Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-09

ward him. She did not speak to him
But she watched him closely-and
studied him hardest when he was
looking at McCready
Later, after Thorpe and his wife
had gone into their tent, 1t began to
snow, and the effect Of the snow upon
McCready puzzled Kazan. The man
was restless and he drank frequently
from the flask that he had used the
night before. In the firelight his face
grew redder and redder. and Kazan
could see the strange CLEAN Of his
teeth as he gazed at the tent in which
his mistress was sleeping. Again and
again he went close to that tent, and
listened. Twice he heard movement.
The last time, 1t was the sound Of
Thorpe's deep breathing. McCready
hurried back to the fire and turned
his face straight up to the sky. The
snow was falling so thickly that when
he lowered his face he blinked and
wiped his eyes. Then he went out
into the gloom and bent low over the
trail they had made few hours be-
fore. It was almost obliterated by the
falling snow. Another hour and there
would be no trail-nothing the next
day to tell whoever might pass that
they had come this way. BY morning
1t would cover everything, even the
fire, If he allowed 1t to die down. Nc.
Cready drank again, out in the dark
ness. Low words of an insane Joy
burst from his lips. His head was
hot with a drunken fire. His heart
beat madly, but scarcely more furi-
ously than did Kazan's when the dog
saw that McCready was returning
with club! The club he placed on
end against a tree. Then he took q
lantern from the sledge and lighted 1t.
He approached Thorpe's tent flap, the
lantern in his hand.
"Ho, Thorpe-Thorpe!' he called.
There was no answer He could
hear Thorpe breathing. He drew the
flap aside little and raised his voice.
"Thorpe!"
Still there was no movement inside
and he united the flap strings and
thrust in his lantern. The light fash
ed on Isobels golden head and Nc.
Cready stared at it, his eyes burning
like red Goals, until he saw that
Thorpe was awakening Quickly he
dropped the flap and rustled 1t from
the outside.
"Ho, Thorpe! -Thorpe! he called
again.
This time Thorpe replied.
Hello, McCready-ih that you
McCready drew the flap back a
little, and spoke in a low voice:
Eyes. Can you come out minute?
Something's happening out in the
woods Don't wake up your Wife!"
He drew back and waited. A min.
ute later Thorpe came quietly out of
the tent. McCready pointed into. the
thick spruce.
"I'll swear there's some one nosing
around the camp" he said I'm GER
tain that saw man out there few
ago, when l went for log.
It's good night for stealing dogs.
Here-you take the lantern! II
wasn't clean fooled, we'll find trail
in the snow"
He gave Thorpe the lantern and
picked up the heavy club. A growl
rose in Kazan's throat, but he choled
it back. He wanted to snarl forth his
to leap at the end of his
leash. but he knew that if he did that
they would return and beat him. So
he lay still, trembling and shivering,
and whining softly. He watched them
until they disappeared-and then
waited-listened. At last he heard
the crunch of snow. He was not sur
prised to see McCready come back
alone. He had expected him to return
alone. For he knew. what a club
meant!
McCready's face was terrible now.
It was like beasts. He was hatless.
kazan skunk deeper in his shadow at
he low terrible laugh that fell from
lis lips-for the man still held the
Tub. In moment he dropped that