Baxter Springs news., 1917-08-02
CHATTER XVIII.
Tho Last Of MsTrlSusr.

DAY at the. end Of his line steel chain,
watching little Professor McGIll mix
ine q pail Of tallow and bran. A
dozen yards from him lay the big
Dane, his huge jaws drooling In antici-
pation OF the unusual feast which Nc
en- was preparing. He showed signs
Of pleasure when McGlll approached
aim with a quart Of the mixture, ano
he gulped II between his huge jaws.
The little man with the cold blue eyes
and the gray.blond hair strOked his
back without fear. His attitude was
different when he turned TO kaSan.
His movements were filled with eau
ZION. and yet his eyes and his lips
were smiling, and he gave the WOLF
dog no evidence Of his fear, II II could
bO called fear.
The little professor. who was up In
the north country for the Smithsonian
Institution. had spent q third OF MS
life among dogs. He loved them, ana
understood them. He had written
number Of magazine articles on uOg
intellect that had attracted wide At
tention among naturallsts. II was
largely because he loved dogs, and
understood them more than most men,
that he had bought Kazan and the Dig
Dane on the night when Sandy Nc
Trigger and his partner had tried 10
get them to fight to the death In the
Red Gold City saloon. The refusal OF
fhe two splendid beasts to kill eacn
other for the pleasure Of the three
hundred men who had assembled to
witness the fight delighted him. he
had already planned paper on the
incident. Sandy had told him the story
Of Kazan's capture. and OF his Wild
mate. Gray Wolf. and the professor
had asked him Il thousand questions.
But each day Kazan puzzled him
more. No amount of kindness on his
part could bring responsive gleam In
Eazans eyes. Not once did KaZan
signify a willingness to become friends.
And yet he did not snarl ut McGill. or
snap at his hands when they came
within reach. Quite frequently Sandy
McTrlgger came over to the little
cabin where McGill was staying, and
three times Kazan leaped at the END
of his chain to get at him. and his
white fangs cleaned as long as Sandy
was in sight. Alone with McGlll he
became quiet. Something told him
that McGill had come as friend that
night when he and the big Dane stood
shoulder to shoulder in the cage that
had been built for slaughter pen.
Away down in his brute heart he held
McGlll apart from other men. He had
no desire to harm him. He tolerated
him, but showed none Of the growing
affection Of the huge Dane. 1t was
this fact that puzzled McGill. He had
never before known a dog that he
could not make love him.
Today he placed the tallow and bran
before Kazan, and the smile In his
face gave way to look Of perplexity.
Kazan's lips had drawn suddenly back.
A fierce snarl rolled deep In his throat.
The hair along his spine stood up. HIS
muscles twitched. Instinctively the
professor turned. Sandy McTrgger
had come up quietly behind him. His
brutal face wore q grin as he looked
at KaZan.
'Irs a fool job-tryin' to make
friends with him." he said. Then he
added, with a sudden interested CLEAN
In his eyes, "When you startin'f"
with first FROST" replied McGlll.
1T ought to come soon. I'm going to
join Sergeant Conroy and his party at
Fond du Lac by the LIST Of October"
"And you're going up to Fond du
Lac-aloneT" Queried Sandy. "Why
don't you take man?"
The little professor laughed softly. !
"Why?" he asked. 1--WE been
through the Athabasca waterways
dozen times, and know the trail as
well az know Broadway. Besides,
like to be alone. And the work isn't
too hard, with the currents all flowing
to the north and east"
Sandy was looking at the Dane, with
his back to McGIll. An exultant gleam
shot for an instant Into his eyes.
you're taking the dogsT
"Yes." |
Sandy lighted his pipe, and spoke
like one strangely curious. !
Must cost q heap to take these
trips o. yourn, don't itf"
'1Gy last cost about seven thousand
dollars. This will cost Eve" said Nc
0In.
"Scoti" breathed Sandy. -An' you
carry all that along with you'll Amt
yOu afraid-sOmething might hap
PEN
The little professor was looking the
other way now. The carelessness In
his face and manner changed. his
blue eyes grew q shade darker. A
hard smile which Sandy did not ZEE
hovered about his lips for an instant.
Then he turned. laughing.
I'm q very light sleeper" he said.
"a fO0tStep at night rOuses me. Even
q mans breathing awakes me, when
make up my mind that / must b on
30 guard. And. besides'-he drew
ernm his pocket z aiming ps-steeled