The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-07-20
Little Things
That Count
BY HUBERT RAY
.ImIIInIIInlIInnIIIInIIIIlnIIIIIllIIn


with all the intensity of a man who Is
compelled to spend winter in the
sole company OF his best friend. They
we're exploring the coast OF NORTH
America, and they had spent four sun.
less months together In the snow
lgloo.
-Four months Of darkness In the
snow hut. while eternal billiards
ragged outside. only once relieved by
the visit OF band Of Eskimos, dwarf
savages who had fingered their knives,
muttered In their animal language at
the strangers, and then decided that
their few possessions we're not worth
the risk Of an attack,
Sanders hated Hall too, but not so
much as Hall hated Sanders Mey
gibed ut each other lncessantiy. Hall
hated Sanders boarding OF his few
scraps Of tobacco. he hatof the way
he cleaned his pipe after his daily
smoke: he hated him for shaving, for
breathing, for being in existence at
all.
And II was all irrational, born of
loneliness and darkness. Hall had
sense enough to see that, hut II did
not dimlnlsh his hatred He might
even have killed him, only he knew
that alone he could not face the finish
of the Arctic winter
Tie worst quarrel OF all occurred
one night when Sanders. having An
lshed his pipe, began searching in the
hut
"For heavens sake keep quiet aud
lie down." Hall growled. Haven't ]
enough OF you all day. without being
disturbed and kept awake all night D.
81 want my plpe-cleaner," Sanders
snorted. "Its gone. and It's my belief
you've hidden II out of spltel"
"You lie" shouted Hall, and out OF
the depths Of his minds bitter thought
was born. Guess you wouldn't worry
so much about your pipe-cleaner Il
you know what know" he taunted
him
you know lott Well spit 1t out
spit II out" yelled Sanders.
Hall sneered. Say. Sanders, you
left your wife in Utica. didn't your
he asked. staying with her mother
waiting for hubby to come home
wasn't shef"
'Wellf' Sanders tone was like =
whlp-lash.
'Well. she Isn't. She's staying al
Seattle, waiting for mel" Hall yelled
Sanders said never word. lie lay
down and began breathing hard. Hal
was alarmed for moment. but after
while Sanders regular breathing
showed that he had fallen asleep. Hal
chuckled.
SCOT him on the rawl" he solllo
qulzed. 81 guess I've got the whlI
hand OF him nowp'
He nodded AT the seal-oil lamp. l
was hot In the lgloo. He was drows
ing. falling asleep, when suddenly h'
felt two hands upon his throat.
He leaped up, To see Sanders peer
ing into his face, with murder in hIi
eyes. And then struggle for llf'
began.
They fought all round the hut, will
all the fury of two mortal foes. I
seemed as II the battle lasted hours
Both men were In prime condition
both filled with hatred for each other
Again and again the fight seemed OF
the point of ending, and always 1
was renewed.
At last Hall realized that he wa
winning. He dealt Sanders stunning
blow that knocked him through th'
wall OF the hut. He followed him
grappled with him In the bitter coli
outside. sut his hands round hi
throat. and heard Sanders choking on
his last gasps. Not even then was hi
hate satisfied.
Its true what told you. Sanders
he hlssed In his ear. shes waitlnI
for me. And you'll never live to re
turn to America. I'm going to inisl
you nowl"
He could see Sanders face clearl
in the slow Arctic dawn. He saw tn
protruding eyes, the lips moving con
vulsively. And then--of sudden hi
hands fell to his sides. Reason re
| turned.
For over the horizon peered the thll
edge of the returning sun.
He grasped Sanders by the should
ers. Sanders Get up, old man Nv
been mad-so have you. Look T. h
shouted. pointing toward the luminary
Sanders arose unsteadlly. faced tn
suns rim. and suddenly put out hi
hand.
"We've been fools, Hail. he said
"Fools2 Devils Sanders, listen /
me swear that was lie out Of III
whole cloth. what was telling 20,
Why, I've lain awake night after Nigh
for weeks thinking how could hun
you most. ! was mad when said tina
I've never set eyes on your wife
my life. No need to have attscke
me-"
''That wasn't why attacked yo'
Hail." said Sanders sheeplshly.
"What2 What the dickens-r
81 thought you'd hidden my plp'
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