Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-11-02
THE
LONE
WOLF
H..&HH. S.NxX*H.N.N. s.S:S:x!XS::S:::S::H
(@ by D. J. walshl

TNIlERE was cracking Of snow
as two figures pushed their way
i through the underbrush down to
the edge Of the lake and there
paused to brush the still cllnglng
masses of white from their leggings
and to fasten their skates firmly and
securely to their heavy homemade
boots. They then shot out across the
smooth frozen surface almost as buoy
antly as birds, and almost as natural
ly, the sharp click, click Of their steel
runners clear and musical in the
crisp, stlll air.
",rhls is better" one of them called
to his companion, with an infection
of satisfaction In his voice. Twenty
minutes more and we can be at
home"
"Yes, ten miles this way is easier
than one blowing through the woods"
rejoined the other cheerlly. "But
won't father be glad to know that
everybody is comlng?"
Since early morning they had been
securing the surrounding country-up
the lake and down, to this trapper
and that, back into tlie interior to
various farmers and squatters, to
Stebbins, who kept the Store at the
crossroads; to Arson Perry, the fur
trader, and even to the half-breed at
the foot Of the hills-bearlng the mes
sage that q meeting would be held
at their house on the following Sun.
day and that Doctor Bates himself
would be there to speak. And every
one of them, not even emitting the
half-breed, had promised to come.
Side by side the boys sped on, the
miles slipping away easily behind.
Now and then point of land rushed
up and past, dim and shadowy in the
white light Of the moon, and once or
twice In the far distance they heard
the sinister voice of some night
prowling animal. On and still on, and
then through the crisp air came the
sharp click Of other skates, followed
by the glimpse Of dim figure, which
rapidly grew palmer as 1t approached.
AS 1t came near one Of the boys
said "Aunt Roxy" and the other add
ed, "Going home to see her mother"
and then the figure shot past, wav-
ing Its hand and smiling brightly, and
they raised their fur caps and flew
on, feeling sudden glow of pleasure
at the unexpected meeting. Every
body knew and loved Aunt Roxy, the
neighborhoOd "aunt," who went from
house to house doing sewing or nurs-
ing, and who, In spite of her fifty-Odd
years could still give the boys and
girls something to do when she went
skating with them. Now she was on
her way to spend the holidays with
her mother at the foot Of the lake.
Everybody knew she was going and
everybody felt glad and everybody
wished they could be there to see the
meeting.
One, two five minutes passed, and
then came long, menacing howl
which made the boys SILVER involun-
tarily and bend forward to their
work. They knew that voice. Every
winter, when SHOWS grew deep and
food scarce wild animals were ac-
customed to make predatory incur
slons from their northern Businesses,
and among them It was not uncOm-
mon to hear the bowling of wolves.
But this was not one wolf of an ordi-
nary pack, but an outcast from Its
own kind, grown fercer and more
cunning through its isolation. All the
country round had learned to fear
him and to hunt him, and to lay traps
for him-but so far in vain. The boys
faces grew tense as they sped on, and
they listened, almost with bated
breath, for the swift following of
footsteps behind. Ordinarily they
would not have run from one wolf,
but this was different, almost as dan
gerous as an entire pack. And, be-
sides, they we're unarmed.
But suddenly one Of them cried
"Aunt Roxyw and then both sunk
their skate heels deep into the Ice
and came to an abrupt stop. A quick
look into each others eyes and then
they whIrled and sped back over ehe
course they had just come. That long,
exultant howl had meant more than
mere defiance; It proclaimed the dis
covery of prey. Aunt Roxy had gone
In that direction and the wolf had
scented her trail.
Scarce a minute had passed since
the free howl Of discovery, but only
too well they understood what even
that might mean. Side by side, with
heads forward and elbows close
pressed to their sides, their skates
clicking sharply and regularly, they
flew on, having no further thought of
themselves, but only Of the woman on
her way home to spend the holidays.
She was woman with little knowl-
edge OF wild animals; while they
we're strong young fellows accus.
toned to hunting.
II any plan OF action flashed
through their minds II was to draw
the attack OF the wolf, and then to
lead II away to some other part Of
the lake. They were accounted the
swiftest sknters In all the country
round, and on fair field of Ice, with
no obstacles, felt that they would
stand fair chance with even the
Lone Wolf" as he was called. Per
haps they might Outdistance him and
then circle back and escape. OF
course, II a skate strap should break
or any one Of possible dozen accI-
dents happen-but they would not
think of that.
Almost as the thoughts flashed
through their minds they saw him
ahead, his nose In the air aud his
ears forward Evidently he had heard
the sharp ringing OF their skates and