News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-10-05

40 Lnc uOSS anu tOIc lot
firm foothod the sled came crunchin
closer and closer through the half inc
skin of ice. Then he reached dow
and dragged Emerson out, drippln
and nerveless from his immersion. To
gether they rescued the outfit.
The person in the sledge had watch
ed them silently, but now spoke in
strange patois. and the breed CAV
voice to her words. for it was a wo
man.
"One mile you go-white man house
Go quick-you freeze"
"Ain't you got no dry clothes? Om
stuff is soaked"
Again the Indian translated some
words from the girl.
mo. You hurry and no stop here
We go quick over yonder. No can STOP
at ALL"
cried once to the pack of gray dogs,
"Oonahw and they were off as If in
chase.
AS they dashed past both white men
had one feeting glimpse of a woman's
! face beneath IA furred hood. and then
/ it was gone.
Ibid you see?" Fraser calculated.
"Good Lord! It's a woman-a blond
womann
Nonsense! She must be breed"
. said Emerson.
Breeds don't have yellow hair" de-
clared the other.
Swiftly they bent in the free dogs
and dashed the team to a run. They
felt the chill of death in their bones,
and instead of riding they ran with the
sled till their blood beat painfully.
Their outer coverings were like shells,
their underclothes were soaked. and,
although their going was difficult and
clumsy. they dared not stop, for this
is the EXTREMIST peril of the north
They swung over the river bank and
buildings. Their trail led them to
high banked cabin Another mile
would have meant disaster
trout out the owner and tell him
we're wet" said Emerson. I'm free
the dogs"
door opened and Fraser appeared.
strange. dazed look Oh his face. He
was followed by large man of sullen
countenance>
Its no USE" Fraser said. I'VE can't
go ill.,"
whats wrong? Somebody sick?"
81 don't know what's the matter.
This man just says nix that's all"
The fellow growled, "Yaas; Ay got
no ROOM"
But you don't understand" said
Emerson. We're wet. We broke
through the ice Never mind the
room. Well get along somehow"
You cant come in har. You find
anoder house tree mile furder"
The traveller pushed forward. Invol-
unfairly the Waterman drew back,
whereupon the unwelcome visitor
crowded past, jostling his inhospitable
host roughly. Emerson's quick action
gained him entrance, and Fraser fol-
lowed behind into the living room.
where fiat nOsed squaw withdrew
before them. The young man address
ed her peremptorily:
Punch up that fire and get us some
thing to eat, quick!'
Sour obedience followed
Fraser had been watching the fell
low and now remarked to his compan-
ion:
Say. what ails that ginney"
The assumption of good nature fell
away from Boyd Emerson as he re
piled:
~ never knew anybody to refuse
shelter to freezing men before"
The Waterman reappeared.
You can't stop har" he said. cay
got orders. BY Yingo. Ay trow you
outw
He stopped and gathered up the gar
ments nearest him. then stepped to-
ward the outer door. but before be
could make good his threat Emerson
whired like cat. his deep set eyes |
dark with sudden fury, and seized his |
host by the nape of the neck. He |
ierked him back so roughly that the |
wet clothes Tapped TO the floor in four |
whereat the Scandinavian |
LET forrr a below, but Emerson struck |
him heavily on the jaw with his open |
hand. then hurled him backward into |
the room so violently that he reeled, |
and. his legs colliding with a bench. |
be fell against the wall. His assail |
ant stepped In and throttled him, beat |
ing his head violently against the logs.
Emerson. stepping back. spoke in a
quivering voice which Fraser had new
e. heard before:
I'm just playing with you now. !
don't want to hurt you"
"Get out of my house! Ay got or
dersv' cried the Waterman and made
for him again.
Emerson dragged him to his own
doorsill. jerked the door open and
kicked him out into the snow. then
barred the entrance and returned to
The warmth of the logs. his face con-
Tulsed and his lips working.