Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-23

Rock to disturb him that day, so nov
there was a mystery that disturbed
him in the cabin. He shifted the air
trying to fathom its secret. Whateve
it was, it seemed to make his mistres!
different, too And she was digging
out all sorts of odds and ends of thing!
about the cabin, and doing them up IL
packages. Late that night, before sht
went to bed, Joan came and snugglet
Eher hand close down beside him for {
few moments.
We're going away" she whispered
and there was curious tremble tina
was almost sob in her voice. 1--WE
are going home. Kazan. We're goins
away down where his people live =
where they have churches, and cities
and music and all the beautiful things
in the world. And we're going to take
you, Kazan"
Kazan didn't understand. But he was
happy at having the woman 80 near to
him, and talking to him. At these
times he forgot Gray Wolf. The dog
that was in him surged over his quar-,
ter strain of wildness, and the woman
and the baby alone filled his world.
But after Joan had gone to her bed,
and all was quiet in the cabin, his old
uneasiness returned. He rose to his
feet and moved stealthily about the
cabin. shifting at the walls, the door
and the things his mistress had done
into packages A low whine rose in his
throat. Joan, half asleep, heard it, and
murmured
BE quiet, Kazan. Go to sleep = go
to sleep"
Long after that, Kazan stood rigid
in the center of the room, listening.
trembling And family he heard, far
away. the wailing cry of Gray Wolf.
But tonight it was not the cry Of lone
liness. 1t sent thrill through him.
He ran to the door, and whined, but
Joan was deep in slumber and did not
hear him. Once more he heard the
cry and only once Then the night
grew still. He crouched down near
the door.
Joan found him there, still watchful,
still! listening, when she awoke in the
early morning. She came to open the
door for him, and In a moment he was
gone. His feet seemed scarcely to
touch the earth as he sped in the d.
rection of the Sun Rock. Across the
plain he could see the cap of it already
painted with golden glow.
He came to the narrow winding trail
and wormed his way up it swiftly.
Gray Wolf was not at the top to
greet him. But he could smell her, and
the scent of that other thing was
strong in the air. His muscles tight
ened; his legs grew tense. Deep down
in his chest there began the low
rumble of growl He knew now what
that strange thing was that had haunt
ed him and made him uneasy. It was
life. Something that lived and breath
ed had invaded the home which he
and Gray Wolf had chosen. He barred
his long fangs, and snarl Of defiance
drew back his lips. Stin-legged, pre-
pared to spring, his neck land head
reaching out, he apropached the two
rocks between which Gray Wolf had
crept the night before. She was still
there. And with her was something
else After a moment the tenseness
left Kazan's body. His bristling crest
dropped until it lay fiat. His ears shot
forward and he put his head and shout
ders between the two rocks and whin-
ed softly. And Gray Wolf whined.
Slowly Kazan backed out and faced
the rising sun. Then he lay down, SO
that his body shielded the entrance to
the chamber between the rocks.
Gray Wolf was mother.