Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-01-11

thereafter she placed a rug befor the
door for him to sleep on. All through
the long nights he knew that she was
just beyond the door, and he was con-
tent. Each day he thought less and
less of the wild places and more Of
her.
| Then there came the beginning Of
the change. There was strange
hurry and excitement around him, and
| the girl paid less attention to him. lie
| grew uneasy. He shifted the change
| in the air and he began to study his
masters face. Then there came the
morning, very early, when the babiche
collar and the iron chain were fas-
tened to him again. Not until he had
followed his master out through the
-M9or and into the street did he begin
to understand. They We're sending him
away! He sat suddenly back on his
launches and refused to bulge.
Come Kazan," coaxed the man.
"Come on, boy"
He hung back and showed his white
fangs. He expected the lash Of a whip
or the blow Of club, but neither came.
His master laughed and took him back
to the house. When they left 1t again,
the girl was with them and walked
with her hand touching his head. 1t
was she who persuaded him to leap up
through big, dark hole into the still
darker interior of car, and 1t was she
who lured him to the darkest corner
| ~ oil hic ste 20 ctn
chain. Then they went out, laughing
like two children. For hours after
that Kazan lay still and tense listen.
ing to the queer rumble of wheels
under him. Several times those wheels
stopped, and he heard voices outside.
At last he was sure that he heard
familiar voice. and he strained at his
chain and whined. The closed door
slid back. A man with lantern
climbed in, followed by his master.
He paid no attention to them, but
glared out through the opening into
the gloom of night. He almost broke
loose when he leaped down upon the
white snow, but when he saw no one
there, he stood rigid, shifting the air
Over him were the stars he had
howled at all his life and about him
were the forests, black and silent,
shutting them In like a wall. Vainly
he sought for that one scent that was
missing, and Thorpe heard the low
note Of grief In his shaggy throat. He
took the lantern and held 1t above his
head, at the same time loosening his
hold on the leash. At that signal there
came voice out of the night. 1t came
so suddenly that the loosely held
chain slipped from the mans hand
He saw the glow Of other lanterns
And then. once more, the voice
"Kaa-aa-zan
He was off like a bolt. Thorpe
laughed to himself as he followed
'The old pirate!" he chuckled.
When he came to the lantern-lighted
space back of the caboose, Thorpe
found Kazan crouching down at a
woman's feet. 1t was Thorpe's wife
She smiled triumphantly at him as he
came up out of the gloom.
you've won" he laughed, not I'm.
|
dollar he wouldn't do that for any
voice on earth. You've won! Kazan
you brute, I've lost you'll"
His face suddenly sobered as Isobe
stopped to pick up the end of the
chain.
Hes yours, Issy," he added quickly
but you must let me care for him un
/ | A.
won't trust him even now. He's a wolf
I've seen him take an Indians hand
OF at single snap. I've seen him
tear out another dogs jugular in one
leap. He's an Outlaw-a bad dOg-in
. spite of the fact that he hung to me
like hero and brought me out alive
l can't trust him. Give me the chain
He did not finish. With the snarl OF
a wild beast, Kazan had leaped to his
feet. His lips drew up and barred his
long fangs. His spine stiffened, and
with sudden cry Of warning, Thorpe
dropped a hand to the revolver at his
belt.
Kazan paid no attention to him. An.
other form had approached out of the
illumination made by the lanterns. II
was McCready, who was to accompany
Thorpe and his young wife back to the
Red River camp. where Thorpe was in
charge Of the building Of the new
Transcontinental The man was
straight, powerfully built and clean.
shaver. His jaw was so square that
1t was brutal and there was a glow in
his eyes that was almost like the pas.
sion in Kazan's as he looked at Isobel
McCready shifted his gaze, and in.
stantly her hand fell on Kazan's head
For the first time the dog did not seem
to feel her touch. He still snarled
at McCready. the rumbling menace in
, his throat growing deeper. Thorpe's
, wife tugged at the chain.
| "Down, Kazan-down she com.
manded.
At the sound of her voice he relaxed
, "Downr she repeated, and her free
, hand fell on his head again. He skunk