Arizona republican., 1912-02-08
TheCoyote By JAMES OLIVER CuRWOOD. Copyright, 1910, by the Pearson
 Publishing Co.)
By JAMES OLIVER cuRWooD.

1ade away. It grew lower, flickQed,
 and went out.
 The oil is gone" he said.
 He heard a movement. Something
 groped out to him in that stark black
 ness. IL was the girls hand. 1t
 touched his shoulder. Her other hand
 touched his face He felt her near
 nearer And then, suddenly, her arms
 were around his neck.
 And that-that's just why this is
 the first time in my life I'M GLAD THAT M A WOMAN" she whispered 1 Its the first time I've ever known. a MAN, and love him. if he is nothing
 but a great big god of a civil engi
 neer"
 In the silence of that moments thrilling joy there sounded the low. tinkling note of the little bell in Phil l ip Daltons watch. It was half past seven. In the sound there was some thing indescribably more significant than the mere .ntonation of time. It was like the first tolling stroke of church bell miles and miles away, soft ened by great distance. and muffled | by the walls of the mountain until 1t came to them only in a whisper. The girls arms frightened about Philips neck, and he felt her shudder, as though the note of the little bell had touched a vibrant chord Ia her body, and he drew her closer and closer in his own arms, until he was suaining her 10 him with a strength which he did not realize until a little cry of pain broke from her lips. He lcosened his arms, and in the darkness he turned up her face until their lips met. and then he heard her breath come quickly and sobbingly, and in a mo- ment she was crying with her face against his breast He kissed her again and again, and in the cayernous stiffness of the mountain his low words rang with a strength and cour- age that after a little lifted her face from his breast, and made her take his own face between her two hands.
 I'm sorry. Philip" she said. speak ing his name for the first time, but I just couldn't help 1t. It-it isn't because I'm afraid. I'm not afraid I'm MOTT"
 She drew his face down 10 her.
 Il cant be afraid with YOU" she said.
 Her courage, her faith, her love the warm thro5bing of her body against him, filled him with a madness which he struggled to fight back. For a few moments he dared not speak, but stroked her hair and fondled her face while he bit his lips until the blood came. She was his. She had given herself to him, and never had life called to him as 1t did now. She felt his arms and his shoulders harden, she felt the stifening of his whole tody, and suddenly he held her back from him, and his madness found vent in words.
 By God, you shall liye-you SHALL" he cried There's another lantern on a ledge near the vent. Wait until find it."
 She stood alone, trembling in the blackness, while he struck a match and searched for the lantern. He found it-half filled with oil. His face was not white now. His eyes almost frightened her. She stood near, hold ing the light, while he went at the rocks again. Her presence put the strength of five men in his arms and body, and he rolled back rock after rock that he had not been able to move before In the madness of his light, Ill the superhuman efforts he was putting in this last struggle, time ceased to ex- ist for him. He did not hear his watch when it tinkled Off the hour of eight. Only each time as he turned his eyes, he saw Isobel Rodney's golden head shining in the dim lantern glow, her eyes fixed upon him with a love and faith that drove reason and judgment from him. But at last he came to the end He came to rocks that he could not move, and as be strained until every muscle in his body seemed to tear themselves asunder, his breath came in a grooming cry. The girl came to him. Her arms were around him again. and he sank down, broken, bleeding, conquered.
 You can't" she whispered, strok l ing back his hair. You can't do 1t, | and-and-" The look in his eyes | frightened her again. "Philip-you look so strange-you frighten me. | You 're-you're not"
 I'm all right" he said, pulling him. | self together with an effort. Little | sweetheart, 1 guess we've lost"
 What time is it?" she asked.
 He pulled out his watch.
 Twenty-Five minutes of nine" said | the girl There was not a tremor in | her voice. Her fingers continued to | fondle his hair. Yes. we've lost, but | haven't We won LITTLE something. | Philip?" She put her face down |