The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-06-26

storm.
Ki-ii-iah-a-a-a-a-uh.
How loud it 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 a bullet
from his rife the challenge Of the
watcher?
Either Jim was away or be 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 direc-
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 whiteness at last
she deserted the dark shape squatting
on the doorstep.
The howl suddenly ceased, and there
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 dra wing nearer by i'm
perceptible inches.
Anne put her hand behind her and
felt for the d%oorknob. She turned 1t,
and the door gave a little. She threw
her lantern at the eyes. At that In.
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 a howl OF pain
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 a 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 there" somebody whispered.
Did You get the watcher. Ned?"
1T 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 q light and give me a drink OF
water? Ah!" Silence from the corner.
Anne's trembling fingers found .
lamp and lighted it. When she turned
its rays around the room she found
Jim Wallace stretched on a couch
white and unconscious. One foot was
clumsily bound in white cloths.
Now Anne emptied her pockets of
sandwiches and brandy, and she forced
a few drops Of the latter between
Jim's clinched teeth. When that
young man opened his black eyes he
stared amazedly at the vision of pretty
Anne Bellew. blushingly attired in her
fathers garments. ministering to him
as an angel. as be had dreamed OF her
during the periods of delirium.
Anne he whispered hoarsely. lis
it really you. or am l roaming againr'
1T is Anne" she said in a low tone.
Tell me. Jim. what has ~happened?"
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 vividness that the lone
watcher had sat on the doorstep and
howled.
three times he jumped at the door,
and ! was afraid the dimsy lock would
CO." painted Jim as he concluded his
tale. He came again tonight. and /
believe he would have got in when the
rest Of the pack arrived If it had not
been for you, Anne. What %happened?"
1.-The watcher Is Dead" said Anne
quietly. Il shot him. Jim, just rs he
leaped at me. All! There comes the
pack"
Outside there was a chorus of yelps
that subsidized into growls as the wolf
pack found the carcass of the watcher
and fought owe it.
Anne found. herself shuddering as
she finished binding the horribly swol-
len ankle in soaking wet cold cloths.
>"How came you here, Anne, so far
from home. and why were you crying"
demanded Jim. suddenly sitting up and
catching Anne's hand.
Anne went down on her knees beside
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