The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-26

his face: the photograph fell ,unheed-
ed to the floor His bloodshOt eyes
fastened themselves on the fur mat
that hung before the little doorway
leading to the dogs quarters. Slowly
he rose to his feet, and on tiptoe be-
gan to cross the room toward 1t, his
hands stretched out before him like
enc cropping In the Ozark. His face,
sullenly averted from the sick mans
corner, was drawn and haggard, ashy
white with the workings of his reel
Ing brain. Trembling as with the
ague, he pushed aside the mat and
let 1t fall behind him; then he paused
to wipe the great beads OF sweat from
his forehead
What's wrong with me?' he NUT.
tered plalntively "lt's a square deal
The fool suggested II himself; I'd
never have thought of II IL he hadn't.
Lie down, confound you.' he snarled
with vicious kick at the dogs that
whined around him.
They hnddled back into the corner
crouc5ng in fear before this new
master whom they did not know. Bob
stopped ana hauled the sled into the
middle of the shed. He began to
tumble with the gear.
There's more harness than
want he babblcd. with curious
chuckie. didn't bring any spare ones,
either; there must be more dogs
somewhere" He commenced to count
them "One-two-t three-four; where
is tae others? Dead OF course
they're dead, Knew it before, Only /
must have forgotten
He sat down on the sled and be-
gan to tell off the details on his nng
ers.
-Four dogs 200 miles-no rations
Mary?p
There wa; a note of interrogation
in the last word. Who was Mary?
Yes, he remembered nowhere had
been a picture, hadn't there? He felt
in his pockets. Well, 1t didn't mat
er. he must nave lost it. Nothing
mattered. He was going away from
this hell of torment, away from
He bounded to his feet, shivering
in every limb. What was that?
Steathily he edged toward the door
way and cautiously lifted corner oil
the rug to peer thfougn into the room
beyond His eyes mechanically fol
lowed Evans movements, as from the
floor, where he had fallen in an effort
to leave his bunk the sick man slow
~ and painfully pulled himself to his
'inees swaying to and fro as he
clutched desperately for support.
There was moments quiet as
Evans steadied himself; ttcn Bob
started nervously The slow, kalter-
ing words seemed TO reach him from
some great distance.
Il amt nevel prayed afore God,
was the piteous confession, an 4
amt no kind nv righc ter now, but
seems S ii I'd orter. You know how
tbs, God. an how on account uv me-
pob's figuring ter stick 1t ont. 'Tain't
fit ner proper for me what has nary
eaick ner cnilq ter stand atween him
an her Oh. Cod don't know how
ter pray, but thar amt no call fer
Bob ter die,'
Evans voice broke with a half sob
as he fumbled for his words. Bob
stirred uneasily, A faint glimmer OF
reason had come to aim, and he un-
derstood that Evans was praying
PRAYING that he Bob, shouldn't die
Well he wasn't going to die. He was
going away. He'd almost forgotten
that he was going away.
Evans voice was firmer as he CON
tinued:
AN so, God. thar ain'tAno other
thing fer me ter do" His iiand crop
ed beneath the blanke,. Jest mako
me man enough ter
Like a flash Bob's awakening came
in all ITS bitterness. with cry he
dashed across the room and knock
ed up Evans hand. The bullet buried
itself harmlessly in the rafters above
their heads.
Evans staggered slowly to his feet
Between them, on the floor. lay
still smoking revolver The sick
mans glance. half defiant, half visit
IuI, rested for an instant ON Bob'h
face then he pitched forward in a
deathlike swoon.
Bob caught hin as he fell and lift
cd him tenderly back into the bunk.
The room seemed stirling hot lie
staggered blindly to the door, wrench
ed II open and sank, bareheaded, up.
on his knees in the snow
For moment he stayed there mo
tionless, then sobbing like little
child, he poured forth the bitter
weight of shame that bowed llim
down And as he prayed, in the dis
tance, family borne to him by the
wind, came the yelping of pack of
dogs-the crack Of whips--the sound
of human voice.
~ FRANK l.. PACKARD a