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

(COnttOuSO.J
but it Is the truth. lied-lied
terribly to you. l have sinned even
more terribly, and-and you must
go. Don't you understand me now?
II some one should come-and fino
you here"
There would be a fight" he said
grimly. II have come prepared to
fight" He waited a moment, and
in the silence the brown head in
front Of him slowly dropped and he
saw tremor pass through the
slender form, as II 1t had been torn
by an instants pain. The pallOr had
gone from Howland's face. The
mute surrender in the bowed head,
the soft sobbing notes that he
heard now in the girls breath. the
confession that he read In her
voiceless grief set his heart leap
ing. and again he drew her close
into his arms and turned her face
up to his own. There was no re-
sistance now, no words. no plead
ing for him to go; but in her eyes
he saw the prayer full entreaty with
WuiSu BIG udu COuiC W uiLii Oh tiiC
Wekusko trail, and in the quivering
red mouth the same torture and
love and half-surrender that had
burned themselves into his soul
there. Love. triumph, undying
faith shOne in his eyes, and he
crushed her face closer until the
lovely mouth lay pOuted like a
crimson rose for him to kiss.
"You-you told me something
that wasn't true-once-back
there" he whispered. land you
promised that you wouldn't do it
again. You haven't sinned-in the
way that ] mean. and In the way
that you want me to believe" His
arms frightened still more about her
and his voice was suddenly filled
with tense quick eagerness. why
don't you tell me everything?" he
asked. You believe that if
knew certain things | would never
want to see you again, that | would
go back into the south. You have
told me that Then-if you want
me to go-why don't you reveal
these things to me? II you can't
do that, go with me tonight. We
will go anywhere-to the ends Of
the earth"
He stopped at the look that had
come into her face. Her eyes were
turned to the window. He saw
them filled with strange terror.
and involuntarily his own followed
them to where the storm was beat.
ing softly against the window-pane.
Close to the lighted glass was
pressed q mans face. He caught a
flashing glimpse of a pair of eyes
staring In at them. of a thick, wild
beard whitened by the snow. He
knew the face. When life seemed
slipping out of his throat he had
looked up into 1t that night of the
ambush on the Great North Trail.
There was the same hatred, the
"sme demonias firceness in 1t now.
With a quick movembent How
land sprang away from the girl
and leveled his revolver to where
the face had been. Over the shin
ing barrel he say only the haunting
emptiness of the storm. Scarcely
had the face disappeared when
there came the loud shout of a
man, the hoarse calling of name.
and then of another, and after thai
the quick, furious opening Of the
outer door.
Howladn whirled. his weapon
pointing to the only entrance. The
girl was ahead Of him and with a
warning cry he swung the muzzle
oG.his gun upward. In moment
had pushed the bolt tht locked
the Ncm from the inside, and had
leaped obackt to him, her face
white, her breath breaking In fear.
She spoke no word, but with a
moan of terror caught him by the
arm and pulled him past the light
and beyond the thick curtain that
had hidden her when he had en-
tered the room few minutes be-
fore. They were In second room
palely lighted by mass of Goals
cleaning through the open door or
box stove, and with a second
window looking out into the thick
night. Fiercely she dragged him to
this window. her fingers biting
deeply into the flesh OF his arm.
"You must go-through this?'
she cried chokingly. Quick! o.
my God, won't you hurry. Won't
YOU go?"
Rowland had stopped. From the
5lackness OF the corridor there