Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-06-14

work m the lynx. For Gray Wolf was
hlind-nOt for dry or night, but
hliEd for all time. A gloom that no
sun could break had become her
shroud. And perhaps again IL was
Ihut Instinct OF animal creation. which
often IL more wonderful than mans
reason. TINT told Kazan what had hap.
pcned. For lie knew now that she was
helpless-lnore helpless than the little
creatures that had gnmboled In the
moonlight few hours before. He re.
mHined close beside her all that day.
vaInly tliat day did Joan call for
Knzan. Her voice rose to the Sun
Rock. and Gray VOLTS head snuggled
closer 10 Kazan. and Kazan's ears
dropped back. and he licked her
wounds. Late In the afternoon Kazan
left Gray Wolf long enough to run To
fhe bottom Of the trail and bring up
the snOw.shoe rabbit. Gray Wolf muz.
zled the fur and flesh, but would not
eat. Stlll little later Kazan urged
her to follow him to the trail. He no
longer wanted TO stay at the top OF the
Sun Rock, and he no longer wanted
Gray Walt to stay there. Step by step
he drew her down the winding path
away from her dead puppies. She
would move only when he was very
near her-so near that she could touch
his Scared flank with her nose.
They came at last to the point In the
trail where they had to leap down q
distance OF three or four feet from the
edge Of a rock, and here Kazan saw
how utterly helpless Gray Wolf had
become. She whlned, and crouchet
twenty times before she dared make
the spring. and then she jumped stiff
legged, and fell in heap ut Kazan's
feet. After this Kazan did not have
to urge her SO hard, for the fau i'm
pinged on her the fact that she was
safe only when her muzzle touched her
mates flank. She followed him obedi.
emily when they reached the plain.
trotting with her foreshoulder to his
hip.
Kazan was hending for thlcket In
the creek bottom half q mile away,
and q dozen times in that short dis
lance Gray Wolf stumbled and fell.
And each time that she fell Kazan
learned little more Of the limitations
Of blindness. Once he sprang OF In
v1,,v.o,,tk ~ a rahhlk hat ha had mot
taken twenty leaps when he stopped
and looked back. Gray Wolf had not
moved an inch. She stood moti0nless,
smiling the alr-waitlng for him! For
a full minute Kazan stood, also wait
ing. Then he returned to her. Ever
after this he returned to the point
where he had left Gray Wolf, knowing
that he would find her there.
All that day they remained In the
thicket. In the afternoon he visited
the cabin. Joan and her husband were
there, and both saw at once Kazan's
torn side and his lacerated head and
shoulders.
pretty near q finish fight for him."
said the man, after he had examined
him. st was either lynx or bear.
Another wolf could not do that
For half an hour joan worked over
him, talking to him all the time. and
fondling him with her soft hands. She
bathed his wounds In warm water, and
then covered them with healing salve.
and Kazan was filed again with that
old restful desire to remain with her
always, and never to 60 back into the
forests. For an hour she let him lie
IN the edge Of her dress, with his nose
touching her foot, while she worked on
baby things. Then she rose to prepare
supper, and Kazan got up-a little
wearily-and went to the door. Gray
Wolf and the gloom Of the night were
calling him, and he answered that call
with a SLOUGH Of his shoulders and a
drOOping head. Its old thrill was gone.
He watched his chance, and went out
through the door. The moon had risen
when he rejoIned Gray Wolf. She
greeted his return with low whine Of
Joy, and muxzled him with her blind
face. In her helplessness she looked
happier than Kazan In all his strength.
From now on, during the days that
followed. 1t was q last great fight be-
tween blind and faithful Gray Wolf
and the woman. II Joan had known OF
what lay in the thlcket, IL she could
once have seen the. poor creature to
whom Kazan was now all llfe-the sun,
the stars, the moon, and foOd--she
would have helped Gray Wolf. But a.
It was she tried to lure KaEan more
and more to the cabin, and slowly she
Won.
ITO be OontinuOd)