Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-01-18
voods. Don't wake up your wire :

sNsSs hoa PC NuhnU YuiCly Oul vi Liz
tent McCready pointed Into the thich
spruce.
"Ill swear there's someone nosinp
around the camp" he said I'm Ger.
tain that saw a man out there a few
minutes ago, when / went for q log
It's a good night for stealing dogs
Here--yOu take the lantern! If
wasn't clean fooled. we'll And a trail
In the snow
He gave Thorpe the lantern and
picked up the heavy club. A growl rose
In Kazan's throat, but he choked il
back. He wanted to snarf 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. SO
he lay still, trembling and shivering,
and whining softly. He watched them
until they disappearcd-and then wait
ed-listened. At last he heard the
crunch OF snow. He was not surprised
to see McCready come back alone. He
had expected him 10 return alone. For
he knew what club meant!
McCready's face was terrible now. II
was like a beasts. He was hatless
kazan skunk deeper in his shadow ut
the low horrible laugh that fell from
his lips-fOr the man still held the
club. In moment he dropped that.
and approa ched the tent. He drew back
the flap and peered in. ThOrpe's wife
was sleeping, and as quietly as a cat
he entered and hung the lantern on
nail in the tent-pole. His movement
did not awaken her, and for few mo-
ments he stood there, staring-staring.
Kazan watched McCready as he en-
tered, and suddenly the dog was on his
feet his back tense and bristlng, his
limbs rigid. He saw McCready's huge
shadow on the canvas, and moment
later there came a strange piercing cry.
In the wild terror of that cry he recog-
nized her voice-and he leaped toward
the tent. The leash stopped him,
choking the snarI In his throat. He saw
the shadows struggling now, and there
came cry after cry. She was calling to
his master. and with his masters name
she was calling him!
NuZun-huZdn-
He leaped again, and was thrown up
on his back. A second and third
time he sprang the length Of the leash
into the night, and the babiche cord
about his neck cut into his flesh like
knife. He stopped for an instant,
gasping for breath. The shadows were
still fighting. Now they were upright
Now they were crumpling down! With
fierce snarl he flung his whole weight
once more Mt the end of the chain.
There was a snap, as the thong about
his neck gave way.
In half dozen bounds Kazan made
the tent and rushed under the flap.
With snarl he was at McCready's
throat. The first snap of his powerful
jaws was death, but ne did not know
that. He knew only that his mistress
was there. and that he was fighting for
her. There came one choking gasping
cry that ended with a terrible sob; 1t
was McCready. The man sank from
his knees upon his back, and Kazan
thrust his fangs deeper into his
enemys throat he felt the warm blood
The dogs mistress was calling to
him now. She was pulling at his shaggy
neck. But he would not loose his hold
hot for long time. When he did
his mistress looked down once upon
the man and covered her face with her
hands. Then she sank down upon the
blankets. She was very still. Her face
and hands We're cold, aud Kazan muz-
zled them tenderly. Her eyes were
closed. He snuggled up close against
her. with his ready jaws turned toward
the dead man. Why was she so still,
he. wondered?
"A long time passed, and then she
moved. Her eyes opened. Her hand
touched him. \
Then he heard a step outside.
1t was his master. and with that old
thrill Of fear-fear Of the club-he
went swiftly to the door. Yes, there
was his master in the firelight-and 10
his hand he held the club. He was
coming slowly, almost falling ut each |
STEP and his face was red with Blood.
But he had the club! He would beat
him again-beat him terribly for hurt
ing MA(Sready: so Kazan slipped quiet.
" und the tent-fiap and stole of into |
he sliMdSws. From out the gloom of
the thickspruce he looked back, and
4 low whine Of love afdrGrief rose and |
lied softly In his throat. They would
beat him always now--after that. Even
'he would beat him. They would hunt
him down. and beat him when they
'ound him.
From Out. of the glow of the fire he
urned his wolfish head to thes depths
If the forest. There were no clubs or
iashes out in that gloom. They
would never find him there. i
For another moment he wavered.
And then, as silently as one of the wild
Features whose blood was partly his,
he stniss away into the biackness Of the
light,