Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-08


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"Please. please gog' she sobbed. striv
ing to pull him nearer to the window
You can get away In the storm. The
snow will cover your trail II you
stay they will kill you-kill you"
II prefer to fight and be killed rath.
er than to run away without you." be
interrupted "If you will co.
She crushed herself against bis
breast
~ \can't go-now-this way" she
urged. "But I will come to you.
promise that-I will come to you" For
an instant her hands clasped his face.
"Will you 60 II promise you thatT
"You swear that you will follow me
that you will come down to the We
kusko7 My God. are You telling me
the truth. MeleeseT
"Yes. yes; I will come to you II ycn
90 now" She broke from him. and he
heard her fumbling at the window. 81
will come; will come. but not to We
kusko. They will follow you there
Go back to Prince Albert-to the ho.
tel where I looked at you through the
window. will come there-sometime
-as soon as I can"
A blast of cold air swept into his
face. he had thrust bis revolver into
It's holster. and now again for an in.
slant he held Meleese close in his arms
"You will be my wifer' he whis.
pered
he felt her throbbing against him
Suddenly her arms frightened around
his neck.
Eyes. If you want me then-if you
want me after you know what am
Now. go-please. please go!"
He pulled himself through the win.
dow, hanging for last moment to
the ledge.
III you fail to come within a month
l shall return" he said
her hands were at bis face again.
Once more. as on the trail at LIE Pas.
he felt sweet pressure Of her lips.
81 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
excitedly in the manner Of the mon.
grel ours that had found their way
up from the south. Between the dogs
alarm and the loud outcry Of men
there was barely time in which to
draw a breath. From the stair plat
form came a rapid fusillade Of rife
shots that sang through the air above
Howland's head. and mingled with the
fire was hoarse voice urging on the
cur that followed within leap Of bis
heels.
The presence Of the dog filed the
engineer with fear that he had nor
anticipated. Not for an instant did
the brute give slack to his tongue as
they raced through the night. There
was but one chance. and he deter
mined to take It Gradually be slack
ened his pace. drawing and cooking
bis revolver; then he turned suddenly
to confront the yelping Nemesis be-
hind him. Three times he fred In
quick succession at moving blot IN
the snow gloom, and there went UP
from that blot a waIing cry that be
knew was caused by the deep bite OF
lead.
Again hn plunged on. muffled shout
Of defiance ON his lips. For a mo-
ment he stopped to listen and stare
futilely into the blackness behind
him. When he turned to go on his
heart stood still. A shadow had loom
ed out Of the night half dozen
PAGES ahead Of him, and before he
could raise his revolver the shadow
was llghtened by a sharp fash of fire
Rowland staggered back. his fingers
loosening their grip ON his pistol. and
as he crumpled down into the snow he
heard over him the hoarse voice that
had urged on the dog. After that there
was space of silence. Of black chaos
In which he neither reasoned nor lived
and then there came to him family the
sound Of other voices. Finally all Of
them were lost In one-a moaning. sob
bing voice that was calling bis name
again and again. voice that seemed
to reach to him from out Of an indnity
Of distance and that he knew was the
voice of Meleese.
The voice died away. he lived
through a cycle Of speechless. painless
night Into which finally gleam OF
dawn returned. He felt as II years
were passing In bis efforts to move, to
lift himself out Of chaos. But at last
he won. His eyes opened. be raised
himself. His first sensation was that
he was no longer in the snow and that
the storm was not beating into bis
face. Instead there encompassed him
damp dungeon.like chin. Every.
where there was blackness - every
where except In one spot. where lit
tie yellow eye Of nre watched him and
blinked at him. At first he thought
that the eye must be miles and miles
away. But II came quickly nearer and
still nearer until at last he knew that
It was a candle burning with the 81
lence of q death taper q yard or two
beyond bis feet
CHAPTER Xv.
70 va ornpv