South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-05

and the cabin. Ba tiste sIeao- was
within.
Houston entered sud dropped be-
side the older man. alre4d dag
ging forth the drawers OF The 5u-
reau and paving ezcitedly among
the trinkets there. A watch. a ring
and a locket with a curly strand or
5aby hair. The giant sobbei
Ny P!erre-eet was my Pierre
What's that?" Houston had
raised suddenly. was staring in the
direction OF an old commode II the
corner. At the door the wolt-dog
shifted and snarled. Ba'tiste. bend
ing among the lost trinkets that
once had been his wife's. did not
hear. Houston grasped him by the
shoulder and shook him excitedly.
"Ba'tistel Ba'ustei There's some
one hiding-over there in the cor
ner. I heard sounds-l0ok az Cole
mari"
Hiding? No. There is no one
here-no one but Ba'tiste and his
memories. No one
II teel you heard someone. The
commode moved. I know"
He rose. only 70 suddenly veer ana
hatten himself against the wall The
yellow blaze OF aimless revolve- IRE
had spurted from the corne~; then
the pIunging form OF a gnarled
gsngling. iimping man. who rushed
past Houston 70 the door. swerved
there, and once more raised the re-
vclver. But he did not FIRE.
A furry, snarling thing had leaDed
at him. knocking the revolver from
his hand in It's plugging ascent.
Then a cry-a gurgling grOwl. Teeth
had clenched at the throat OF the
man: together they rolled through
the door 10 the snow without. Cole
mar. his hold broken by the fall,
striving again for the death clutch,
the man screaming in sudden frantic
fear.
Take him OFF," The voice Of the
thin -visaged Fred Thayer was shrill
now. Take him ,oft-Ill tell you
about it-she did it-she did IT.,
Take him off,"
Coleman" Ba'tiste had appeared
IN the doorway Below the dog
whirled in obedience 20 his COM
! mand and edged back, teeth still
barred. eyes vigilant, waiting for the
first movement OF the man on the
ground.
Houston went forward and stood
peering down at the frightened,
/ Euddled form of Thayer. wip!ng the
blood from the fang wound in his
neck
You'll tell about what?" came
with sudden incisiveness.
The man stared, suddenly aware
/ that he had spoken Of a thing that
had been mentioned by neither Ba'-
tiste nor Houston. His lips worked
crookedly. He tried 10 smile, hut IL
ended only In a misshapen snar!.
IT thought you fellows were look
| ing for something. I-I-wanted TO
get the dog off"
we were. We've found f. Ba'-
tiste," and Houston forced back the
/ tigerish form Of the big French
/ Canadian. you walk in front Of US.
/ I'm afraid TO trust you right now.
And don't turn back. Do you prom
ise7"
| The big hands worked conTulsive-
| ~ The eyes took on a newer. fercer
glare.
With an effort the Canadian
/ obeyed. the wolf-dog trotting beside
him. Houston following, one hand
| locked about the buckle of the thin
ner mans belt. the other half sup
porting him as he limped and reeled
/ through the snow,
IT'S my hip" The mans mind
had gone 10 trivial things. Il
sprained it-about ten days ago. I'd
been living over here with her up
till the storm. Then l had 10 be at
camp. l."
That was your child. them"
Fred Thayer was silent. Barry
Houston repeated the question COM
/ mandingly.
Whose would you think II wa %
They reached the sled. and Ba'-
| tiste pointed 70 the seat.
I'm there" he ordered. "Ba'teese