New Britain herald., 1922-01-14
(Continued From Last Issue,

The battle was short thereafter. harolh was never match for Bill, The latter's hard fists lashed into his face, blow after blow with grim re- ports In the silence. Harold's resist ance ceased; his body quivered and lay stlll. Remembering Virginia. Bill leaped to his feet.
 But Harold was not quite uncon. scious. But one impulse was left to escape; and dumbly he crawled to the door.
 No weapon remained in his hand. "fll get you yet. you devil!" he screamed, almost incoherently. 'Iu lay in walt and kill you-you can't get away"
 And out he staggered.
 Virginia" Bill called. Where are you?"
 From the dark. far end of the cabin he heard the answer--a voice low and tremulous such as Is some- times heard from the lips of a sick child. Here I am. Biil," she replied. I'm hit with stray shot"
 XXvII.
 P"i sFoPeu ms way to Vlfginia'S s side.
 His hands told him she was lying huddled against the wall, a slight, pa- thetlc figure that broke the heart within the man. He knelt beside her. then felt for n match.
 But before he struck the match he remembered his foe without; he would be quick to fire through the window if light showed him his tar get.
 Even now he might be crouched in the snow, his rife in his arms waiting for just this chance.
 Bill snatched a blanket from the cot, shielded them with it, and light ed the match behind 1t.
 He can't see the light through this" he told her.
 He groped for the fallen candle lighted 1t. and held 1t close. "You'll have to look and see yourself Vir. ginia," he told her. You remember of course-''
 Yes, she remembered his blindness She looked down at the little stain of red on her left shoulder.
 T can't tell" she told him. Tt went in right here-give me your hand"
 " She took his warm hand and rested it against the wound. Someway, 1t comforted her. Close to the top of the shoulder, then" he commented But there's nothing I can do-it's not wound I can dress. It's cleaner now than anything we've got to clean it with. The only thing is to lie still ---so 1t won't bieed."
 Do you think I'll die?" she asked him quietly
 II don't think the wound Is serious in itself-if we could get you down to doctor" he told her. Tt isn't bleeding much now, because you are lying still, but it has been bleeding pretty freely. It's just a flesh wound, really. But you sec"
 Her@mind leaped at once to his thought. You mean-it's the same, eithertway?" she questioned.
 Tt means deathLthat's all it means. I don't care on my own ac- count"
 Then don't care on mine, either" All at once her hand went up and caressed his face. Hold me, Bill. won't your" she asked. Hold me in your arms"
 The mans arms frightened around her. He lowered his lips close to hers.
 T love you.'
 She drew his head down and down until her own lips halted the flow of his words. And love you, Bill" she told him. No one but you"
 Only once during the night did Bill leave her to cover the crack of the door and build up the fire. When he returned, her warm little flood of kisses was as if he had been absent for weary hours.
 But her thoughts had been busy, even in this moment. All at once she drew his ear close to her lips.
 "Bill, will you listen to me min ute?" she asked.
 Listen! I'll listen to every Word-
 "I think I know the way-at least a fighting chance-to life and safety
 xXVIII
 "Everything depends first,' Virginia said, whether or not you can crawl through the little window of the cabin.'
 Bill remembered his experience in the smoke filled hut and he kissed her, whispering that would be easy. "The next thing-are Harold's snowshoes in this room?"
 50 it depends on Harold, does it? believe his snowshoes are here. Har- old left rather hurriedly-and I don't think he took them"
 What everything depends on---is getting out. The longer we stay here. without food, the more certain death Is. I know I can't walk and you can't see. Bill, Harold is waiting, right now probably in the little cabin where he sleeps--for a chance to get those shoes. He's helplessMithou them. AS soon as 1t gets light enough for him to see, I want you to go out the cabin door. Turn at once into the brush at your right, so he can't shoot you with the rife. Then come around to the side of the cabin and re-enter through the window.
 The moment he thinks you are gone he'll come-not only to get his snowshoes but to gloat over me know him now! can't understand | why I didn't know him before. And | then-we've got to take him by sur prise"
 And then--?'
 Quickly, with few words, she told him the rest of her plot
 Harold walked into the trap set by