Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-10-01
& K e
Author Of The Spcilers" and
The BARRIER
L BROTHERS

1V HlA(h-gVu AAttLt-
Amt you got 10 dry clothes7 Our
stuff is soaked"
Again the Indian translated some
words from the girl.
mo. You hurry and no stop herr.
We 20 quick over yonder. No can stop
at all"
He hurried back TO his mistress,
cried once TO the pack OF gray dogs,
"oonahr' and they were of as II in
chase.
AS they dashed past both white men
had one fieeting glimpse OF a woman's
face beneath a furred hood. and then
Il was gone.
Ibid you seeY' Fraser calculated.
Good Lordi It's a woman-a blond
woman
NONSENSE She must be a breed"
said Emerson.
Breeds don't have yellow hair!- de-
clared the other.
Swiftly they bent in the free dogs
and dashed the team 20 a run They
felt the chill Of death IN their bones.
and instead Of riding they ran with the
sled tn 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
into the midst Of great rambling frame
buildings. Their trail led them 20 a
high banked cabin. Another mile
would have meant disaster.
"Rout out the owner and tell him
were wet" said Emerson. IN free
the dogs"
Before he could reach the cabin the
door opened and Fraser appeared. a
strange. dozed look on his face. He
was followed by a large man OF sullen
cOunteuance.
Its no use" Fraser said. I'VE can't
90 In"
What's wrong? Somebody slckY"
81 don't know what's the matter
This man just says nix that's all"
The fellow growied. "Yaas: Ay got
no room"
But you don't understand" said
Emerson. We're Wet We broke
through the ice. Never mind the
room Wen get along somehow"
You can't come In har You hnd
anodcr house tree mile furder"
The traveller pushed forward Invol-
UNFAIRLY the watchman drew back,
whereupon the unwelcome visitor
crowded past. Jostliug his inhospltable
host roughly. Emerson's quick action
gained him entrance. and Fraser fol
lowed behind into the living room,
where a hat nosed squaw withdrew
before them. The young man address
ed her peremptorily:
Punch up that FIRE and get us some
thing to eat. quickr'
Sour obedience followed.
Fraser had been watching the fell
low and now remarked 20 his compan-
ion:
SAY. what ais that glnney2"
The assumption Of good nature fell
away from Boyd Emerson as be re
piled:
Il never knew anybody to refuse
shelter 70 freezing men before"
The Waterman reappeared.
you can't stop HARP be said. cay
got orders. BY Yingo. Ay trow you
outr'
He stopped and gathered up the gar
ments nearest him. then stepped to
ward the outer door. but before he
could make good his threat Emerson
whirled like a cat. his deep set eyes
dark with sudden fury. and seized his
host by the nape OF the neck. He
terked him back 50 roughly that the
wet clothes Capped TO the floor In four
directions. whereat the Scandinav Wan
let forth 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 q bench.
he 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 q
quivering voice which Fraser had new
eI heard before:
I'm just playing with you now. /
don't want 10 hurt you"
Get out OF my housed Ay got or.
ders?' cried the Waterman and made
for him again.
Emerson dragged him to his own
doorsiil. Jerked the door open and
kicked him out into the snow. Their
barred the entrance and returned e.
the warmth OF the logs. his face coo i.
vulsed and his lips working.
When the siatternly woman had
skunk forth and was busted at the
stove Emerson observed musfngiy:
Il wonder what possessed that fell
low to act as be did"
He said he had orders" Fraser Of
fered. If l had a warm cabin, a lot
OF grub and squaw I'd like to see
somebody give me orders"
Their clothing was dry now and
they proceeded TO dress leisurely.
When they had finished their coffee
Emerson laid two silver dollars on the
table. and they left the house to search
out the river trail again.
The darkness was upon them when
they crept up the opposite bank an
hour later toward a Oroun of ohadaxxv