The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-08-27
BAREE, Son Of Kazan

y
ago, five years this December, just
before Christmas time. Had dad.
Fine old chap, my dad was. No moth
crust the dad, an when you added
as up we made just One. Understand?
And along came a white-striped skunk
named Hardy and shot him one day
because dad had worked against him
In politics. Out an out murder. An
they didn't hang that skunk No, sir,
they didn't hang him. He had too
much money, an too many friends In
politics, an they let i'm off with two
years in the penitentiary. But he
didn't get there. No-s'elp me God,
he didn't get there!"
Carver was twisting his hands I'M
till his knuckles cracked. An exultant
smile lighted up his face, and his eyes
flashed back the freight. Baree drew
deep BREATH mere coincidence;
but 1t was tense moment for all that.
"No, he didn't get to the peniten-
-tiary," went on Carvel, looking
straight at Baree again. yours truly
knew what that meant, old chap. He'd
have been pardoned inside year. An
there was my dad, the biggest half of
me, in his grave. So just went up
to that white striped skunk right there
before the judges eyes, an the law.
yers' eyes, an the eyes Of all his dear
relatives an friends-and killed him
And got away. Was out through
window, before they woke up, hit for
the bush country, and have been eat
ing up the trails ever since. An
guess God was with me, Boy. For He
did d queer thing to help me out sum-
mer before last, just when the Noun.
ties were after me hardest an It
looked pretty black. Man was found
drowned down in the Reindeer coun-
try. right where they thought I was
cornered; an the good Lord made
that man look so much like me that he
was buried under my name. So I'm
officially dead, old chap. don't need
to be afraid any more SO long as
don't get too familiar with people for
year or so longer, and way down
inside me I've liked to believe God
fixed it up in that way to help me out
Of bad hole. What's your opinioni
Eh?'
He leaned forward for an answer.
Baree had listened. Perhaps. in
way. he had understood. But 1t was
another sound than Carvels voice that
came to his ears now. With his head
close to the ground he heard 1t quite
distinctly. He whined, and, the whine
ended in snarl so low that Carvel
just caught the warning note in It
He Strengthened. He stood up then
and faced the south. Baree stood be-
side him, his legs tense and his spine
bristling.
After moment Carvel said:
Relatives Of yours, old chap.
Wolves"
He went into the tent for his rife
and cartridges.
Baree was on his feet, rigid as hewp
rock, when Carvel came out Of the
tent and for a few moments Carve]
stood in silence watching him closely
Would the dog respond to the call OF
the pack? Did he belong to them:
Would he go-now? The wolves were
drawing nearer, They were not cir
cling as caribou or a deer would
have circled, but were travelling
straighr-dead straight for their camp
The significance Of this fact was easily
understood by Carvel. All that after
noon Baree's feet had left blood
smell in their trail, and the wolves
had struck the trail in the deep for
est, where the falling snow had not
covered it. Carvel was not alarmed
More than once in his five years OF
wandering between the Arctic and the
Height of Land he had played the
game with the wolves. Once he had
almost lost, but. that was out in the
open Barren. Tonight he had a fire
and In the event of his firewood run
ming out he had trees he could climb
His anxiety just now was conferred In
Baree. So he said, making his voice
quite casual, "You aren't going, are
you. old chap"
If Baree heard him he gave no evil
dence of it. But Carvei. still watch.
ing him closely, saw that the haii
along his spine had risen like brush
and then he heard-growing slowly In
Baree's throat-a snarl of ferocious
hatred. It was the sort Of snarl that
had held back the Factor from Lac
Balm, and Carvel, opening the breecb
of his gun to see that all was right
chuckled happily. Baree may have
heard the chuckle. Perhaps It meant
something to him, for he turned his
head suddenly and with f1attened ears
looked at his companion.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)