Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-17
! .AlaaR PHILIP STEELE
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Sg7 ~ JAMES Oliver CURWOOD
~ Author The Danger lroi DhefuOr feBe eSnOwse.
MA x W. cspydsht The -Merrnco


AOSN
in the lake, eh?"
Dogs and everything" said
Philip. Even matches"
"Those ice-traps are bad" said
DeI3ar companionably, slowly turn
ing the bird. you always want to
test lakes in this country. Most
of 'em come from bog springs, and
after they freeze, the water drops,
Guess you'd had me pretty soon II
it hadn't been for the lake, wouldn't
your"
He grinned, and to his own aston
ishment Philip grinnedd
81 was tight after you, Bill"
"ITo! ho ho!" laughed the out
law. "That sounds good! I've gone
by another name, of course, and
that's the first time I've heard my
own since"
He stopped suddenly, and the
laugh left his voice and face.
ut sounds-homelike," he added
more gently, Whats yours pard'
ner."
"Steelc-Philip Steele, of the r. N.
w. M p" said Philip.
Used to know a Steele once"
went on DeBar, THAT was back
where it happened. He was one OF
my friends"
For moment he turned his eyes
on Philip. They were deep gray
eyes, set well apart in face that
among a hundred others Philip would
have picked out for its frenkness
and courage, He knew that the
man before him WAS not much more
than his own age, yet he appeared
ten years older.
He sat IN on his s,edge nc na-
Bar left his bird to thrust sticks
into the snow, on the ends of which
he hung Philips frozen garments
close to the FIRE. From the man
Philips eyes travelled to the dog.
The hound yawned in the heat end
he saw that one of his fangs was
gone.
"If you're starving, why don't you
kill the dog?" he asked.
DeBar turned quickly, his white
,eeth cleaning through his beard.
Because he's the best friend I've
cot on earth, or NEXT to the best, u
he said warmly. Hes stuck to me
through thick and thin for ten years
He starved with me, and fought
with me, and half died with me
and he's going to live with me as
long as | live. Would you eat the
flesh of your brother. Steele? He's
my brother-~the last that your
glorious law has left to me. Would
you kill him if you were me?"
Something stuck hard and fast
in Philips throat, and he made nc
reply. DeBar csme toward him
with the hot bird on the end of his
stick. With his knife the outlaw
cut the bird into two equal parts
and one of these parts he cut into
quarters. One of the smaller pieces
he tossed to the hound who de.
voured it at gulp. The half he
stuck on the end of his knife and
"
mo" said Philip. 81 can't"
The eyes Of the two men met
and .DeBar. on his knees. slowly
settled back, still gazing at the
other. In the eyes of one there was
understanding, in those of the Other
stern determination.
"See here" said DeBar, after 8
moment, don't be a fool, Steele
Let's forget, FOR little while Goo
knows what's going to happen tc
both Of us tomorrow or next day
and it'll be easier to die with com
pany than alone. won't 1t? Let's
! forget that you're the Law and In
the Man, and that I've killed one OF
two. We're both in the same boat
and we might as well be little bi
friendly for few hours, and shak,
hands, and be at peace when tn,
! last minute comes. If we get out o
this, and find grub. we'll fight fai
and square, and the best man wins
BE square with me, old man. ant
I'll be square with you. s'elp M
God!"
He reached out hand, gnarled
llnotted, covered with callouses an,
scars, and with a strange sound II
his throat Philip caught 1t tightl
in his own,
"I'll be square. Bill" he cried
'T swear that I'll be suuare-o
those conditions. II we find CRU
and live We'll fight 1t out-alone-
and the best man wins. But Nv
had food today, and you're starving
Eat that and I'll still be in bette
condition than you Eat 1t, an
We'll smoke Praise God I've got m
pipe and tobacco"
They settled back close In the Ie
of the drift, and the wind swirle
white clouds of snow-mlst over the
heads. while DeBar ate his bird an
Philip smoked The food that weI
down DeBar's throat was only
morsel. but II put new life into hir
and he gathered fresh armfuls