Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-06-07

Hlerre hhulbSOu luuBheu Nheh ga"
flung her arms about him, aud coughed
TO prove that what he said was true.
"YOu see the cough IS not so bad
my JOAN" he said. ut Is breaking up.
You cannot have forgotten, ma cherle!
1t always leaves one red-eyed and
weak"
1t was a cold. bleak, dark day that
followed, and through II kazan ana
the man tugged ut the fore Of the
sledge, with Joan following In the
trail behind. Kazan's wound no longer
hurt him. He pulled steadily with I'LL
his splendid strength, and the man
never dashed him once, but patted him
with his mlttened hand on head ana
back. The day grew steadily darker,
and In the tops Of the trees there was
the low moaning Of storm.
Darkness and the coming OF the
storm did not drive Pierre Radisson
into camp. 1--WE must reach the river, "
he said to himself over and over again.
1--WE must reach the river-we must
reach the river" And he steadily
urged Kazan Oh to greater effort. while
his own strength ut the end Of the
traces grew less.
II had begun to storm when Pierre
stopped TO build fire at noon. Inc
snow fell straight down In a white
deluge so thick that II hid the Tree
trunks fifty yards away. Pierre
laughed when Joan shivered and snug
gled close up to him with the baby In
her arms. He waited only an hour,
and then fastened Kazan in the traces
again, and buckled the straps once
more about his own waist. In the silent
gloom that was almost night Pierre
carried his compass in his hand, and
at last, late in the afternoon, they
came TO break in the timber line, and
ahead Of them lay a plain, across
which Radlsson pointed an exuliant
hand.
"Theres the river, JOAN" he said,
his voice faint and husky. I'VE can
camp here now and walt for the storm
10 pass"
Under a thick clump of spruce he
put up the tent, and then began gath
ering firewOod. Joan helped him. As
soon as they had boiled coffee and
eaten a supper of meat and toasted
biscuits, Joan went into the tent and
dropped exhausted on her thick bed
Of balsam boughs, wrapping herself
and the baby up close in the skins and
blankets. Tonight she had no word
for Kazan. And Pierre was glad that
she was too tired TO sit beside the fire
and talk. And yet
Kazan's alert eyes saw Pierre start
suddenly. lie rose from his seat on
the Sledge and went TO the tent. He
drew back the flap and thrust in his
head and shoulders.
asleep, Joan?" he asked.
almost, father. Won't you please
come-soOnW
after l smoke" he said. Are you
comfortable?"
Eyes. I'm so tired-and-sleepy-"
Pierre laughed softly. In the dark
ness he was gripping ut his throat.
"We're almost home. Joan. That Is
our river out there-the Little Beaver.
If / should run away and leave you to-
night you could follow 1t right to our
cabin. It's only forty miles. Do you
hear?"
"Yes-I know"
Forty miles-straight down the
river. You couldn't lose yourself, Joan.
Only you'd have TO be careful Of air
holes in the Ice"
won't you come to bed, fatherF
You're tired-and almost sick"
"Yes-after / smoke" he repeated.
"JOan, will you keep reminding me>tO-
morrow Of the airhOles? / might for
get. You can always tell them, for
the snow and the crust over them are
whittier than on the rest of the Ice, and
like a sponge. VIII you remember
the airholes-"
"Yes-s-s-"
Pierre dropped the tent-fap and re-
turned to the fire. He staggered as
he walked.
Good night, boy" he said. "Guess
I'd better go In with the kids. Two
days mOre-fOrty miles-two days"
Kazan watched him as he entered
the tent. He laid his weight against
the end Of his chain until the collar
shut or his wind. His legs and back
twitched. In that tent where RadissOn
had gone were Joan and the baby. He
knew that Pierre would not hurt them,
but he knew, also, that with Pierre
RadIsson something terrible and I'M
pending was lowering very near to
them. He wanted the man outside
by the fre-where he could lie still,
and watch him.
In the tent there was silence. Near
er TO him than before came Gray
VOLTS cry. Each night she was call
ing earlier, and coming closer to the
camp. He wanted her very near TO
him tonight, but he did not even whine
in response. He dared not break that
strange silence in the tent He lay
still for a long time, tired and lame
from the days journey, but sleepless'
The FIRE burned lower; the wind IN tne