we're coming to-that epoch OF
chaos between tho death OF the old
and the birth Of the new. Frankly, 1
like the old way best. l love the IL
cense Of it. ] love 10 wrestle with ma
ture, TO snatch and guard and fight for
what / have. Two been beyond tho
law for years, and want TO stay there,
where life Is Just what II was Intended
10 be-a survival OF the Attest"
His large hands as no grlppcd the
bulwnrk were tense and corded, while
his rich voice issued softly from his
chest with the hint OF power unlimited
behind f. Ho stood over her, tall.
vlrilo and magnetic. She saw now
why he had so Joyously hailed the
fight OF the previous night TO one OF >
his Kind IL was as salt air to the nos
trils. Unconsclously she approached
him, drawn by the spell OF his strength.
MY pleasures are violent, and my
hate Is mighty bitter I'm my mouth.
What I want take. That's been my
way III the olu lie, ana I'm 100 HclnSh
10 give Il up"
lie was gazing out upon the dimly
lucent miles Of ice but now he turned
tOward her and, doing so. touched her
warm hand next his on the rail-
She was staring up at him unaffect-
edly, so close that the faint odor from
her hair reached him. Her expression
was simply one Of wonder and curios-
ity at this type. 50 different from any
she had known. But the mans eyes
were hot and blinded with the sight OF
her. and he felt only her beauty
heightened I'm the dim light. the brush
Of her garments and the small, soft
hand beneath his. The thrill from the
touch Of Il surged over him. mastered
bin.
What 1 want. I take" he repeated,
and then suddenly ne reached forth