The Dolores star., 1921-09-02
Copyright. 1890. by Little. Brown & Co

NOT let tle Necessity OF nhSle Cost uiih
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
little stream that flowed into the
river and ;hat-like the mountaIneer
he was-he had built large lean-to
reinforced with snowbanks. The fire
burned at Its opening. CranstOn 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 construc-
ton. Still he moved with incredible
caution. Never in his life had he pos
Sessed n 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 n branch or the crack Of twig.
Certain of the wild creatures find 1t
easy: but men have forgotten how in
too many centuries OF cities and farms.
It Is hardly human quality, and a
spectator would have found rather
Chastly fascination in watching the
1.-THE motions, the passionIess face, the
hands that didn't shake at ALL But
there We're no spectators-unless the
little band Of wolves, stragglers from
the pack that had gathered on the hills
behind-watched with lighted eyes.
Dan went down Mt 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, cIear to the mouth of the lean-to.
The moonlight poured through and
showed the interior with rather re-
marknble 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
ory of his deed of the day before-he
cursed in savage whisper. Although
to, he was wholly unaware Of Dams
presence. The latter had thrust his
head at 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 mo-
ment Dan was at loss TO explain this
seeming vigil. Then he understood.
~,
of the long ridge that the three of
them would pass on their way to the
valleys. Cranston had evidently an
ticipated that the girl and the man
would attempt to march out-even II
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 were 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 Cranston'S rifle. Success or
failure hung on that. He couldn't
ind 1t at first. Then he saw the gilt
ter of its barrel in 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 himself-was that he would be
nearer to the gun than Cranston and
would be able to seize it first. But
conditions could be greatly worse than
they were. If Cranston had actually
had the weapon in his hands, the odds
OF battle would have been frightfully
against Dan. 1t takes a certain length
OF time to seize, swing, and aim RI
fle; and Dan felt that while he 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 all his dreams, through
the months of preparation, he had pic
tured Ii thus. 1t was the test at last.
The gun might be loaded, and still
in these days Of safety devices-un-
ready to fire; and the loss of frac-
tion Of second might enable Gran
ston to reach his knife. Thus Dan
felt justified in ignoring the gun alto
geiher and trusting-as he had most
desired-to battle of hands. And he
wanted both hands free when he made
his attack.
II Dan had been erect upon his feet,
his course would have been an imme-
diate leap on the shoulders of his ad-
versary, running the risk Of Cranston
reaching his hunting knife In time.
But the second that he would require
10 get to his feet would entirely offset
this advantage. Cranst0n could spring
up, too. So he did the next most dis
arming thing.
He sprang up and strobe into the
lean.to.
Cro BE coNT1NUEDo
Falls Excavate 3o-MIle chasm.