Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-07-02
Copyright. 1920. by Little. Brown & c

AND SnOWbird-l didn't like his looks.
He's too gaunt and he's too hungry
and l haven't a bit Of doubt he waited
IN that brush for us 10 come, intend
ing TO attack us-and lost his nerve
the last thing. That shows he's des-
perate. I don't like him. and l wouldn't
like his pack. And a whole pack might
not lose its nerve"
Then you think we'd better turn
back?"
Eyes. I do, and not come out any
more without a whole pocket of shells
I'm going to carry rife, too. just as
Lennox has always. He's got only
tiesh-wound. You saw what You did
with two cartridges-g0t in one flesh
wound. Three of 'em against a pack
wouldn't be a great deal of aid
don't mean 20 say you can't shoot, but
a iumping. lively wolf is worse than
a bird in the air. We've gone over
three niles; and he'd lead us ten miles
farther-even if he didn't go to the
pack. Let's go back"
IF you say so. But I don't think
there's the least bit of danger. We
can always climb a tree"
"And have 'em make a beautiful
circle under it, They've got more pa
tience than we have-and we'd have
to come down some time. Your father
can't come to our help, you know. It's
the sign of the tenderfoOt not to think.
there's any danger-and I'm not going
to think that way any more"
They turned back and mushed in
silence n long time.
81 suppose you'l think I'm cow
ard" Dan asked her humbjy.
"Only prudent. Dan" she answered.
smiling. Whether she meant It he did
not know. I'm Just beginning to IN
derstand that yOu-living here only
few monthS-really know and under
stand all this better than I do" She
stretched her arms wide to the wilder
ness. 81 guess it's your instinct"
And do understand" he told her
earnestly. ~ sensed danger back
there just as sure as I can see your
face. That packard IT'S big one
is close; and it's terribly hungry. And
You know-you can't help but know
that the wolves are not to be trusted
in famine times"
81 know it only too WELL" she said.
Then she paused and asked him
about a strange grayness. like snow
blown by the wind, on the sky over
the ridge.
Bert CranstOn waited in a clump OF
exposed thicket on the hillside until
he saw two black dots. that he knew
were Dan and Snowbird. leave the
Lennox home. He lay very still as
they circled up the ridge, noticing
that except for the pistol that he
knew SnOwbird always carried. they
were unarmed. There was no par
tiCular reason why he should be inter
ested in that point. 1t was lust the
mountain way always to look for
weapons, and it is rather difficult to
trace the mental processes behind this
impulse. Perhaps 1t can he laid to
the fact that many mountain families
are often Mt feud with one another.
and anything in the way of violence
may happen before the morning.
The two passed out of his sight.
and after a long time he heard The
crack Of Snowbirds pistol. lie
guessed that she had either shot at
some wild creature, or else was mere
" at target practice-rather a com
! mon proceeding for the two when
they were on the hills together. Thus
it IS 10 be seen that Cranston knew
their habits fairly well. And since he
had kept a close watch upon them for
several days. this was to be expected
He had no intention Of being inter.
rupted in this work he was about to
do lie had planned IL all very we'll
The elder Lennox was stul helpless
| Cranston had noticed that when Dan
and Snowbird went out they we're
| usually gone from two to four hours /.
and that gave him plenty OF time for
his undertaking. The moment rad
come at last to make thorough
search Of Lennoxs house for those IN.
eliminating documents that Dan had
found near The body Of Landy Hi
uietu.
The only really dangerous part Of
his undertaking was his approach. If
by any chance Lennox were lo9bing
ont of the window, he might be found
waiting with a rifle across his arms.
Il would be quite like the old noun.
taineer to have his gun beside him.
and TO shoot it quick and exceptional
| ~ straight without asking questions,
~ any stealing figUre in the snow Yet
| Crauston felt fairly sure that Leraox
was stiIl too helpless to raise q gun
10 a shooting position.
He had observed that the NOM
taineer spent his time either 0a he
| fireplace divan or on his own led
| NcltLer Of these places was available
1 % the rear windows Of the house. So.
very wisely he made his attack from
/ The rear
TO BE CONTINUED
I
Life and Art
"Td like to meet thar 5nar Ip