Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-31


for his teammates Into the North. One
OF his eyes closed and filled with
singing fire, and his body was sore from
the blows of the caribou lash. But II
was not physical pain that gave the sulien
droop to his head and robbed his body
of that keen quick alertness of the lead
dos-the commander of his mates. Il
was his spirit. For the first time in his
life, IL was broken. -
McCready had beaten him--long ago;
his master had beaten him; and during
all this day their voices were fierce and
vengeful in his ears. But II 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 IN his belly
in the snow. With him. n broken spirit
meant a broken heart. and that night he
lurked in one of the deepest shadows
about the campfire and grleved alone.
Mono knew that II was grief-unless IL
was the girl She did not move toward
, him. She did not speak to him. But she
watched him closely-and studied him
hardest when he was looking at Nc
Cready.
Later. after Thorpe and his wife had
gone into their tent, 1t began to snow, and
the effect of the snow upon McCready
| puSIitu NdZHI Inc man was TeSLltBb,
and he drank frequently from the flask
that he had used the night before. In
tho hrelight his fDce grew redder and red
der, and Kazan could the strange
gleam 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 lie heard move
ment. The last time 1t was the sound of
Thorpes deep breathing. McCready hur-
ried back to the fire and turned his face
straight UP to the sky. The snow was
falling 30 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 a few
hours before. It was almost oJlterated
by the falling snow. Another hour and
there would be no trail-nothlng tho next
day to tell whoever might pass that they
had come this way. BY morning 1t would
cover everything, even the fire, IL he al
lowed 1t to die down. McCready drank
again. out in the darkness. Low words OF
an insane JOY burst from his lips. his
head was hot with 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
q tree. Then he took a lantern from the
sledge and lighted it. He approached
Thorpe's tent-hap, the lantern in his hand
"Ho, Thorpe-Thorpe!" he called.
There was no answer. He could hear
| Thorpe breathing. He drew the nap aside
a 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 flashed on Isobels
golden head, and McCready started at 1t.
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-is that your?
McCready drew the flap back a little
and spoke in low voice.
Yes. Can you come out a minutef
Something's happening out in the woods.
Don't wake up your wife,
He drew back and waited. minute
later Thorpe came quietly out of the tent.
McCready pointed into the thick spruce.
"Il swear there's some one nosing
around the camp" he said. I'm certain
that saw n man out there few minutes
ago when 1 went for log. It's a good
night for stealing dogs. Here-you take
the lantern! IL 1 wasn't clean fooled.
We'll find trail in the snow"
lie gave Thorpe the lantern and picked
up the heavy club, A growl rose In
Kazan's throat. but .-e choked IT back.
He wanted to snarl forth his warning,
| to leap at the end of his leash. but he
knew that If he did that they would re-
turn and beat him. So he lay still. trem-
He watched them until they disappeared
and then waited-listened. At last he
! heard the crunch of snow. He was not
| surprised to see McCready come back
| alone. He had expected him to return
alone. For he knew what club meant!
McCready's face was terrible now. Il
was like a beasts. He was hatless. Ka-
zan skunk deeper In his shadow at the low
| horrible laugh that fell from his lips
| for the man stlll held the club In
/ ba IA nd had
| the tent.
| He drew back the flap and peered In
! Thorpe's wife was sleeping, and as
quietly cat he entered and hung
| the lantern nail in the tent pole.
| His movement did not awaken her, and
| for few moments he stood there. STAR
| ing-staring.
outside. crouching in the deep shadow.
| Kazan tried to fathom the meaning OF
| these strange things that were happen-
| ing. Why had his master and Nc
Cready gone out into the forest? Why
had not his master returned? 1t was
his master, and not MeCready, who
belonged In that tent Then why was
as he entered. and suddenly the dog was
on his feet. his back tense and bristlins.
him limos rigid. He saw McCreadyss
huge shadow on the canvas. and ;
moment later there came a strange plere-
ing cry. In the wild terror of that cry
he recognized her Yoiee-and he leaped
toward the tent. The leash stopped him.
choking the snarl in his throat. He saw
the shadows struggling now, and there
came cry after cry. She was calling 70
his MASTER and with his masters name
she was calling hint
'Kazan-Kazan-"
He leaped again. and was thrown upoa
his back. A second and a third time
he sprang the length % the leash into
the night and the babicha cord ahouk
his neck cut into his flesh Ike = knife.
He stopped for an instant. gaspinE Tor
breath. The shadows were still nghtInE.
Now they we're UPRIGHT Now lhey wers
erumpling dogns With neree sszafl ha
flung his whole weight lnes nlefe A.
the end OF the chain There Haa : snap
As the thong about his neck gave away
Continued IN Tonsorroip's Ees-
ming Ledger