Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-11-09
MANY long days after he had killed his

| many long Udys dIttr lie udu hiiicu hio
master. McCready heard the menace in |
his throat and came back quickly to |
the fire. He began to whistle and |
draw the half-burned logs together, |
and as the fire blaZed up afresh he |
shouted to awaken Thorpe and IsObel
In a few minutes Thorpe appeared at
the tent-flap and his wife followed him
out. Her loose hair rippled in pillows
of gold about her shoulders, and she
| sat down on the sledge, close to Ka-
ian, and began brushing it. McCready
came up behind her and fumbled
among the packages on the sledge. As
If by accident, one of his hands buried
itself for an instant in the rich tresses
that flowed down her back. She did
not at first feel the caressing touch Of
his fingers, and Thorpe's back was
toward them.
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 a lynx, the dog had
leaped the length of his chain across
the sledge. McCready sprang back just
in time, and as Kazan reached 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 be-
lieved that Kazan had sprung at Iso-
bel, 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 revolver.
1t was in his holster in the tent. At
his feet was McCready's whip, and in
the passion of the moment he seized 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 a growl escaped him
And then, suddenly, his mistress rar
forward and caught the whip poised
. above Thorpe's head.
r mot another blow" she cried, ano
t something in her voice held him from
;. striking. McCready did not hear what
< she said then, but strange look came
1 into Thorpes eyes, and without a word
: he followed his wife into their tent.
"Kazan did not leap at me-" she
e whispered, and she was trembling with
v sudden excitement. Her face was
r deathly white. THAT man was be-
d hind me-" she went on, clutching her
f husband by the arm. II felt him touch
me-and then Kazan sprang. He
e wouldn't bite me. It's the mani
h There's omething-wrong-"
d She was almost sobbing, and Thorpe
i drew her close in his arms.
!, II hadn't thought before-but its
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 way that
the dog has not forgotten. Tomorrow
j I'll find out. But until I know-wil
A you promise to keep away from Ka
a zanw
| Isobel gave the promise. When they
came out from the tent Kazan lifted
his great head. The singing lash hat
closed one of his eyes and his mouth
was dripping blood. Isobel gave low
sob, but did not go near him. Hal
blinded, he knew that his mistress hat
stopped his punishment, and he whinet
j softly, and wagged his thick tail in thu
d snow.
a Never had he felt so miserable Al
q through the long hard hours of the da,
s. that followed, when he broke the trai
q for his teammates into the North. On
a of his eyes was closed and filed witt
"A singing fire, and his body was sor
n from the blows of the caribou lash
" But 1t was not physical pain that CAV
81 the sullen droop to his head and robbe
NJ his body Of that keen quick alertnes
~ of the lead-dog-the commander Of hi
mates. 1t was his spirit. For the frs
time in his life, it was broken. No
Cready had beaten him-long ago; hi
master had beaten him; and during al
=. this day their voices We're fierce an
~ vengeful in his ears. But 1t was hi
=, mistress who hurt him most. She he'll
- alCof from him, always beyond tn
reach of his leash and when the
stopped to rest, and again in camp, sh
~ looked at him with strange and wor
=. dering eyes, and did not speak. Sh'
-. too, was ready to beat him. He believe
- that, and that night he lurked in on
>, Of the deepest shadows about the camI
:. fire and grieved alone. None knew tha
~, it was grief-unless 1t was the CIR
She did not move toward him. Sh
A. did not speak to him. But she watche
80 him closely-and studied him hardes
:. when he was looking ut McCready.
he