Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1918-02-07
CHAPTER x-contlnued.
Copyright Bobbs-Mss-iu Co,


10
"Good old Kazan," she cried softly,
putting her face down close to him.
"We're glad you came, Kazan, for
we're going to be alone tonight-baby
and !. Daddy's gone to the post, and
you must care for us while he's away"
She tickled his nose with the end Of
her long shining braid. This always
delighted the baby, for in spite o.f's1is
times to sneeze, and twig his ears. And
1t pleased him, too. He loved the sweet
scent of Joan's hair.
"And you'd fight for US, IL you had
to, wouldn't you" she went on. Then
she rose quietly. II must close the
door," she said. II don't want you to
go away again today, Kazan. You
must stay with u.s."
Kazan went Off to his corner, and lay
down. Just as there had been some
strange thing at the top of the Sun
Rock to disturb him that day, so now
there was a mystery that disturbed
him in the cabin. He shifted the air,
trying to fathom its secret Whatever
1t was, 1t seemed to make his mistress
different, too. And she was digging
out all sorts of odds and ends of things
about the cabin, and doing them up in
packages. Late that night, before she
went TO bed, Joan came and Struggled
her hand close down beside him for a
few moments
"We're going away" she whispered,
and there was curious tremble that
was almost sob In her voice. "We're
going home, Kazan. We're going away
down where his people live-where
they have churches, and cities, and mu-
sic, and all the beautiful things in the
world. And we're going to take you,
Kazanw
Kazan didn't understand. But he
was happy at having the woman so
near to him, and talking to him. At
these times he forgot Gray Wolf. The
dog that was in him surged over his
quarter-strain of wildness, and the
woman and the baby alone filed his
world. But after Joan had gone to her
bed, and all was quiet in the cabin, his
old uneasiness returned. He rose to
his feet and moved stealthily about the
cabin, shifting at the walls. the door
and the things his mistress had done
his throat. Joan, half asleep, heard 1t,
and murnured:
"Be quiet, Kazan. Go to sleep-go
to sleep"
Long after that. Kazan stood rigid
In the center of the room, listening,
trembling. And family he heard, far
away. the wailing cry Of Gray Wolf.
But tonight 1t was not the cry of lone
illness. 1t sent a thrill through him.
ale run to the door, and whined, but
Joan was deep In slumber and did not
hear him. Once more he heard the
cry. and only once. Then the night
grew still. lie crouched down near
tia door.
Joan found him there, still watchful,
still listening, when she awoke In the
early morning. She came to open the
door for him, and In u moment he was
gone. His feet seemed scarcely to
touch the earth as he sped In the d.
rection OF the Sun Rock. Across the
plain he could see the cap of 1t already
painted with golden glow.
He came to the narrow winding trail,
and wormed his way up II swiftly.
Gray Wolf was not Mt the top to
greet him. But he could smell her, and
the scent OF that other thing was strong
in the air. His muscles frightened; his
legs grew tense. Deep down In his
chest there began the low rumble of Il
growl. He knew now what that strange
thing was that had haunted him, and
iaade him useasy. 1t was life. Some
thing that lived and breathed had In
vaded the home which he and Gray
Wolf had chosen. He barred his long
fangs. and snarl Of defiance drew
back his lips. Stiff-legged. prepared to
spring, his neck and head reaching out,
he approached the two rocks between
which Gray Wolf had crept the night
before. She was still there. And with
her was something else. After mo
ment the tenseness left Kazan's body.
His bristling crest dropped until 1t lay
fiat. His ears shot forward, and he
put his head and shoulders between
the two rocks, and whlned softly. And
Gray Wolf whined. Slowly Kazan
backed out, and faced the rising sun
0Rn he lay dsWA - that his body