The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-19
= CHAPTER VII
The Wolf Scents death,

CHAPTER VII
The Wolf Scents Death.
AS twilight darkened to the
full gloom OF the forest night,
Ben and Beatrice rode to lonely
cabin on the Yuga River-one
that had been built by Hiram Mel
Vile years past. They had seen
a lighted window from .afar,
marking the end of Beatrice's hard
days ride.
"of course you won't try TO 20
!! on tonlght?" she asked Ben.
You'll stay at the cabin?"
There likely won't be room
for three" he answered. "But
it's clear night. I can make O
fire and sleep out"
They halted at last. and Bea-
trice saw her fathers form.
framed in the doorway. She has
tened into his arms: waiting in
the darkness Ben could not help
but hear his welcome. Many
things were doubtful: but there
could be no doubt of the love that
Nelson bore his daughter.
"But why SO many horses, Bea-
trice?" he asked. "You-brought
some one with you?"
Hes a prospector-Mr. Darby"
the girl replied. Come here Ben
and be introduced.
Ben had already decided upon
his course of action. He knew per
fectly that It would only put Neil
son on his guard II he stated HE
true position: and besides, he want
wrong steer, Mr.. Nelson" he said,
ed wor dof Ezram. II may have Z
"but a man l met down on ths
river-trail, out OF Snowy Gulch, al.
vised me to come hero. He said
that he had some sort Of a claim
up here and that his brother left
him, and though It was pocket
country, he thought thered 5000
be great rush up this, way"
II hardly know who It could havs
been that you met" Nelson began
doubtfully. HE didn't tell you his
name" \
Melville. believe that was II.
And II you'll tell me how to find
him, I'll try to go on tonight.
Melville, eh? I guess know
who You mean now. But mol
don't know Of any claim unless it's
over east, beyond here. Maybe
further down the river"
Ben made no reply at once; bu.
his mind sped like lightning. OF
course Nelson was lying about the
claim; he knew perfectly that at
that moment he was OCCUPYING one
Of Hiram Melville's cabins.
"He hasn't come up this way|
Ben asked casually.
HE hasn't come through here
that know Of. OF course I'm work
ing at my claim-with my partners
and he might have gone through
without our seeing him. 1t seems
rather unlikely"
''He told me, in the few minutes
that talked to him, that his CLAIM.
was somewhere close to this one
thought he said up this creek"
"There is q cabin up the creek
a way" Nelson admitted, "bu. It
isn't tho one he meant. It's on my
claim, aud my two partners are
living in it. But when he said near
to this one, he might have meant
ten miles. That's the way 'we
northern men speak OF distance"
He said his farewells to tina
girl, refused an invitation to pass
the night In the cabin, and made
his way to the green bank Of the
stream. Four hundred yards from
the cabin-obscured from both by
the thickets-he pitched his camp.
Ben made his fire and unpacked
his horses. He confined his riding
horse with picket rope; tho
others he turned loose. Then he
cooked simple meal for himself
and the gaurt servant at his
heels.
When the night had come down
IN full, and as he sat about the
glowing Goals OF his supper fire,
he had time to devote serious
thought to the fate Of Ezram
1mpelled by an urge within him
self Ben suddenly knelt beside his
lupine friend. He could not under
sand the flood Of emotion, tho
vague sense Of impending and
dramatic events that stirred him
to the quick, He only knew, with
a knowledge akin to inspiration
that In Fenris lay the answer to
his problem.
"Fenrls, old boy" the man
whispered. "Can you find him for
me, Ferris? He's out there some
where" the man motloned TO-
ward the dark-"and I want him.
Can you take me to HING"
Continued in Next Issue.l