Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-07-10

storm.
Kli-i-iah-a-a-a-a-uhl
How loud 1t sounded to Anne's terri
fed ears!
The animal must be very near the
cabin, and where was Jim Wallace
that he did not answer with bullet
from his rifle the challenge of the
watcher2
Either Jim was away or he was Ill,
or worse.
Anne walked warily now, slipping
noiselessly along the crust OF snow, her
lantern hidden behind her.
At last she reached the fallen spruce
where she had often sat with Jim Wal
lace
She strained her eyes In the dlrec.
ton of the cabin and saw nothing
save flying flakes that chung MOSTLY
to her face.
Nearer she crept and nearer until
she made out the dark bulk OF the
cabin, and against its whlteness at last
she deserted the dark shape squatting
on the doorstep.
lho HOWl buuucHly NeubCu, uHh tueiu
turned toward her two blazing balls Of
fire.
She crept still nearer and flashed her
lantern In the face OF the lone
watcher. The fiery balls receded as
she approached until she gained the
doorstep. There she took her stand,
waving her lantern in the face of the
wolf, who was drawing nearer by i'm.
perceptible inches
Anne put her hand behind her and
felt for the doorknob. She turned 1t,
and the door gave little. She threw
slant the lone watcher made his first
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, the
fash Of FIRE and the report of the
weapon all sounded together and were
instantly followed by u howl Of pain
and dull thud on the crust OF snow
outside.
Anne slammed the door shut and
bolted 1t.
Far away, but drawing nearer, was
the sound Of wolf pack In full cry.
All at once Anne fell to sobbing
softly.
A groan came from the corner of the
dark room.
"Who is there2" somebody whispered.
"Did you get the watcher, Ned2"
ut 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 light and give me drink OF
water2 Abr Silence from the corner
Anne's trembling fingers found n
lamp and lighted 1t. When she turned
its rays around the room she found
Jim Wallace stretched on couch,
white and unconscious One foot was
clumsily bound In white cloths.
Now Anne emptled her pockets OF
sandwiches and brandy, and she forced
a few drops of the latter between
Jlm's cllnched teeth. When that
JOuHk Iluh OIIthtu NJfH hb
stared amazedly at the vision of pretty
Anne BelIew, blushlngly attired In her
fathers garments, mlnistering to him
as an angel, as he had dreamed OF her
during the periods Of delirium.
"Anne," he whispered hoarsely, "ls
It really you, or am | dreaming againT
at IL Anne" she said In low tone.
hau lao s.nana1Ifg
He told her briefly. Two days before
he had fallen and broken an ankle.
He had dragged himself into his cabin
and suffered tortures OF hunger and
thirst In addition to the agony of his
Injured ankle. He told of crawling
outside and sitting with the foot buried
In the snow until almost frozen. He
had made painful efforts to keep his
fire going and to prepare food and
drink. Fever had set In the night be-
fore, and he could not remember half
of his suffering, but he did recollect
with singular vlyidness that the lone
watcher had sat on the doorstep and
howled.
"Three times he jumped at the door,
and was afraid the fiimsy lock would
CO." painted jim as he concluded MS
tale. He came again tonight. ana
believe he would have got In when the
rest OF inc pack arriveu II II lnu ~.
peen Tor you anne Wnaa nappeneu
me Watcner lS ueau' salu aims
quietiy snot MN, JIM JUST as no
leaped at me- AM lnere co'heS t"o
pacKF
OUTSIDE there was chorus OF yeips
that subsidized into growis as the Won
pack tound the carcass OF the Watcher