Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-05-10
CHAPTER 30.
Mocready Pays The Debt.

For q long time after he had uttered
those words McCready sat In silence
beside the fire. Only for a moment or
two at dime did his eyes leave Ka-
zan. After a little, when he was sure
that Thorpe and IsObel had retired for
the night, he went into his own tent
and returned with flask Of whisky.
During the next half-hour he drank
frequently. Then he went over and
sat on the edge Of the sledge, Just be-
You'd the reach Of Kazan's chain.
"Got you, didn't II" he repeated. the
effect Of the liquor beginning to show
In the glitter Of his eyes. "Wonder
who changed your name, Pedro. And
how did he come by your Ho. no, II
you could only talk"
They heard Thorpe's voice inside the
tent. It was followed by low, girlish
peal Of laughter, and McCready jerked
himself erect. His face blazed sud-
denly red, and he rose to his feet,
dros ping the flask In his coat pocket.
Walking around the FIRE, he tiptoed
cautiously to the shadow Of q tree
close to the tent and stood there for
many minutes listening. BIS eyes
burned with q fiery madness when he
returned to the sledge and Kaznn. II
was midnight before he went Into his
own tent.
In the warmth of the fire Kazan's
eyes slowly closed. He slumbered I'M
easily, and his brain was filed with
troubled pictures. At times he was
lighting, and his Jaws snapped. AT
others he was stralning at the end OF
his chain, with McCready or his mis-
tress Just out Of reach. And then the
picture changed. He was running at
the head of q splendid team-slx dogs
Of the Royal Northwest Mounted po-
lice-and his master was calling him
Pedro! The scene shifted. They were
in camp. His master was young ana
smooth-faced, and he helped from the
sledge another man whose hands were
fastened In front Of him by curious
black rings. Again II was later-and
he was lying before n great fire. HIS
master was sitting opposite him, with
his back to q tent, and rs he looked,
? there came out Of the tent the man
with the black rings-Only now the
rings were gone and his hands were
free, and In one Of them he carried
heavy club. He heard the terrible
blow Of the club as 1t fell on his mas
ter's head--and the sound Of 1t aroused
him from his restless sleep.
He sprang to his feet, his spine stiff
fleming and snarl in his throat. The
fire had died down, and the camp
was in the darker gloom that precedes
dawn. Through that gloom Kazan
saw McCready. Again he was stand
ing close TO the tent of his mistress,
and he knew now that this was the
man who had worn the black iron
rings, and that 1t was he who had
beaten him with whip and club for
many long days after he had killed his
master. McCready heardthe 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 u few minutes Thorpe appeared at
the tent-lap 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-
Fan, and began brushing It. McCready
came up behind her and fumbled
among the packages on the sledse. AS
II 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 fondllng clutch
of the fingers In her hair, and the mad
passion burning In the eyes Of the man.
Quicker than q 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 20
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.
Il was In his holster In the tent. At
bis 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 eschpe or TO attack. Only once
n his life could he remember having
received a beating like that which
Thorpe inflicted upon him now. But
F, uOta whimper or a growl escaped him.
And then. suddenly. his mistress ran