Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-07-30
Copyright. 1920. by Little. Brown 8 Co

cowardice. Yet he knew he must keep
a tight grip on his self-coptrol and
not let the necessity Of haste cost him
his victory. He crept forward, step
by step, placing his snowshoes with
consummate care. When he was one
hundred yards .diStant he saw that
CranSton's camp was situated beside
a little stream that flowed into the
river and that-like the mountaineer
he was-he had built a large lean-tO
reinforced with snowbanks The fire
burned at it's opening. CraBston was
not in sight; either he was absent
from camp or asleep in his lean-to.
The latter seemed the more likely,
Dan made wide detour, coming in
about thirty yards behind the consuuc-
ton. Stll he moved with incredible
caution. Never in his life had he pos
sessed a greater mastery over his own
nerves. His heart leaped somewhat
fast in his own breast; but this was
the only wasted motion. 1t isn't easy
to advance through such thickets with
out ever misstep, without the rustic
Of branch or the crack of a twig.
Certain of the Wild creatures find Il
easy; but men have forgotten how in
too many centuries Of cities and farms.
Ii is hardly a human quality. and
spectator would have found a rather
CHASTITY fascination in watching the
1.-THE motions, the passionless face, the
hands that didn't shake at all. But
there were no spectatoFs-unless the
little band of wolves, stragglers from
the pack that had gathered on the hills
behind-watched with lighted eyes.
Dan went down at full length upon
the snow and softly removed his snow
shoes They would be only an impedi-
ment in the close work that was sure
to follow. He slid along the snow
crust, clear to the mouth of the lean.to.
The moonlight poured through and
showed the interior with rather re-
markable plainness. Cranston was
sprawled, half-sitting. half-lying on a
tree-bough pallet near the rear wall.
There was not the slightest doubt OF
the mans wakefulness. Dan heard
him stir, and once-as If at the MEM
DRY of his deed of the day before-he
cursed in n savage whisper. Although
he was facing the opening of the lean
to, he was wholly unaware of Dams
presence. The latter had thrust his
head aC the side of the opening. and
it was in shadow, Cranston seemed
TO be watching the great, white snow
fields that lay In front, and for a mo-
ment Dan was ut loss TO explain this
seeming vigil. Then he understood.
The white field before him was part
Of the long ridge that the three of
them would pass on their way to the
valleys. Cranston had evidently an
ricipated that the girl and the man
would attempt to march out-eyen If
he hadn't guessed they would try to
take the helpless Lennox with them
and he wished to be prepared for
emergencies. There might be sport to
have with Dan, unarmed as he was.
And his eyes We're full of strange con-
lectures in regard to Snowbird Both
would be exhausted now and helpless
Dams eyes encompassed the room:
the piles Of provisions heaped against
the wall, the snow shoes beside the
pallet, but most of all he wished to
locate Cranstons rifle. Success or
failure hung on that. He couldn't
find 1t at first Then ne saw the gilt
ter Of its barrel Ia the moonlight
leaning against a grub box possibly
six feet from Cranston and 10 from
himself
His heart leaped The best he had
hoped for-for the sake of Snowbird,
not himsef-was that he would be
nearer to the gun than Cranston and
would be able to seize II first But
conditions could be greatly worse than
they we're. If Cranston had actually
had the weapon 10 his hands. the odds
of battle would have been frightfully
against Dan. It takes a certain length
Of time to seize, swing, and aim q r.
fie; and Dan felt that while ne would
be unable to reach it himself, Gran
ston could not procure it either, With
out giving Dan an opportunity to leap
upon him. IN ali his dreams through
the months Of preparation, he had pic
tured Il thus. 1t was the test at last.
The gun might be loaded, and still
in these days Of safety deyices-un-
ready TO FIRE; and The loss Of a frac-
ton of a second might enable Cram
ston TO reach his knife Thus Dan