Evening star., 1921-10-09

this mountain wilderness to find. Yet
with sinking heart 1t also came TO
her that II Hap Ruggam had made
these tracks and were still within.
she must face him in her exhausted
condition and at once make that tor
tuous return trip to civilization.
Thereewould be no one to help her.
She realized in that moment that
she was facing the primal. And she
was not primal. She was q normal
woman, weakened to Misrepresentation
by the trek of the past twenty-four
away while there was time?
She stood debating thus, the eter-
nal silence blanketing forest world
and clearing. But she was allowed
to make no decision. D
A living body sprang suddenly upon
her. Before she could cry out, she
was borne down precipitously from
behind.
She tried to turn the revolver
against the thing upon her. but the
fingers. The snow into which she
had been precipitated blinded her.
She smeared an arm across her eyes.
but before clear sight was regained
talon fingers had gripped her shoul-
der. She was half lifted. half dragged
through the doorway, and there she
was dropped on the plank flooring.
Her assailant. turning, made to close
and bar the door.
When she could see clearly she
perceived a weak illumination in the
cabin. On the rough bench-table.
the stub Of tallow candle probably
left by some hunting party.
The windows were curtafned with
rotting blankets. Some rough furni-
sils Uttered the tables, and at one end
was a sheet-iron stove. The place
had been equipped after fashion by
deer-hunters or mountain mixers, VINO
brought additional furnishings to the
place each year and left mouldy pro-
hind.
The man succeeded finally in clos
ing the door. He turned upon her.
He was short and stocky The stolen
by dementia- His hair was lifeless
black and clipped close, prison fash
ion. His low forehead hung over
burning. mismated eyes. From her
helplessness on the floor Cora Nc
Get up!" he ordered. Take that
chair. And don't start no rough
house; e., whether x,,t 1 you're woman or
She groped to the indicated chair
shoe still dragging from one foot.
Again the man surveyed her. She
saw his eyes and gave another In
You hear me?'
She obeyed.
The greenish light burned brighter
in his mfsmated eyes, which gazed in.
tently at the top of her head as
though it held something unearthly.
'rake of your hat" was his next
She pulled of the toque. Her hair
fell in a mass on her snow-blotched
shoulders. Her captor advanced upon
her. He reached out and satisfied
not there wch e ea In hyp
motto fear she suffered that touch. It
reassured him.
you're hair. now." he demanded:
''it don't stand up. does it? No. O.
ri kill you-understand?' II your
hair comes up, I'll kill you"
She understood only too well. She
was housed with maniac. And she
was alone with him. unarmed now.
watching his face out Of fear-distend-
The wind blew one of the rotten
blankets inward. Thereby she knew
that the window aperture on the south
wall contained no sash. He must have
removed it to provide means Of escape
in case he were attacked from the
east door. He must have climbed out
that window when she came around
the shack: that is how he had felled
her from behind.
+ 4
LIE STEPPED backward now until
- he felt the edge Of the bench
touch his calves. Then he sank down.
one arm stretched along the tables
rim, the hand clutching the revolver.
''Who are your. he demanded.
TIN Cora McB-" She stopped
she recalled in q fash the part her
husband had played in. his former
capture and trial. I'm Cora Allen"