Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-31
Chapter I
Copyright, 1914.
- the Bobbs-Merrill Company.
THE MIRACLE.

not an eyelid quivered. Yet every drop
OF the blood in his splendid body was
racing in a ferment of excitement that
Kasan had never before experienced;
every nerve and hbre OF his wonderful
muscles was tense as steel wire. Quarter
strain wolf, three-auarters husky" he
lived the four years of his life in the will
derness. He had felt the pangs of starva-
ton. He knew what 1t meant to freeze.
He had listened to the wailing winds OF
the long Arabic night over the barrens
He had heard the thunder of the torrent
and the cataract and had covered under
the mighty crash of the storm. His
throat and sides we're Scared by battle
and his eyes were red with the blister
Of the SHOWS. He was called Kazan, the
wild Dog. because he was n giant among
his kind and as fearless even as the men
who drove him through the perlls of u
frozen world.
He had never known fear-until now.
He had never felt in him before the desire
10 run--not even on that terrible day in
the forest when he had fought and killed
the big gray lynx. He Gid not know what
II was that frightened him, but he knew
that he was in another world and that
many things in 1t startled and alarmed
him. 1t was his first glimpse OF civiliza-
tion. He wished that his master would
come back into the strange room where
he had left him. It was a room filled with
hideous things. There were great human
faces on the wall, but they did not move
or speak, but stared at him in a way re
had never seen people look before. He
remembered having looked on master
who lay very quiet and very cold in the
Snow, and he had sat back on his
launches and walled forth the death
song: but these people on tho walls looked
Rlivo and yet seemed dead.
Suddenly Kazan lifted his ears little.
He heard steps. then low voices. Ono of
them was his masters voice. But the
other-it se.t a little tremor through him!
Once, so long ago that 1t must have been
h his puppyhood days. he seemed to have
had a dream OF a laugh that was like
the girls laugh-a laugh that was all at
cnos filed with wonderful happiness.
the thrill of @ wonderful love. and
sweetness that made Kazan lift his head
a. they came in. He looked straight at
them. his red eyes cleaning. At once
hs knew that she must be dear to his
master. for his masters arm was about
her. In the glow OF the light he saw that
her hair was very bright, and that there
was tho color of the crimson bakneesh
vino in her face and the blue of the
bakneesh flower in her shining eyes Sud-
denly she saw him, and with a little cry
dsrted toward him.
"stopv shouted tho man Hes dan
rerousl Kazan-"
She was on her knees beside him. all
fluffy and sweet and beautiful. her eyes
aiming wonderfully. her hands about to
should he Bnap2 Was she one OF the
things on the wall. and his enemy?
Should he leap at her white throat? He
saw the man running forward pale as
death. Then her hand fell upon his head
and the touch sent thrill through him
that quivered In every nerve of his body.
With both hands she turned up his head.
Her face was very close. and he heard
hsr say, almost sobbingly:
"And you are Kazan-dear old Kazan.
my Razan. my hero dog-who brought
him home to me when all the others had
eisdl My Kazan-my heroi"
And then. miracle of miracles. her face
was crushed down against MIN, and no
fsit her sweet warm touch.
In those moments Kazan did not move.
He scarcely breathed. 1t seemed long
time before the girl lifted her face from
him And when she did there were tears
In her blue eyes. and the man was stand
Ing above them. his hands gripped tight,
his Jaws set.
htm-with their naked hand" he said In
tense wondering voice. "Move back
quietly. Isobel. Good heaven-look at
fkatI'
Kazan whined softly. his bloodshot eyes
On the girls face. He wanted to feel her
hand again: he wanted to touch her face.
Would they beat him with a club, he
wondered. II he dared! He meant no
harm now, He would kill for her He
ertnged toward her, inch by inch, his
eyes never faltering. He heard what the
man said-"Good heayenl Look at thatl"
-and he shuddered. But no blow fell
TO drive him back. His cold muzzle
touched her filmy dress and she looked
A. him, without moving. her wet eyes
Blazing like stars.
SeeH she whispered. "See"
Half an inch more-an inch, two inches.
ana he gave his big gray body a hunch
seward her. Now his muzzle travelled
slowly u yard-over her foot. to her lap,
ana at last touched the warm little hand
that lay there. His eyes were still on
her face; he saw a queer tbrobbing In
her bare White throat, and then a trem-
enng OF her lips as she looked up at the
man with a wonderful look. He. too.
Aneit down beside them, an put his arm
scout the girl again, and patted the dog
N his head. Kazan did not like the
mans touch. He mistrusted II. as nature
had taught him to mistrust the touch
81 all mems hands, but he permitted II.
Because he saw that II In some way
elsased the girl.
kazan. old boy. you wouldn't hurt her.
you'd your said his master, softly.
We both love her, don't we, boy? Can't |
psip 1t. can We? And she's ours, kazan'
al ours! She belongs to you and TO me,
saa were going TO take care of her all
our lives, and II we ever have 10 wen
nznt for her like hell-won't wef Eh,
Aazan, old boyY.
FOR long time after they left him
saere he was lying on the rug, Kazans
eyes did not leave the girl He watched
ID llstened-and all the time there grew
mere and more in him the craving 10
SSleep up to them nd touch the girls
zznd. or her dress. or her foot After |
AAe MS master said something, and. wlth
little laugh. the girl jumped up and
- 70 q big, square. shining thing that
100 erosswise IN a corner and Hhleh
"a row Of white teeth longer than
- own body. he had wondered what /
1e2se teeth we're for. The girls fingers
H4aaF III Ha4aa 4taFa