The Coolidge examiner., 1934-02-09


that IL carried direct challenge
Again a rush. bui THIS time the
animal frluted. wrnt under the
swinging club nnd slashcd ai Steye's
thigh as be- passed The fangs
missed by inches But the next
time the club found .is mark. blood
slavercd from the dogs Up and he
backed or slowly. grudEinzly until
Drake. setting bis foot on the drag
sluE chain. checked his retreat
steve walked down that chain
with the precision % a tlghirupc
walker. keeping bis full weight al
ways on Il. and the dog. digging
his feet into the sand. stralnlnE
backward wlth al his strength.
ihrpwlux bis head from side 20 side
as be sought % tear free.
The animal vas belly down. now.
and Drake raised the club high.
one fair blow on the skull and
Let noe take him. sald a voice
close behind
LaFaue was hooking az the grca,
beast. face uuperfurbcd. bot BE
was breathing quickly and when he
turned his gaEe to the others an
expression lay In the eyes such as
Drake had never seen before
What you we're going to DO
would spoil my chance" be said
quietly.
~ChanccY" Steve demanded In.
credulousiy. Chance Tor whntT
To save myself In the eyes oi
my children. perhaps Let him
go please.
Amazed. Drake hesIinied. then
took his weight from the chain
/ The dog turned to skulk away. lick
INK his chops
/ LaFane spoke Duke e. The word
was crisp and sharp. not loud
| Come IN 80
The animal hcsltHied. stopped
the tail dropped between his legs
| be lowered his head In shame OF
Z fear
Come In his owner insisted
and snapped his thumb. Slowly.
then. belly 70 the sand. the dog
SUNK toward him.
Good Lord. man. are ycu going
10 keep that thing around after
7 mH~ 49,
Yes" said I.aFane And be.
cause OF wha, almost happened. Tie
searched brakes face and bis
mouth twltched III ! killed him be.
fore made him safe for them.
wha, would my children think OF
met"
Steve scratched his head.
well. that's one way % look az
a. be muttered "But what !"
LaFane. evidently. was not inter
ested In what Drake had been about
70 ask.
Heel = be said aud started for
the store. dog close behind him.
lie dId not look AZ the creature
again. The chlldren and his wife
were ia the doorway. the woman
trying TO skill the frantic crying OF
the youngest
The man brushed her aside. al
most roughly he took the babe 10
his hands and held her before him.
Then. with a quick movement. he
crushed her close, putting his cheek
20 her scratched cheek. wrapping
his arms about her
lie started on for his home as
others approached The dog skunk
az bis heels Aa he passed. Drake
saw that tears were on the mans
face.
"A queer one. for sure" he said,
thinking of McNaliy's words
That afgern-~ Steve found La
Fame in the store.
II want 10 send telegram In
20 town.. be said. Can sou start
early in the morning
Il VIII start now" he said.
That's fine OF you but Il isn't
necessary
Anything you want of me I will
DO. Young jim" LaFane said quiet
~. If you had not been here -
lie shrugged Il have you to thank
FOR something which Is priceless. p"
He went out abruptly and Steve
felt that In those few words he had
conveyed as much feeling as most
men could In an oration.
The message which Steve sent
out. addressed to Katharine Flynn.
was as follows:
Am on Job. situation bad but
nothing is impossible. Don't expect
letter until have something 10 re-
port. Jim"
He had experienced some qualms
about the signature. but Il had TO
be. No concern would be content
TO know that a stranger held its
destlnIes Ia his hands and he knew
that the truth would be the last
straw for the burden which Old
Jim and his daughter bore.
Immediately. he commenced In
forming himself OF the Polaris hold
lngs. On the fourth day. after
meeting with Wartin and the wood
choppers and conceding 10 their de-
rrnnrAe fnnlln. r...Ll.- o.. .-nrALr.