Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-09
CHAPTER u.-(Contlnued.)
PETEY DINK


CHAPTER H.-(Continued)
Only Kazan saw the stealthy move
ment of the hand, the fondling clutch
of the fingers in her hair, and the mad
passion burning In the eyes of the
man.. Quicker than lynx, the dog
had leaped the length of his chain
across the sledge. McCready sprang
back just in time and as kazan reach.
ed the end of his chain he was jerked
back so that his body struck sidewise
against the girl. Thorpe had turned
in time to see the end Of the leap.
He believed that Kazan had sprung
at Isobel, and in his horror no word
or cry escaped his lips as he dragged
her from where. she had half fallen
over the sledge. He saw that she was
not hurt and he reached for his revol.
yer. It was in his holster in the tent.
At his feet was McCready's whip and
In the passion Of the moment he seiz-
ed it and sprang upon Kazan. The dog
crouched In the snow. He made no
move to escape or to attack. Only
once in his life could he remember
having received beating like that
which Thorpe inflicted upon him now
But not whimper or growl escaped
him.
And then, suddenly, his mistress
ran forward and caught the whip pois-
nd above Thorpes head.
mot another blow!" she cried, and
something in her voice held him from
striking. McCready did not hear
what she said then, but a strange look
came into Thorpe's eyes and without
word he followed his wife into their
tent.
"Kazan did not leap at me-" she
whispered. and she was trembling
with a sudden excitement. Her face
was deathly white. THAT man was
behind me-" she went on, clutchlng
her husband by the arm. Il felt him
touch me-and then Kazan sprang.
He wouldn't bite me. It's the man!
There's something-wrong-"
She was almost sobbing, and Thorpe
drew her close in his arms.
II hadn't thought before-but it's
strange he said Didn't McCready
say something about knowing the dog?
It's possible. Perhaps he's had Kazan
before and abused him in a way that
the dog had not forgotten. Tomorrow
ri and out. But until l know-will
you promise to keep away from
Kazan?"
Isobel gave the promise. When they
came out from the tent Kazan lifted
his great head. The singing lash
had closed one Of his eyes and his
mouth was dripping blood lsobel
gave a low sob, but did not go near
him. Hall blinded, he knew that his
mistress had stopped his punishment
and he whined softly and Wagged MS
thick tail In the snow.
Never had he felt so miserable as
through the long hard hours of the
day that followed, when he broke the
trail for his team mates into the
north One of his eyes was closed,
and filed with singing fire, and his
body was sore from the blows of the
caribou lash. But 1t was not physical
pain that gave the sullen droop to
his head and robbed his body of that
keen quick alertness of the lead-dog
the commander of MS mates ~
was his spirit. For the first time IN
his life, it was broken. McCready naa
beaten him-long ago; his master nad
beaten him; and during all this day
their voices were fierce and vengeful
in his ears. But it was his mistress
who hurt him most. She held aloof
from him. always beyond the reach
of his leash; and when they stopped
to rest. and again in camp, she looked
at him with strange and wondering
eyes, and did not speak. She, too, was
ready to beat him. He believed that,
and so skunk away from her and
crouched on his belly in the snow
With him, a broken spirit meant
broken heart, and that night he Turk
ed in one of the deepest shadows
about the camp fire and grieved alone.
None knew that 1t was grief-unless
sstwas the girl. She did not move to-.