New Britain herald., 1923-09-25

sonndly in thinking that their enem,
 would pursue her. rather than Ned
 His lust for her was too commanding
 for him 10 take any other course
 While he pursued her. Ned would
 have every chance to hurry on east
 ward 10 the safety Of Tzar Island.
 Never for a moment did he even
 consider going and leaving her to her
 fate. lie could not aid her. and yet
 in one moment more he had launched
 forth on her trail. faster than he had
 ever mnshed before. He had no in-
 ward battle. no sense of sacrifice.
 There was not even temptation to
 take the way of safety. In these last
 months he had been lifted far beyond
 the reach Of any such feeble voice as that.
 He sped as fast as he could along the dim trail she had made. The dawn. icy-hreathed. soon outdistanced him. permitting him to see Bess' fleeing form before he had scarcely begun to overtake her. She was Just dark shadow at first against the stretching fields of white; but he never lost sight Of her after that. With the brightening dawn he saw her ever more distinctly.
 And in the middle distance, west Of both of them. he saw the huge dark form of Doomsdorf bearing down upon her.
 She had guessed right as to Dooms- dorf. Catching sight of her, he had left their double trail to overtake her. Hoping and believing that Ned had taken his chance of safety and was fleeing eastward, she was leading his enemy ever farther and farther north, away from him.
 He was strong man, this Cornet | who had fought the North, but the bitter scalding tears shot into his eyes at the sight of that strange, | hopeless drama on the ice. But not one of them was in self-pity. They were all for the slight figure of the girl. trying to save him, running so hopelessly from the brute who was even now upon her.
 A moment later he saw her slip on he ice. and in dread silence, Dooms- iorf's arms went about her. Neither ,f them had apparently observed Ned. They only became aware of i'm as his great shout, half in rage, half in defiance, reached them across he ice.
 Even at the distance that separated hem the startled movement of )oomsdorf's head revealed his un- 1tterable amazement. Doubtless he bought that Ned was miles to the 'ast by now. The amazement gave way to boundless triumph as Ned walked calmly toward him. Then while he held the girl prone on the ce with his great knee, Doomsdorf's fife made blue lightning in the air.
 Ned's response was to throw his rms immediately into the air in oken of complete surrender. He vas thinking coolly, his faculties in erfect control; and he knew he must ot attempt resistance now. Only cath lay that way; at that range )oomsdorf could shatter him lifeless Q the ice with one shot from the eavy rife. It wasn't enough just 3 die. thus taking quick road out Doomsdorf's power. Such a purse would not aid Bess. And to ess he owed his duty--to aid Bess. l every way he could, was his last ream
 At first he had had to play the 'uel game for the sake of Lenore. hat obligation was past now; but it ad never, at it greatest, moved him ith one-half the ardor as this he ore to Bess. He must not go this ute to freedom, or any other, until ess could go with him. He must ,t leave her in Doomsdorf's power. Doomsdorf watched him approach
 silence. The triumphant goating t Ned expected did not come to lss: evidently their brute master was
 too savage a mood even for this. Wait where you are," he ordered nply, "or I'll blow your head off 1 be ready for you in minute" He bent. and with one motion rked Bess to her feet Then in ence, still guarding them with his ie. he pointed them their way ok to his cabin on the island. It was a long and bitter march ross that desoate ice. Except for share of his pemmican that Dooms- If distributed, for expedience rather