The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-25


before. but you always are. Hit the
trail whenever you want. but l stay
here"
you've found signs you amt told
me about" exclaimed Lloyd suspicious
ly. 'Oh. ! see your game. | wondered
why you were so silent lately
Thus. out of sheer querulousness.
arose spirit of Ill feeling. and In this
humor they went to bed that night.
With the dawn Macleod arose and
left the shack without word to his
partner, Who lay watching him. He
had no other purpose than to get out
side. and once In the open the winds
guided him where they willed.
He was circled out on the desert.
then blown back toward the mountnins
and up wide arroyo. until at last. us
II the elements had guided him there.
he stumbled. with no shock TO his
dulled senses. across the gaunt body Of
a she wolf.
Kneeling down. he saw that her
throat was laid wide open. and to her
gray name fresh blood still chung in
ruby drops.
After a moments thought be arose
with the carcass on his shoulder and
started for the shack.
He burst suddenly into the shack to
find Lloyd engaged in whetting a long
bladed claspknife.
This the latter put away as he came
forward to kneel down and examine
the body which Macleod had dumped
upon the door.
There's some whelps that didn't get
their breakfast this morning-and
won't" remarked Macleod grimly.
wonder what killed her?' asked
Lloyd
ITS evident" said the other. "her
mate did the killing"
Her mate. By heaven. he must
havel~ breathed Lloyd. staring Mt the
blood ON his fingers. But whyY'
Macleod turned away with a grunt
what made you bring this mess
herer' pursued Lloyd. still looking a,
the blood on his fingers.
you're always going against me.
whined Macleod. II had no knife Il
take her scalp. that's why. Lend mt
the one you were sharpening so Hnt
just now"
do get half the bounty?"
Look a-here. Bill" calculated Mac
Leod impatiently. I'VE agreed to spill
even on mining. but there was nothing
said about bountiesv'
Lloyd returned to his milestone.
Nothing was said about me lend
ing my knife either" he retOrted. re
Stunning the sharpening process.
On the next day. which was the sew
enth. they did nothing but quarrel.
Toward evening Macleod accused
Lloyd of wasting their nearly exhaust
ed water supply. 1t being the former
turn to go to the spring. he took ex
ception to his partner throwing hal
a dipperfui away. and accused him o
doing SO with motive.
Lloyd. heretofore ready with shar1
+, reply. made no answer. but sat dow
on his cot and resumed the whettin.
| Of his knife.
His convictions strengthened b!
LloYd's silence. his nerves unable {,
stand the grinding sound any longer
! Macleod suddenly lost all control o
himself and called his companion :
vile name.
In a fash the milestone fell to tn,
door and Lloyd was standing. leg
bent and wide apart. body punched
forward with cleaning blade atrembl'
In his hand.
But Macleod did not rise to NEE
him. Instead he lay back on his coucl
and covered bis face with both hands.
Gradually the fire died in Lloyd
bl0odshot eyes, Slowly. with the pal
sled effort Of an old man. be picked uI
the whsfstone to resume the sharpen
ing process.
"You'll live to eat that word" SAX
he quietly and drew the blade across
the stone.
In the beginning there was NO de
structive tendency IN any living thing
for to inHict injury is contrary to tn,
divine impetus called life Only BY
the pressure from without ia a natur,
warped from its given course.
Came the ninth day. which was to b.
the last Of the winds
At noon. owing to both using II witt
perverted wastefulness. their watel
supply was exhausted. Macleod him
self emptjed the keg. drinking the las
drop.
During the afternoon the studied 81
lence between them grew ominous.
The dry wore on. As night fell the
atmosphere grew nnbearably oppres
siRel On the wings Of the dust laden
winds was borne faint rumble OF
thunder. But this had no Significance
for dry electrical storms were common
In the MaIapi mountains miles to the
Dorth.
Leaving the lamp burning on n table
10 the center OF the room, the two.
! fully dressed. finally threw themselves
upon their cots. where they painted for
enough pure air to soothe their aching
lungs.
For hoar they lay there, blear eyes
rolling. arms tossing. nerves fled to
the quick and half mad from thirst.
Shortly after midnight the wind
reached Its maximum velocity.
At times the sturdy little shack
would culver and creak as a ship