The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-11-23
THE DANGER TRAIL
II Copyright 1910. BobbsMerrn Company
JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD

came the beat of heavy fists on the
door and the rage Of a laundering
voice demanding admittance. From
out in the night it was answered
by the sharp barking of a dog and
the shout of second voice.
why should go?" he asked. u
told you few moments ago that
l had come prepared to fight, Me-
leese. l shall stay-and fight"
"Please-please got" she sobbed
striving to pull him nearer to the
window. "You can get away in the
storm. The snow will cover your
trail. If you stay they will kill you
kill YOU"
II prefer to fight and be killed
rather than to run away without
you." he interrupted. IF you will
go"
She crushed herself against his
breast.
81 can't go-now-this way"
she urged. But l will come to
you. promise that will come
to YOU" For an instant her hands
clasped his face. "Will you go
II l promise you that?"
You swear that you will follow
me-that you will come down to
the Wekusko? My God. are you
telling me the truth, Meleese?"
Eyes, yes, l will come to YOU
II you go now" She broke from
him and he heard her fumbling at
the window. 81 will GOMEZ will
come-but not to- Wekusko. They
will follow you there. Go back to
Prince Alberto the hotel where
| looked at you through the WIN
dow. will come there-sometime
as soon as ! can"
A blast of sold air swept into his
face. He thrust his revolver into
its holster and now again for an
instant he held Meleese- close in
his arms.
you will be my wife?" he whis-
pered.
He felt her throbbing against
him. Suddenly her arms frightened
around his neck.
yes, II you want me then-if
you want me after you know what
| am. Now, gO-please, please GOT
He pulled himself through tho
window, hanging for last moment
to the ledge.
'lf you fail to come-within a
month"; shall return" he said.
Her hands were at his face again.
Once more, as on the trail at lie
Pas. he felt the sweet pressure of
her lips.
II will come" she whispered.
Her hands thrust him back and
he was forced to drop to the snow
below. Scarcely had his feet
touched when there sounded the
fierce yelp Of dog close to him,
and as he darted away into the
smother of the storm the brute
followed at his heels, barking ex.
citedly in the manner of mongrel
ours that had found their way up
from the south. Between the
dogs alarm and the loud cutlery of
men there was barely time in which
to draw a breath. From the stair
platform came rapid fusillade or
rifle shots that sang through the
air above Howland's head, and
mingled with the fire was a hoarse
voice urging on the cur that fol-
lowed within o leap of his heels.
The presence of the dog filled the
engineer with fear that he HAD
not anticipated. Not for an In
slant did the brute give slack to his
tongue as they raced through the
night, and Rowland knew now that
the storm and thte darkness were
of little avail in his race for life.
There was but one chance, and he
determined to take 1t. Gradually
he slackened his pace. drawing and
cooking his revolver; then he
turned suddenly to confront the
yelping Nemesis behind him. Three
times he fired in quick succession
at moving blot in the snow-gloom.
and there went up from that blot
a wailng cry that he knew was
caused by the deep bite OF lead.
ITO he cOntintied \