Smyrna times., 1908-08-05

Floyd entered, noisily stamping the
snow from his feet.
Thought I'd come back and have an
other talk with Lorena," he began.
''Oh, Floyd, she's gone after your
cried the distracted woman, wringing
her hands. Il saw her footprints point
ing toward the bluff. She got sorry
right after you left"
IN find her." said Floyd quickly.
Don't worry" And he dashed back
into the storm.
When LOrena. softly closed the kitch
en- door she could just see Floyd round
ing the bluff
Floyd! Oh, Floyd, come backr' she
called, all her reserve gone, her fierce
pride thrown to the stormy winds that
blew the fringe of her shawl into her
eyes.
Realizing that he could not hear her,
she started after him, but by the time
she had covered half the distance Il sea
of wlite swept in between and bl0tted
him from view.
She hurried on, calling his name re-
peatedly, but the furious wind tore at
her breath and walled her about with
fieecy clouds. She never even made the
bluff
And when she found that she had
missed it and tried to retrace her steps
the drift had filled her tracks If she
could only strike the trail! In despera-
tiOn she turned to the right and turned
to the left, but one turn offset the
other.
Thus she struggled on and on and
still ON until in spite of the biting cold
the perSpiratiOn burst from every pore.
This was we'll enough as long as she
kept moving. but when the time came
that she must stop she would freeze
all the quicker for her present warmth.
This, being born and bred of the
northland, LOrena knew, and the
knowledge kept her tOiling, toiling on
until her tired limbs compelled a
pause in the shelter of a bluff She
leaned painting against a rock, all un-
conscious of a pair of eyes which
glared from a willow thicket near by.
While she rested the green lights in
the eyes fiared brighter, a long red
tongue licked the grinning jaws hun
grily, and forth from his covert stole
Il lank, gray wolf.
LOrena uttered Il frightened cry.
| This was no coyote. to be chased with
Il stick, but 4 wolf of timber stock. a
great beast. strong as a mastiff. He
emitted low snarls as he skunk in half
circles across her front He was un-
decided.
SO while he circled. preparing for Il
spring drawing a little nearer at every
turn, Lorena fell Blackjack toward
the bluff, keeping her white face al
ways to the creeping beast.
With sudden inspiration she took off
her heavy shawl and threw it, blanket
wise, over the VOLTS head and then
fled desperately. Once clear of the
! shrub she ran on, planging through
drifts, stumbling, falling. to rise again
and push her fight
/ OF direction she took no heed. Her
only thought was to place distance be-
tween herself and the famished brute
But when, weary and breathless, she
paused to rest, out of the drab drift
stole the lank, gray shadow.
With a terrified Shrek Lorena ran
and ran and ran as the tired doe runs
from the hounds. At last she stopped
spent, unable to take another step
Looking around. she saw the wolf, lick
ing his hungry jaws, crOuching for the
final spring. With bitter cry she fell
upon her knees and closed her eyes.
Just then two shots rang out in
quick succession. Looking up. she saw
Floyd Jordan, with his smoking re.
volver in his hand, standing over the
PROSTATE beast.
"FlOyd, oh, Floyd!' she sObbed as
he came to her with eyes tender and
anxious. He picked her up from the
snow, wrapped her in his coat and
held her against his breast.
The storm was lifting. FarreITs
cabin could be plainly discerned moi
a quarter of a mile distant.
'Pm dead sure now I'll build thai
cabin on my claim" Floyd said as they
started homeward