Evening journal., 1922-01-14

The latters hard fists lashed into
his face. blow after blow with grim
reports in the silence. Harold's
resistance ceased; his body quivered
and lay still. Remembering Nir-
ginia. Bill leaped to his feet.
But Harold was not quite uncon-
scious. But one smpulse was left
TO escape; and dumbly he crawled
70 the door.
No weapon remained in his hand.
"I1L get you yet. you devil!" he
screamed, almost incoherently. "In
lay in wait and kill you-you can't
get away"
And out he staggered.
Virginia" Bill called. where
are your"
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 sick
child. Here I am. Bill" she re-
piled. I'm hit with STRAY shot
XVII
Bill groped his way to Virgnia's
side.
His hands told him she was
living huddled against the wall
slight, pathetic figure that broke
the heart within the man. He knelt
beside her. then felt for match.
But before he struck the match
he remembered his foe without; he
would be quick 10 ire through the
window II a light showed him his
target.
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 1t, and
lighted the match behind It.
HE can't see the light through
this he told her.
He groped for the fallen candle,
lighted II. and held it close. you'll
have to look and see yourself. Vir-
ginia." he told her. You remem-
ber-of course"
Yes, she remembered his blind
ness. She looked down at the little
stain OF red on her left shoulder.
Il can't tell" she told him. 1T
went in right here-give me your
hand"
She took his warm hand and rest
ed ? against the wound. Someway
IL comforted her. "Close to the
top OF the shoulder. them" he COM
mented. But there's nothing I can
dots not a wound I can dress
It's cleaner now than anything we've
got to clean Il with. The only
thing is 10 lie still-so 1t won't
bleed"
do you think I'll die?" she asked
him quietly.
II don't think the wound is seri-
Gus in itself-if we could get you
down 10 a doctor" he told her III
isn't bleeding much now, because
YOU are lying still. but It has beer
bleeding pretty freely. It's just a
flesh wound, really. But you SEE
80
Her mind leaped at once to hi
thought. you mean-its the same
either way?" she questioned.
1T means death-that's all Il
means. / don't care on my own ac-
count"
Then don't care on mine, either
All at once her hand went up ant
caressed his face. Hold me, Bill
won't you ?" she asked. Hold ms
in your arms"
The mans arms tightcned around
her He lowered his lips close Il
hers.
Il love you"
She drew his head down and dowr
until her own lips halted the flow o
his words. "And I love you. Bill,
she told him. no one but you"
only once during the night did Bill
leave her-to cover the crack OF tn
door and build up the fire. Whe
ne returned. her warm little food O
kisses was as II he had been absen
for weary hours.
But her thoughts had been busy
even in this moment. All at ono
she drew his ear close to her lips.
"Bil. will you listen to me a min
ute?" she asked
"Listenl I'll listen to ever
word
Il think / know the way-at leal
"a fighting chance-to life and SAFE
iy."
XVIII
Everything depends first" VII
ginia said, whether or not you ca
crawl through the little window ,
the cabin"
Bill remembered his experience
the smoke-flled but and he kisse
her. whispering that would be cas-
THE next thing-are Harold
snowshoes in this room?"
80 It depends on Harold, does n
believe his snowshoes are her
Harold left rather hurriedly-and
don't think he took them"
What everything depends on
getting out The longer we sta
here without food. the more certal
death is. know 1 can't walk ar
you can't see. Bill. Harold is wal
ing, right now-probably in the lit
cabin where he sleeps-for a chan
: to get those shoes. He's helple
without them. AS soon as il ge
light enough for him to see. l wa
you to go out the cabin door. Tui
= at once into the brush at your rigt
so he can't shoot you with the rif
Then come around to the side Of Il
:, cabin and re-enter through the wi
dow.
The moment he thinks you a
gone, he'll come-not only to get d
- snowshoes but to gloat over me.
know him now! 1 can't understai
why didn't know him before. Al
I then-we've got to take him by su
prise"
And them"
Quickly. with few words, she to
sihim the rest Of her plot