Cheyenne record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1913-19??, 1917-12-20
CHAPTER IlI.-continued,

SSNVE btIs-SShetHASos
B.
Later, after Thorpe and his wife
had gone into their tent, it began to
snow, and the effect of the snow upon
McCready puzzled Kazan. The man
was, restless, and he drank frequently
from the flask that, he had used the
night before. In the freight his face
grew redder and redder, and KaZan
could see 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 he heard movement.
The last time, 1t was, the sound Of
Thorpe's deep breathing. McCready
hurried back to the fire and turned his
face straight up to the sky. The snow
was falling so thickly that when he
lowered his face he blinked and wiped
his eyes. Then he went into the gloom
and bert low over the trail they had
made a few hours before. 1t was al-
most obllterated by the falling snow.
Another hour and there would be mo
.tfail-7nothlng the next day to tell who
ever might pass that they had come
this way. By morninsIft would cover
everything, even the fife. If he allowed
it,to die down. McCready drank again,
put 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 fmore
furfously than did Kazqn's when the
dog saw that McCready was returning
Nryftt n Ryt,h h< ol,,IN ;, yNIn
end against tree. Then he took a
lantern from the sledge and lighted it.
BE approached Thorpe's tent-fap, the
lantern In his hand. '~".
"Ho, Thorpe-Thorpe! !" he called.
There was no answer. He could hear
Thorpe breathing. He drew the flap
aside 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
stared ut 1t, his eyes burning like red
Goals, until he saw that Thorpe was
awakening Quickly he dropped the
flap and rustled it from the outside.
"Ho, Thorpe-Thorpe! he called
again.
This time Thorpe replied.
"Hello, McCready-is that your"
McSready drew the flap back lit
tie, and spoke in Il low voice.
Eyes. Can you come out minute
Something's happening out in the
woods. Don't wake up your wife!"
He drew back and waited. A minute
later Thorpe came quietly out of the
tent McCready pointed into the thick
spruce.
"I'll swear there's someone nosing
around the camp" he said. I'm GER
tain that saw n man out there u few
minutes ago, when 1 went for n log.
It's a good night for stealing dogs.
Here-you take the lantern! If
wasn't clean fooled, we'll find trail
in the snow
He gave Thorpe the lantern and
picked up the heavy club. A growl rose
in Kazan's throat, but he choked 1t
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 return and beat him. So
he lay still, trembling and shivering,
and whining softly. He watched them
until they disappeared-and then watt
ed-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 a club meant!
McCready's face was terrible now. 1t
was like a beasts. He was hatless.
Kazan skunk deeper in his shadow at
the low horrible laugh that fell from
his lips-for the man still held the
club In a moment he dropped that,
and approached the tent. He drew back
the flap and peered in. Thorpe's wife
was sleeping. and us quietly ASA cat
he enteyed and hung the lantern'on
nail in the tent-pole. His movement
did not awaken her. and for a few mo-
ments he stood there, staring-starinS.
Kazan watched McCready as he en-
tered, and suddenly the dog was on his
feet, his back tense and bristling. his
limbs rigid. He saw McCready's huge
shadow on the canvas, and a moment
later there came q strange piercing cry.
In the wild terror Of that cry he recog-
nixed her volce-and he leaped toward
the tent The leash stopped him,
choking the snari In his throat. He saw
the shadows struEgling now. and there
came cry after cry She was calling to
~ master, and with his masters name
- was calling him!
sKomp-kaxan-"