Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-20
The Daily Story
The Lone watcher-By Clarissa Mache.
Copyrighted 1914. by Associated Literary Bureau

! HDlSSftSoiy diOuE Lie CRUST Oh snow ho.
lantern hidden behind her.
At last she reached the fallen snrr.,
where she had often sat with Jim Wst
| lace.
She strained her eyes in the dlreo
ton of the cabin and saw nothir.
save flying fakes that chung moist,
| to her face.
| Nearer she crept and nearer untf
she made out the dark bulk of N.
cabin, and against its whiteness az las,
she deserted the dark shape squattine
on the doorstep.
The howl suddenly ceased, and ther.
| turned toward her two blazing balls a,
| fire.
| She crept still nearer and flashed he,
| lantern in the face of the Iops
watcher. The fiery balls receied a,
she approached until she gained ths
doorstep. There she took her stand
waving her lantern in the face of ths
wolf, who was drawing nearer by I'm
perceptible inches.
Anne put her hand behind her and
felt for the doorknob. She turned fl
and the door gave little. She threw
her lantern at the eyes. At that In
slant the lone watcher made his frs,
leap at her and fell short by several
feet. Anne darted into the cabins
dark interior and closed the door on
the muzzle of her revolver Just as the
wolf made his second leap.
His impact against the door, tbs
fash of fire and the report Of thu
weapon all sounded together and were
instantly followed by a howl Of pair
and a dull thud on the crust of snow
outside.
Anne slammed the door shut and
bolted It
Far away, but drawing nearer. was
the sound of wolf pack in full cry
All at once Anne fell to sobbins
softly.
A groan came from the corner of the
dark room.
"Who is there?" somebody whispered
'Did you get the watcher, Ned?'
''It isn't Ned Mclean; it's l." whis-
pered Anne, suddenly aware of the
proximity, of her former lover.
'well, whoever you are, won't you
make a light and give me a drink Of
Anne's trembling fingers found
lamp and lighted it When che turned
its rays around the room she found
Jim Wallace stretched on a couch
white and unconscious. One foot was
clurnsily bound In white cloths
Now Anne emptied her pockets OF
and brandy, and she forced
a few drops of the latter between
inns clinched teeth When that
young man opened his black eyes he
stared amazedly at the vision of pretty
Anne Beliew, blushlngiy attired in her
garments, mfnistering to him
as an angel, as he had dreamed of her
during the periods of delirium.
"Anne," he whispered hoarseiy. rs
it really you. or am dreaming againy'
at is Anne" she said in low tone.
'Tell me, Jim, what has happenedT
He told her briefly. Two days before
he had fallen and broken an ankle.
He had dragged himself into his cabin
and suffered fortunes of hunger and
thirst in addition to the agony Of his
injured ankle. He told OF crawling
outside and sitting with the foot buried
n the snow until almost frozen. He
had made painful efforts to keep his
ire going and to prepare food and
rink. Fever had set In the night be
ore, end he could not remember half
# his suffering, but he did recollect
With singular vividness that the lone
had sat on the doorstep and
lowled.
Three times he jumped at the door,
II vxznfr
o." painted Jim as he concluded his
ale. "He came again tonight, and
elieve he would have got in when the
est of the pack arrived If it had not
cen for you, Anne. What happenedF
THE watcher is dead" said Anne
uietly. II shot him, Jim, just as he
,aped at me- All There comes the
ack."
Outside there was a chorus or yeips
nat subsidized into growls as the woh
act found the carcass of the watcher
nd fought over it.
Anne found herself shuddering as
lie finished binding the horribly swo-
n ankle in soaking wet cold cloths
How came you here. Anne. SO far
ON home, and why were you cryingf
smanded Jim. suddenly sitting up ana
itching Anne's hand.
Anne went down on her knees beside
m and told him of her fathers ankle
concerning his neighbours safety ana
Nv she had set forth alone TO find out
neither he needed help. Little by III
, Jim drew from her the story OF her
'e mile journey through the snow
orm. of her fear of the wolf PACK
ID her determination TO reach his
bin.
When Anne had finished her story
+ face was laid against his, and sne
It tears on his cheeks
You did II for me. little Anne" No
lispered. What can l do TO make
Just keep on loving me-" interrupt
Anne as her lips fell lightly on his.
That is too easy" grosned Jim, pus
smiled happily.