The Washburn leader., 1916-08-11

going out Of it. Her heart yearned
for him. What would her life be
without him? 4
"Lorena, where are youY called
Mrs. Farrell, emerging again from
the bedroom. The girl was not in
the room. The mother opened the
door and looked out. A wall Of
whirling white met her vision.
"She has gone after him and is
caught in the storm!" gasped the
mother.
A knock sounded on the door.
Floyd entered, noisily stamping the
snow from his feet. "Thought I'd
come back and have another talk
with Lorena"- he began.
ooh, Floyd, she's gone after you!"
cried the distracted woman, wiring
ing her hands. "She got sorry right
after you Left
'1ll find her." said Floyd quickly;
"don't worry" And he dashed back
into the storm.
When Lorena softly closed the
kitchen door she could just see
Floyd rounding the bluff. Floyd,
oh, Floyd, come back!" she called,
all her reserve gone, her fierce pride
thrown to the stormy winds that
blew the fringe of her shawl into
her eyes.
Realizing that he could not hear
her, she started after him, but by
the time she had covered half the
distance sea of white swept in be-
tween and blotted him from her
view.
She hurried on, calling his name
repeatedly, but the furious wind
tore at her breath and walled her
about with feecy clouds. Suddenly
she felt that she was off the trail.
She turned to the right and then
to the left, but could not find it.
Desperately she struggled on, until
her tired limbs compelled a pause in
the shelter of bluff. She leaned
painting against rock, all uncon-
scious of pair of eyes which glared
from willow thicket near by.
The green lights in the eyes Aared
brighter, a long red tongue licked
long, snarling jaws hungrily, and
forth from the covert stole lank
gray wolf.
Lorena uttered a startled cry.
This was no coyote to be chased
with a stick. It was wolf of tim
Der stock, a great beast, strong as
mastiff! He emitted low snarls as
he skunk in half circles across in
front. He was undecided.
While he circled, drawing a little
nearer at every turn, Lorena fell
blackjack toward the bluff, keep
ing her white face always toward
the creeping beast.
4 She took off her heavy shawl and
suddenly threw it blanketwise over
the VOLTS head. Then she fed des-
perately.
Once clear of the scrub, she ran
on, plunging through drifts, STUN
bling, falling to rise again and push
her flight. OF direction she could
take no heed. All she could do was
to place distance between herself
and the famished brute. But when,
weary and breathless, she paused for
rest out Of the drab drift stole the
Slank gray shadow.
! With terrified shrek Lorena ran
on until she had to stop, spent, un-
able to take another step. She saw
the wolf, licking his hungry jaws,
lleaping toward her with no indeci-
sion left.
Lorena screamed and closed her
eyes. Two shots roared out. Look
ing up, she saw Floyd Jordan, with
smoking revolver in his hand, stand
ing over the PROSTATE beast.
"Floyd, oh, Floyd!" she sobbed as
he came to her with eyes tender and
anxious. He picked her up from
the snow, wrapped her in his coat
and held her against his breast.
| The storm was lifting. Farrell's
cabin could be discerned not quar-
ter of mile distant.
/ "1'm dead sure now I'll build that
cabin on my claim" Floyd said as
they started homeward.
/. Sarcastic.