San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23

Surely the mighty strength that
had set the powerful spring and the
skill that covered up all traces of his
work could succeed at last in freeing
him from slavery.
Bess had reached the shelter first,
and she was particularly relieved to
see Ned's tall form swinging toward
her along the shore. Doomsdorf was
in q particularly ominous mood to-
night. The curious glitter in his
magnetic eyes was more pronounced
than she had ever seen it-catlike in
the shadows, steely in the lantern
light; and his cruel savagery was
just at the surface, ready to be wax
ened. Worst of all, the gaze he bent
toward her was especially eager to-
night, horrible to her as the cold
touch of a reptile.
Every time she glanced up she
found him regarding her, and he fol-
lowed her with his eyes when she
moved. Yet she dared not seek shell
ter in the new cabin, for the simple
reason that she was afraid Dooms-
dorf would follow her there. Until
Ned came, her defense was solely
the presence of Lenore and the
squaw.
There was no particular warmth in
her meeting with Ned. DoOmsdorf's
eyes were still upon her, and she
was careful to keep any hint of the
new understanding out of her face
and eyes. Ned's weather-beaten
cOuntenance was as expressionless
as Sindy's own,
The four of them gathered about
the little rough table, and again the
squaw served them, from the shad
ows. 1t was a strange picture, there
in the lantern light-the imperturb-
able face of the squaw, always half
in shadow; the lurid wild-beast eyes
of Doomsdorf cleaning under his
shaggy brows; IGNORES beauty
thing to hold the eyes; and Bess
Mortified and fearful at what the
next moment might bring. Hardly
word was exchanged from the meals
beginning to its end. Bess tried to
talk, SO as to divert Doomsdorf's
sinister thoughts, but the words
would not come to her lips. The
man seemed eager to finish the meal.
As soon as they had moved from
the table toward the little stove, and
the squaw had begun the work OF
clearing away the dishes, Doomsdorf
halted at Bess' side. For a moment
he gazed down at her, great hand
resting on her chair.
"You're pretty little hell-cat," he
told her, in curiously muffled tones.
"What makes you such fighter"
She tried to meet his eyes. 81 have
to be, in this climate" she answered.
% Nharn xrnt.tI f,.r
He uttered one great hoarse syl-
liable, as if in the beginning of laugh
ter. "That's not what / mean and
you know it. You'd Sooner walk ten
miles through the snow than give an
inch, wouldn't you?" His hand
reached, closing gently upon her
arm, and shiver of repulsion passed
over her. "That's fine little muscle
but you don't want to work it off.
Why don't you show a little friend
ship?" ~.
The girl looked with difficulty into
his great, drawn face. Ned stiff
efed, wondering if the moment Of
crisis, were at hand at last. Lenore
watched appalled,, but the native
went on about her tasks as if she
hadn't heard.
You can't expect-much friend
ship-from q. prisoner" Bess told him
brokenly. Her face. so white in the
yellow lantern light, her trembling
lips, most of all the appeal for mercy
in her child's eyes-raised to this
beast compared with whom even the
North was merciful-wakened surg
ing, desperate anger in Ned. The
room turned red before his eyes, his
muscles quivered. and he was rapid
ly reaching that point wherein his
self-control, on which life itself de-
pended, was jeopardized. Yet he
must hold himself with an iron hand.
He must wait to the last instant of
need. Everything depended on that,
in avoiding the crisis until he had
made some measure of preparation.
"Your little friend seems to be get
ting nervous" he remarked easily TO
Bess. $50 not to disturb him fur
Their, let's you and l go to the new
cabin. I've taken some fine pelts
lately-I want you to see them. You
need a new coat"
He seemed to be aware Of the