The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1915-03-15


dasediy at Hazard with.
out moving to lot him
pass. well. I'm glad
you'd havs been gladder II you'd
kept off drink till I did come" 70.
turned Hazard grimly. He pushed
Rider aside and shut the door ON the
two Of them. "You might have tried
to keep sober. anyway Man. couldn't
you even see you were all the protec-
ton Miss RidseWay hadr'
Rider brushed his hand across his
eyes. and biinked at Hazard. tits
not drink" he said vacantly, "it's
sleep. l guess you needn't remind
me about MISS Ridgeway-I done my
best for her. Mr.. Hazard. I haven't
more than what you'd call dozsd off
for q week. I haven't dared to, be-
cause Of her. The men have been
clean, stark crazy. I've had to live
In here, and ! guess you'll have to
excuse 1t. couldn't intruds onto
Miss Ridgeway, and I could keep an
hard before that'--hs let out y string
Of epithets without apology-"Ridge-
way left. and didn't know but what
they might got harder: was scared
solid what the men might do. There's
two doors to the bunkhouse, and I
couldn't be at both Of them; 20 kind
Of thought 1t might be best for Miss
Ridgeway IL ] stopped here. I 1uessed
the gang would get along for . while
without any foreman"
I'm sorry, Rider; I ought to have
known you were white" said Hazard
quietly. Nov tell me what scared
There was . kind Of mix-up with
the men. Of course. but nothing to
start q girls father off In the middle
Of the night with all the canoe and
Indians we had. and leave her In the
middle Of IL fBut she never said q
word-just told me she helped him
Co."
Can Ridgeway get to Tabeak, get
supplies, and be back here by Christ
mas7 You know he can't. First
place, we're late in November now:
he'll be too late at Tabeak. what
scratch dogs there arc there will
have been picked up long ago. And
GOD knows what provisions he can
get there never saw any! Hen
son Bay post"
(which he can't without dogs"
Rider. trying fiercely not to nod. spat
at the stove and missed 1t. "He
wouldn't tramp 1t on snow-shoes
to save the lives Of the lot Of US.
No. sir; he'll settle down In Tabeak
Ii ever he gets there!"
what dye mean?" The intention
In the tired drawl arrested Hazard
in O much needed change of socks. IL
the rags he put on deserved the
name.
II mean his three Indians mayn't
want to 20 to Tabeak. II they don't.
they've only got to cut down the
long still water going out Of Bear
straight home to their own place.
Ridgeway won't know the differ
ence till they get there-unIess they
dump him out at the saltwater"
"Joe wouldn't dare" began Hazard
Joe was the worst Of all. I took
II, II ever I saw Indians rubbed UP
the wrong way till they were
dangerous 1t was yours and Ridge
ways. I tell you straight, Mr..
Hazard, was mad when Ridgeway
left that girl here with only you and
me to take care of her. but when ia
chewed on 1t I was glad she hadn't
gone with him." And a roar from
the bunk. house finished MS period
with no light emphasis. II staying
"Whst arc they drinkinsr asked
Hasard, sharply.
THAT stun they mako out OF hem
lock--and the Lord knows It'd be .
blessed funeral II It killed them; they
haven't Obeyed one order I've given
for q week. You don't know the
worst of the hole we're In, Mr.. Has
ard. When Ridgeway left he as good
AZ emptied our stores to take with
him; all that wasn't too bad for dogs
to eat. The most he left was some
barrels OF hard bread .and truck he
couldn't carry" He prudently omit
tod a few bottles Of rum. We've
fiour-and no tea; rotten portland
no sugar! BY the time I found out
about the stores there was none OF
them left but the tobacco. and that
Miss Ridgeway'd lugged UP TO her
house with her own hands: And the
men are crazy with fear OF tho place
before they know about starvation"
Fear? What Off"
"Well, they say the place Ia haunt
ed; that there's somebody round that
amt human nor yet beast"
ROT" grunted Hazard, and no
w,nt back to Sophy. He found her
preparing dinner.
You're late" she said, II hope
haven't spoiled things-though ! may
as well tell you I haven't much to
spoil. Hard biscuit and fried hare
and hard biscuit and molasses; there
you have your frst course and your
second But I've got half bottle Of
whisky. and I'm sure you need .
drink"
Hasard did; moro than thirst was
drying his throat to ashes. But II
would be drier before he drank her
last bottle OF whisky.
"Id sooner have coffee" hi ven
tured. knowing there was no tea.
The giYl could have cried with
ahams a. she looked st him. 'srhere
y Uone,~ she aAlA. hardy. "only bis-
e~ie eosse. RID. sAsve1 - kow -