The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-04-05
CHAPTER x.

COdSC naO not taken tWO-ScOre PAGES
along the path to the shore before the
day was again darkened by a sudden
and heavy t%hickening of the mists.
That Frightening glow, which a little
time back he had hailed with hope as
promise Of early clearing, was in an
Instant wiped away. So deep became
the gloom Ito his fancy, as if the fog
had been sprayed to saturation with
a myriad infinitestimal atoms OF Ink
that though it vas now high morning
he found 1t hard to see the ground be-
meath his feet.
Then came the deluge. The heavens
opened and drenched the earth with a
flush of rain literally t%orrential. In
q twinkling soaked to the skin, Coast
gasped for breath and bent his head
to q dOwnpour which whipped him
with a million cruel singing lashes.
PerfOrce at pause for fear of losing
his way, almost beaten thoughtless.
lacking any shelter to fly to, he de-
rived fOrlOrn comfort of a sort from
the very violence of the sQuall, which
supplied its own assurance that 1t
could not endure long. And briefly
this proved itself: heralded by gradu-
al tightening, the heavier clouds
passed off; the initial fury exhausted
itself.
For ON distance the path led him
q wandering way; but this he did not
resent, M more than he really re-
sented his soaking, which seemed but
an inconsiderable annoyance t o a mind
preoccupied. His being vas altogether
ObSeSsed and the process OF his
thoughts clouded by intense solicitude
and pity for Katherine-coupled with
doubts as to the wisdom OF his course.
Was he justified in leaving her,
though she begged and commanded
him? He felt his understanding har-
ried by the pro and con of the ques-
ton like a ball in volley between two
rackets. How could he leave her so?
What else could he do? She rejected,
d~iscredited. dismissed him definitely.
without appeal. She needed him-or
somebody to whom she might turn for
comfort and protection. Blackstock
was not to be trusted: yet she loved
him. If, as she protested, she were
happy in some strange fashion pass
ing Coasts comprehension, had he
any right to step between her and her
happiness. whatever the circum-
stances? If, as was the case, Black
stock had murdered a man in a mo-
ment OF uncomfortable rage. had
Coast any right to leave the woman at
the mercy of a temper which might
NJ onu moment roc,~o %ho oouo-I--
lon of homicidal r.ania? Yet would
not his presence there. upon the is
land. work her more harm than good.
we're he to be discovered?
He was, in the summing up, con.
scious of no choice of action: he could
but go his ways. She desired it, and
though his duty Che saw clearly was
to denounce Blackstock to the nearest
authority. secure his arrest and I'M
Thus in wretched communion with
his heart, he came almost a
second time to the deserted fishing
village, was abruptly conscious OF
shapes Of buildings looming through
the mists and driving rain on either
hand. And with this recognition re-
Cured the memory Of the blind dog
and the murdered
1t was scant consolation that he
no longer heard the bowling Of the
dog. Perhaps 1t had abandoned its
dead, perhaps he need no longer fear
to meet the blank misery of those I'M
canny, sightless eyes. perhaps. .
Even as he warmed that hope, with
out warning something more cold and
moist than his own flesh touched his
hand. He jerked away with an uncon.
troilable shudder and a smothered OK.
clamation Of horror. only to realize
that the animal had stolen up behind
him and thrust its muzzle into bis
palm. He bent over and petted the