Gilpin observer., 1917-12-20
CHAPTER III.-continued.

CHATTER III.-Continueo.
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 firelight 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
made a few hours before. It was al
most obliterated by the falling snow.
Another hour and there would be no
trail-nothing the next day to tell who
ever might pass that they had come
this way. By morning it would cover
everything, even the fire, II he allowed
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
furiously than did Kazan's when the
dog saw that McCready was returning
with n club The club he placed on
end against tree. Then he took a
lantern from the sledge and lighted it.
lie approached Thorpe's tent-flap, the
lantern In his hand.
"Ho, Thorpe-Thorpe ~ he called.
There was no answer. He could hear
Thorpe breathing. He drew the flap
aside a little, and raised his voice.
''Thorpew
Still there was no movement inside,
and he united the flap strings and
thrust in his lantern. The light flashed
on Isobel's golden head, and McCready
stared at 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 you"
McCready drew the flap back lit
tie, and spoke in low voice.
'Yes. Can you come out minute1
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.
'Tll swear there's someone nosing
around the camp" he said. I'm cer-
tain that i saw man out there Il few
minutes ago, when / went for log.
It's good night for stealing dogs.
Here-you take the lantern! If l
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
I'm KaZan's throat, but he choked II
back. He wanted to snarl forth his
warning, to leap at the end of his
leash. but he knew that II he did that
they would return and beat him. Sc
he lay still, trembling and shivering
and whining softly. He watched them
until they disappeared-and then wait
ed-lIstened. At last he heard Tho
crunch of snow. He was not surprised
to see McCready come back alone. Ht
had expected him to return alone. Fol
he knew what club meant
McCready's face was terrible now. i
was like beasts. He was hatless
Kazan skunk deeper In his shadow a
the low horrible laugh that fell from
his lips-for the man still held thu
club In moment he dropped that
and approached the tent. He drew bacl
the flap and peered in. Thorpe's wifi,
was sleeping, and as quietly as Gu
he entered and hung the lantern on
nail In the tent-pole. His movemen
did not awaken her, and for n few mo
ments he stood there. staring-starinp
Kazan watched McCrendy as he ell
tered. and suddenly the dog was on hi
feet, his back tense and bristling, hi
limbs rigid. He saw McCready's hug
shadow on the canvas, and momen
later there came n strange piercing cry
In the wild terror Of that cry he recol
nized her voice-and he lenped t0wnr
the tent. The leash stopped hin
choking the snarl In his throat. He sa,
the shadows struggling now. and ther
came cry after cry She was calling I
his master. and with his masters nam
she was calling him!
"Kaxap-kazan-"