The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-02-11
CHAPTER n-Continued.
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And as for Whisperfoot-the terror
that choked his heart with blood be-
gar to wear off in a little while. The
man lay so still in the thickets. Be
sides. there was a strange, wild smell
In the air. Whisperfoot's stroke had
zone home so true there had not even
been a fight. The darkness began to
lift around him, and a strange exulta-
ton. a rapture unknown before in all
his hunting. began to creep into his
wild blood. Then. as a shadow steals,
he went creeping back to his dead.
Dan Failing had been studying ma
ture on the high ridges: and he went
home by a back trail that led to old
Bald mountain. The trail was just
a narrow serpent in the brush and
It had not been made by gangs of
laborers. working with shovels and
picks. Possibly half a dozen white
men. In all, had ever walked along 1t.
1t was just the path Of the Wild crea-
lures. worn down by hoof and paw
and cushion since the young days OF
the world.
It was a roundabout trail home,
but yet II had its advantages. 1t took
him within WI miles OF SnOwbird's
lookout station. and at this hour Of
day he had been particularly fortunate
In finding her at a certain spring on
the mountain side. 1t was rather a sim
gular coincidence. Along about four
he would usually And himself wander.
Ing up that way. Strangely enough.
at h same time, it was true that
she had an irresistible impulse to 20
dOwn and sit In the green ferns beside
the same spring. They always seemed
to be surprised to see one another. In
reality, either of them would have
been considerably more surprised had
the other failed to put in an D
ance. And always they had long talks,
as the afternoon drew to twilight.
But l don't think you ought TO wait
20 late before starting home" the girl
wouli always say. You're not a
human hawk, and It is easier to get
lost than you think"
And this sOlicitude. Dan rightly fig
AIRED. was a R~oA sign. There was
snly n objection to 1t. It resulted
n an unmistakble inference that she
considered him unable to take care
Of. himself-pnd that was the last
thing on earth that he wanted her
to- think. He understood her well
enough to know that her standards
were the standards Of the mountains.
valuing strength and self-reliance
above all things. He didn't stop to
question why. every day. he trod so
many weary miles to be with her.
She was as natural as a fawn and
many times she had quite taken away
his breath. And once she did 1t liter
ally. He didn't think that SO long as
death spared him he would ever be
able to forget that experience. 1t was
her birthday. and knowing Of II In
time he had arranged for the delivery
Of a certain package, dear to a girlish
heart, at her fathers house. In the
trysting hour he had come trudgfng
over the hills with It, and few expert
euces In his life had eveY yielded such
unmitigated pleasure as the sight of
her. glowing white and red. as she took
on Its wra epfng paper. 1t was a jolly
old gift, Re recollected-and when she
had cen II. she fairly leaped at him.
Her warm, round arms around his
neck. and the softest. lovelirst lips in
the world pressed his. But III those
DAYS he didn't have the strength that
te had nov. He felt he could endure