The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-28

bic answer rom the shore OF me
lake.
''I'm comtns; Beatrice" some
one said In the coyerts. Her cries,
uttered when her father fell, had
not gone unheard.
Ben walked quietly into the cir.
Gle Of freight and stood OF Bea:
trice's side! But while Ray and
Chan eazed as him as II he were a
spectre from the grave, Beatriee's
only impulse was one o. ttnmeasur.
able and unspeakabie thankful.
ness
The man was exhausted help:
less IN their hands, All Rays aims
had been attained with Ben's
death the claim, o fourth Of which
had been his IiptiYe when he had
slain Ezram would pass entirely to
except for such share as he
would have To- give Chan.
Nelson ny seriously wounded.
perhaps dead by now. Whatever his
injuries, he would not go back with
them to share In the gold Of the
claim. THE gtrl, also, was his prey
--to do with what he liked.
Benfs face hardened. .'There "a
nothing \ can do, now. You camc
too late, But would have had
something 10 do Il I had my rifle"
ooh. you depraYed dogs!" he told
them quietly and distinctly. you
yallow. mongrel cowards!"
7, Ray Strengthened. stung by the
words = And Ill make. you wish you
was dead before you ever said
that" he threatened. ChanAput a
rope around his legs and a gag IN
his rotten meuthl,
They moved toward him stimuli.
taneousiy. and Ben summoned the
last lot OF his almost spent strength
TO htrI them off. They did not
need deadly Weapons for this vast.
I'd form Yet for the duration Of
one second Ben fought with an In.
. credible lfegoeity and yalor.
Bnt such an unequal battle could.
last only an instant, Ray focused
. his attack upon Ben's injured left
ANA. Chan struck once at the girl,
turiing her to the ground with a
base blow then dashed brutal blows
into Betils face. The burst OK
strength ebbed as quickly as It had
come; his legs wilted under him,
and he sank slowly to the ground
For q few minutes they took lit.
tie notice Of the prone figures at
the far edge Of, the fading freight.
Attention could be given them soon
enough, Their own triumph was
beginning 70 give way to deep IA.
tigue
Ben and Beatrice had talked soft.
iy at first, accepting their fate at
last and trying to forget all things
but the fact Of each others pres.
ence his right hand held hers
close TO his lips. and only she could
iinderstant the message In It's. soft
pressure. But presently gher gaze
fastened on some object In THE
grass beside him n Y
~ see q way. out-for us BOTH"
she told him. She knew he would
not misund erstand and dream tina.
she saw an actual avenue to life
and safety. sDon't give any Sign"
''Then hurry he urged. "They
may be back any instant. What -
"a way to cheat 'em to keep
them from torturing you-and to
save nefrom all the things
they'll do to 1ne-when you're
dead. oh, Ben-you won't fail me
-you'lli do IT for me-"
He smiled, gently and strongly,
DO you think I'd fail you now?1
Then reach your good arm on
the other side. There's a knife ~.
ing there your own knite-they
knocked out ofsf1y hand. You
know what to do-first me, in tho
throat then yourself."
He turned, cropping with his
hand There was no use OF wait
itig longer The knife lay iust be-
yond his reach aud softly he NOV
"a his body through the grass.
But this gate to mercy was clos
go before they reached It. a aud
den flaring Of the fire revealed
them the CLEAN Of the blade and
BenIs stretching hand-and Ray
lett his log ina swift. catiike
leap.
With d sharp oath Ray crushsd
tle blade into the ground with his
heel; then kicked Vielously at tile
prone body OF his enemy. NJ 4
His eye fell on a long, heavy
club Of spruce that had been cut
for fuel he bent and his strong
hands seized IL
AS he swung It high the girl
ieaped betwen-with a last fran
tic EFFORT, wholly instinctiye-.to
shield Ben's body with her own.
Chan had. lowed Ben, and siiar
ing Rye ttendish mood, jerked
her aside. lssj 4,
Yet Il was 10 be that Rays muir.
derous blow was never to 20 home
A mighty and terrible ally had
come 10 Benss aid. He came pounc.
ing from the darkness a gaunt and
dreadful ayenger whose code OF
own.
1t was Fehsis the wolf. and he
had found his master at last. Miss.
Ing him II the accustomed place in
the cave. he had trailed him to Inc
lake margin; . smell on the wind
had lad him fha Ts5f ~ A. -