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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:05:22 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:05:22 -0700 |
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diff --git a/36232-h/36232-h.htm b/36232-h/36232-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af12ee5 --- /dev/null +++ b/36232-h/36232-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9219 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> + + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> + + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Shooting of Dan McGrew, + by Marvin Dana. + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> + + #booktitle { + letter-spacing : 3px; + } + + .cen { + text-align : center; + font-weight : bold; + } + + .figcenter { + padding : 1em; + text-align : center; + font-size : 0.8em; + border : none; + margin : 0; + text-indent : 1em; + } + + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + } + + .h2 { + font-size: 1.5em; margin: .75em 0; + } + + .h3 { + font-size: 1.17em; margin: .83em 0; + } + + .h4 { + margin: 1.12em 0 ; + } + + .h5 { + font-size: .83em; margin: 1.5em 0 ; + } + + .h2, .h3, .h4, .h5 { + font-weight: bolder; + text-align : center; + text-indent : 0; + } + + .insert { + margin-left : 15%; + margin-right : 15%; + margin-top : 5%; + margin-bottom : 5%; + padding : 1em; + color : black; + border : solid 1px black; + } + + .noin { + margin-top : .5em; + text-indent : 0; + } + + .pagenum { + visibility : hidden; /* comment out to display page numbers */ + position : absolute; + right : 2%; + font-size : 75%; + color : gray; + background-color : inherit; + text-align : right; + text-indent : 0; + font-style : normal; + font-weight : normal; + font-variant : normal; + } + + .sc { + font-variant : small-caps; + } + + .smcap { + font-variant : small-caps; + } + + .salutation { + text-indent: 0; + font-style: italic; + } + + .tdlsc { + text-align : left; + } + + .tdr { + text-align : right; + padding-right : 1em; + } + + .trnote { + margin-left : 15%; + margin-right : 15%; + margin-top : 5%; + margin-bottom : 5%; + padding : 1em; + background-color : #f6f2f2; + color : black; + border : 1px dotted black; + } + + .u { + text-decoration: underline; + } + + blockquote { + text-align: justify; + } + + body { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + + div.centered { + text-align : center; + /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + } + + div.centered table { + margin-left : auto; + margin-right : auto; + text-align : left; + /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + } + + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr { + text-align : center; + } + + h2 + h3 { + margin-bottom : 2em; + } + + h5 { + margin-bottom : 1%; + margin-top : 1%; + } + + hr { + width : 50%; + } + + html > body hr { + margin-right : 25%; + margin-left : 25%; + width : 50%; + } + + hr.chapter { + margin-right : 5%; + margin-left : 5%; + margin-top : 6em; + margin-bottom : 4em; + width : 90%; + } + + hr.tb { + margin-top : 2em; + margin-bottom : 2em; + margin-right : 35%; + margin-left : 35%; + width : 30%; + } + + p { + text-align : justify; + margin-top : .3em; + margin-bottom : .3em; + text-indent : 1em; + } + + p.author { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + p.signature { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; + } + + p.spacer { + margin-top : 2em; + margin-bottom : 3em; + } + + </style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Shooting of Dan McGrew, A Novel, by Marvin Dana + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Shooting of Dan McGrew, A Novel + Based on the Famous Poem of Robert Service + +Author: Marvin Dana + +Release Date: May 26, 2011 [EBook #36232] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHOOTING OF DAN MCGREW *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander, Matthew Wheaton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="trnote"> + <p class="cen">Transcriber's Note:</p> + + <p class="noin"> + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + For a complete list, please see the + <a href="#TN"> + end of this document. + </a> + Click/Select any photograph for a larger view. + </p> +</div> + +<div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 304px;"> + <img border="0" src="images/cover.jpg" width="304" height="450" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h2">THE SHOOTING OF<br />DAN McGREW</p> + +<p class="h3"><i>A Novel</i></p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h4">BY</p> + +<p class="h3">MARVIN DANA</p> + +<p class="h5">Author of WITHIN THE LAW, etc.</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h5">BASED ON THE FAMOUS POEM OF</p> + +<p class="h3">ROBERT W. SERVICE</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h5">PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH SCENES<br />FROM THE PHOTO PLAY</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h4">NEW YORK<br />GROSSET & DUNLAP<br />PUBLISHERS</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="h5">Copyright, 1915, by<br />BARSE & HOPKINS</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + + + + +<div class="insert"> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="sc">The Illustrations Shown in +This Edition Are Reproductions +of Scenes from the +Photo-Play of "The Shooting +of Dan McGrew"—Scenario +by Aaron Hoffman—Produced +and Copyrighted by the Popular +Plays and Players Co. Inc., +to Whom the Publishers Desire +to Express Their Thanks +and Appreciation for Permission +to Use the Pictures.</span></p> + +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 343px;"> + <a href="images/p003f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p003t.jpg" width="343" height="223" alt="Cast" title="Cast" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">EDMUND BREESE AND COMPANY IN "THE SHOOTING OF DAN McGREW."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h2">THE SHOOTING OF DAN McGREW</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="h5">Produced by</p> + +<p class="h5">THE POPULAR PLAYS AND PLAYERS, Inc.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="h5">Scenario by</p> + +<p class="h5">AARON HOFFMAN</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h2">CAST OF CHARACTERS</p> + +<br /> + + <div class="centered"> + <table border="0" + cellpadding="2" + cellspacing="0" + summary="Cast of Characters" + width="60%"> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Jim</td> + <td class="tdr">EDMUND BREESE</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc" width="50%">Dan McGrew</td> + <td class="tdr" width="50%">WILLIAM MORSE</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Lou</td> + <td class="tdr">KATHRIN ADAMS</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Nell</td> + <td class="tdr">BETTY RIGGS</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Jack Reeves</td> + <td class="tdr">WALLACE SCOTT</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Sam Ward</td> + <td class="tdr">JAMES JOHNSON</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The Sheriff</td> + <td class="tdr">JACK AUSTEN</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Fingey Whalen</td> + <td class="tdr">JACK MURRAY</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Caribou Bill</td> + <td class="tdr">BILL COOPER</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Harry, the Dog Man</td> + <td class="tdr">HIMSELF</td> + </tr> + + </table> + </div> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[7]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h1 id="booktitle">THE SHOOTING OF DAN McGREW</h1> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p>A clatter of hoofs on the gravel of +the driveway. A shout from the rider +as he swung himself down from the saddle:</p> + +<p>"Lou!"</p> + +<p>A woman came swiftly from the cool shadows +of the porch into the brilliance of the +summer sunlight, to meet the man who now +advanced toward her with fond, smiling +eagerness.</p> + +<p>The two kissed very tenderly, for they were +lovers still, after seven years of married life. +The delicate rose of the wife's cheeks deepened +a little under the warmth of the husband's +caress, and the graciously curving lips +trembled to a smile of happiness as she looked<span class="pagenum">[8]</span> +up into the strong face of the man she loved. +In the slightly rugged features, she read virility +and honesty and loyalty. An exquisite +contentment pervaded her. She felt that the +cup of joy was brimming. Husband and +child and home—!</p> + +<p>Her train of thought was broken by the +man's words, spoken quickly in a tone that +mingled curiously amusement and chagrin:</p> + +<p>"Dangerous Dan! He's coming, Lou! +He's buried the hatchet, and is coming to visit +us. Dangerous Dan McGrew! Now, what +do you think of that?" He waited for an answer, +staring quizzically into the suddenly +perturbed face of his wife.</p> + +<p>"My rival!" he added whimsically, albeit a +bit complacently.</p> + +<p>"Never!" the wife declared with emphasis. +A note of harshness had crept into the music +of her voice. "Never your rival, Jim, though +he tried to be." The earnestness of utterance +gratified the man, in whom a vague, latent +jealousy stirred at thought of that other who +had loved where he loved. But there was no<span class="pagenum">[9]</span> +gratification in the new mood of the woman. +Instead, a subtle dread touched her spirit. +The contentment of a moment before was fled. +There was nothing precise, nothing formulated, +in her thoughts. Only, something sinister, +menacing, pressed upon her. She +welcomed the distraction afforded by her +daughter's appearance on the scene.</p> + +<p>The girl came running from the gardens +behind the ranch-house and sprang into her +father's arms with a cry of delight.</p> + +<p>To her six years, his frequent rides to the +village ten miles away were in the nature of +great events, and she welcomed each return as +if from long and perilous voyaging. Moreover, +there was always an added thrill for +Nell in her father's home-coming, because of +the mysterious charm in the gift that never +failed. To-day, indeed, the present was destined +to mark her life; even to be of vital import +in a crisis of distant years.</p> + +<p>No hint of the gravity of things-to-be shadowed +the radiant joy of the child's face, as she +was lifted in the man's arms and kissed.<span class="pagenum">[10]</span> +There was only vivid anticipation of the gift +that would mark this wonderful hour.</p> + +<p>James Maxwell lowered his daughter to the +ground, with an affirmative nod toward his +wife.</p> + +<p>"Now, Nell," he said in a voice of authority, +"stand perfectly still, and keep your eyes +shut, and maybe something will happen."</p> + +<p>The girl rested uneasily in an effort of +obedience, with her eyes screwed tight-shut, +giggling expectantly.</p> + +<p>The mother looked on, smiling again, the +momentary depression of her spirit allayed, if +not destroyed, by the scene. She met the +man's glance with understanding in the +brown, gold-flecked deeps of her eyes. The +father took from a pocket a small leather case, +and opened it, and held up for his wife's inspection +the gold chain and pendant locket, +set with an initial <i>N</i> in tiny pearls. The +wife nodded her approval. Straightway, the +chain was adjusted about the child's neck, +with the locket hanging low on the slender +breast.<span class="pagenum">[11]</span></p> + +<p>"Now!" the father cried sternly.</p> + +<p>On the instant, Nell's dark eyes flashed +open in swift inquiry to her father's face, +then, following the direction of his gaze, the +proud chin was drawn in, and she stared down +rapturously at the trinket lying on her bosom. +Followed little squeals of bliss, then reverent +touching of the treasure. The secret of the +catch baffled her, and the father had to come +to the rescue lest patience become too hardly +strained. When the locket had been opened, +she stared into it through long seconds in +wordless pleasure. Finally, she spoke in a +hushed voice, as if in the presence of something +very sacred.</p> + +<p>"It's you, Daddy!" It was a broken whisper +of happiness. Her eyes, lustrous with +glad tears, were lifted adoringly to her father's +face for a moment. Then, again, her +glance went to the locket.</p> + +<p>"And you, Mamma!" she exclaimed, and +turned to regard her mother with equal love. +"Oh, it's just beautiful! Pictures of both of +you—Daddy and Momsy!—all my very own!...<span class="pagenum">[12]</span> +And may I really, truly wear it?" +Nell's voice was suddenly become timid, infinitely +wistful.</p> + +<p>The mother answered, as she stooped and +kissed her daughter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, darling; it's all your very own, to +wear every minute, day and night, if you want +to."</p> + +<p>Presently, when the intricacy of the locket's +catch had been fully mastered, Nell stole away +to her favorite shady nook in the rose-garden, +to be alone with her delight, while husband +and wife ascended the steps of the porch, and +seated themselves at ease in the wicker chairs. +The lattice-work of vines shut off the rays +of the westering sun. Blowing over the +stretches of lawn, thick-set with shrubberies +and studded with trees, the soft breeze came refreshingly, +and bore to the two the multiple +bland aromas of the generous earth. Beyond +the green within which the mansion stood, +rolled rich acres of ripening grain that undulated +beneath the gentle urging of the wind<span class="pagenum">[13]</span> +in shimmering waves of gold. The whole +scene was one of peace and prosperity, where +a fruitful soil lavished riches in return for the +industry of man. The house itself was a commodious +structure, bountifully equipped with +the comforts and elegancies of living; for +James Maxwell was, though still a young +man, one who had achieved a full measure of +success from out the fertile fields of the West, +and his culture and that of his wife had given +to their home a refinement unusual in regions +so remote. Thus far, their married life had +been almost flawless. The wholesomeness and +simplicity of their life together, blessed with +the presence of the child, varied by occasional +visits to the larger centers of civilization, had +held them in tranquil happiness. Yet, this +afternoon, there lacked something of the accustomed +serenity between the two. Now, +the oppression that had affected the woman at +the mention of Dan McGrew returned to her +in some measure, and, by reason of the sympathy +between her and him, a heaviness<span class="pagenum">[14]</span> +weighed on his mood as well, though he concealed +it as best he might, even from himself, +and spoke with brisk cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Lou, Dangerous Dan McGrew is +about to descend upon us—handsome as ever, +I suppose, and with all his wiles still working. +I can't cease to wonder, Lou, how I ever came +to win you from him." There was a new tenderness +in his voice as he spoke the final words.</p> + +<p>The wife laughed softly.</p> + +<p>"Don't fish, Jim," she retorted. "You +know perfectly well that Dan never had a +chance with me—not really. He was always +a fascinating fellow enough, but, somehow—" +She fell silent, a puzzled frown lining the +warm white of her forehead beneath its coronal +of golden hair.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the husband agreed; "somehow, +there is always that 'but' when one gets to +thinking of Dan." He would have added +more, but checked himself, reluctant to speak +ill of one who had been his friend, one whom +he had bested in the struggle for a woman's +favor.<span class="pagenum">[15]</span></p> + +<p>The wife had no such scruple. She spoke +incisively, and her voice was harsher than its +wont.</p> + +<p>"I never trusted him," she said. "I always +found myself doubting his honesty."</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, Jim spoke his mind +frankly.</p> + +<p>"Dan was always as crooked as a dog's hind +leg," he declared, without any trace of bitterness, +but as one stating a fact not to be denied.</p> + +<p>"He wrote to you?" Lou inquired, with a +suggestion of wondering in her voice.</p> + +<p>"No; it was Tom."</p> + +<p>Jim thrust his hand into the breast-pocket +of his coat, and brought forth an envelope, +from which he took out and unfolded a single +sheet of typewritten paper. Then he read +the letter:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="salutation">Dear old Chum:</p> + +<p>"Dan McGrew is back again in his old +home after five years. He is coming down to +see you and his old sweetheart, Lou. He has +not yet forgiven you for winning her. He +seems to have the same old unsettled disposition<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> +and I think he requires the strong hands +of a friend to keep him in the straight path.</p> + +<p class="author">"Sincerely your old friend,</p> + +<p class="signature">"<span class="smcap">Tom</span>."</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>"Then you don't know when he will get +here?" Lou asked.</p> + +<p>Jim shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, rather irritably; "we'll just +have to wait for the visitation to descend upon +us, be it sooner or later."</p> + +<p>"We shall have to be nice to him, of course," +the wife said.</p> + +<p>"I'm not specially keen on dry-nursing Dan +McGrew," Jim remarked plaintively. "We +were never really intimate, though we were +friendly enough. To tell the truth, Lou, I'm +mighty sorry Dan's coming here." His face +was somber as he gazed into his wife's eyes +and read in their clear light sympathy with +his own repugnance at the prospect. With an +impatient ejaculation, he sprang to his feet +and went into the house, where he seated himself +before the grand piano that occupied the<span class="pagenum">[17]</span> +center of the spacious living-room. In a +fierce crashing of dissonances, he voiced the +resentment that was in him. But after a little, +indignation somewhat relieved by such audible +interpretation, his fingers flew into rippling +arpeggios, out of which came, at last, a +lilting melody, joyous, yet tender. For Jim +Maxwell, lover of music all his days, had a +gift of improvisation, with a sufficient technique +for its exercise. To it he resorted often +for the sounding of his deeper moods, and in +it found a never-failing solace. So now, presently, +soothed by his own art, he got up from +the piano and went back to the porch, where +he faced his wife, smiling.</p> + +<p>Lou smiled in response.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Jim," she said softly. "You +scared away all the blue devils with those +dreadful discords. And then you just tempted +all sorts of good fairies to come and hover, and +they did. You cheered me up. It's all right +that Dan should come to visit us. Only—"</p> + +<p>She broke off, nor did the husband utter any<span class="pagenum">[18]</span> +question as to the uncompleted sentence. But +in the hearts of both lurked still something of +the dread which the music had failed entirely +to dispel.<span class="pagenum">[19]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p>The time of Dan McGrew's arrival was +not long left in doubt; for, on the third +day following Tom's letter, Jim received one +from Dan himself.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="salutation">Dear Jim:</p> + +<p>Am back again in the old home after five +years, and have grown rich. Am coming +right down to see you and my old sweetheart, +Lou. I can still hardly forgive you for winning +her from me, but I suppose you're the +better man. I am still the same rolling stone, +ever seeking the gold that seems to get further +away as I approach. Will reach your place +the Tuesday following your receipt of this +letter.</p> + +<p class="author">Sincerely,</p> + +<p class="signature"><span class="smcap">Dan McGrew</span>.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>So, on the appointed Tuesday, Jim drove +in his light, covered buggy to the town, to +meet the through train from the East. With +him, mounted on her pony, went Nell. She<span class="pagenum">[20]</span> +wore the precious locket proudly displayed +against her trim khaki coat, and she rode in +happy excitement, for the trip to her was a +great adventure, and there was, in addition, +the thrilling novelty of this stranger's coming, +who might be a prince in disguise.</p> + +<p>When, at last, the limited roared into the +station at Coverdale, and Dan McGrew swung +himself down from the Pullman's steps, Jim +went forward and seized his visitor's hand in +a warm clasp.</p> + +<p>"It's good to see you again, after all these +years," he cried heartily. At this moment, +there was only kindness in his feeling toward +the tall, handsome man who returned his +greeting so genially. He meant to be as +friendly as he could to this guest, to be helpful +and loyal, so far as he might, though the other +had no claim upon his friendship, and though +he himself had neither liking nor respect for +Dan McGrew.</p> + +<p>After the first exchange of exclamations between +the two, Jim called to Nell, who had +remained standing diffidently at a little distance,<span class="pagenum">[21]</span> +her deeply tanned face, under the dark +masses of hair, tense with interest, as her eyes +searched the newcomer in vast curiosity. A +great shyness was upon her as she approached.</p> + +<p>"This is my daughter, Nell," Jim said, with +manifest pride in the winsome creature.</p> + +<p>"And Lou's!" the other muttered, under his +breath. But Jim caught the words, and was +moved to a fleeting pity for the man who had +failed in love.</p> + +<p>Nell murmured a stilted phrase in expression +of her pleasure at meeting Mr. McGrew. +But as the stranger bent and kissed her, she +felt a sudden instinct of distaste under the +caress that both frightened and puzzled her. +For, hitherto in her childish experience, embraces +and kisses had been matters either of +pleasure, as in the case of her father and +mother and others dear to her, or of utter indifference, +as in the case of those for whom she +cared nothing. Now, for the first time, a kiss +was disagreeable. She felt herself somehow +frightened by this fine gentleman, who might +be a prince. She could not understand it.<span class="pagenum">[22]</span></p> + +<p>The child could not have understood even +had she been able to look into the heart of +Dangerous Dan McGrew, there to see the +black malice that fouled it.</p> + +<p>For such was the fact. There was evil in +the mind and in the soul of Dan McGrew. +Through all the years since he had lost Lou +Ainsworthy, he had longed for her. The circumstance +that she was married to another +man put no curb on his fierce desire for her. +Unlawful passion throbbed in his blood. It +was this that had driven him to the long journey. +A man wholly without scruple, without +care for any other than himself, save only the +woman to possess whom he so craved, Dan +McGrew was resolved to woo that woman +anew, to win her for himself by any means, no +matter how false or vile.</p> + +<p>Thus, it came to pass that, in the days of his +dwelling under the roof of the man whom he +was determined to wrong, the visitor played +the hypocrite with his host, aping a manner +of bluff, candid good-fellowship. With the +wife, too, he played the hypocrite. He dared<span class="pagenum">[23]</span> +not let her so much as suspect the hot fires that +burned in him as he looked yearningly on her +loveliness. He realized, at the outset, that +her devotion to the man of her choice remained +unaltered. He knew that the open +confession of his illicit love would move her +to scorn and loathing. Only by guile, and +that of the craftiest, could he hope for triumph +over loyalty and love. With the passing +days, the task loomed before him as one +almost impossible of achievement. From all +that he knew of Jim's past life and all that he +could learn concerning the husband's reputation +in the community, there showed nowhere +any least opportunity for attack. And attack +must be made, for only by destroying the +wife's faith could he have any opportunity to +gain her favor. It occurred to him that, in +a conspiracy, he would have need of accomplices. +To get some information concerning +such as might serve his end, he often rode +alone to the town, while Jim was occupied +with ranch affairs. There, he entered easily +into the vulgar dissipations of the place, making<span class="pagenum">[24]</span> +himself hail-fellow-well-met with the riff-raff +of the saloons and dance-houses, both men +and women. The occupation was, in truth, +congenial enough to him; for there was a +coarseness in his nature that found satisfaction +in loose living. Before he had been a week +at the ranch, he had become known to all the +blear-eyed habitués of Murphy's saloon—to +some of the women frequenters there as well, +and to certain men who were not blear-eyed; +for they drank little, but played poker much. +With these latter, especially, Dangerous Dan +fraternized, since, like many a wiser man and +better, he greatly admired poker—and his +own playing of it.</p> + +<p>Dan won the first day, and the second, and +the third—as those playing with him meant +that he should. But the stakes were small. +Dan himself fretted because they were so +small. It was his own suggestion, his own insistence, +that the stakes should be raised. Immediately, +then, Dan's luck slumped. It +worried him only a little at first—more, as the +ill fortune continued.<span class="pagenum">[25]</span></p> + +<p>On the fourth day, Jess, one of the painted +women of the place, leaned over him so closely +that the heavy musk of her perfume deadened +his senses. She whispered her admiration of +his play. Dan forgot that she was the wife +without the law of Fingie Whalen, who sat +across the table from him, ferret-faced and +with slender, agile fingers that touched the +deck of cards always with the soft delicacy of +a caress. Jess's praise fattened Dan's pride in +his own skill. He insisted loudly on larger +stakes, which were accepted grudgingly by +his fellow players. There were four others +at the table with him. Despite his experience +in cities further East, he had no least suspicion +that the odds of the game were four to one. +He lost a most attractive pot on a full house +of kings with treys. The event angered him. +A little later, a pot that had been raised +around the board until it was of admirable +proportions, was lost by him to one who held a +humble, but efficient, flush.</p> + +<p>Dan was not an honest man. His losses +irritated him. He believed, by reason of a<span class="pagenum">[26]</span> +certain dexterity in legerdemain, that he could +thus cajole fortune. He misjudged his company. +When he possessed himself of four +aces, and held them concealed in his hand, he +failed to note the eyes of Fingie Whalen, +which had followed his every movement.</p> + +<p>But this same Fingie, being a master of his +craft, said nothing until after the bets had run +high and it had come to the show-down. Dan +had forced the betting to a point where the +chips and bills and gold on the table totaled +a most respectable sum. He swept the pot +toward him, after a contemptuous glance at +the four-of-a-kind which Fingie had offered +against him. His own four aces were indisputably +winners.</p> + +<p>But Fingie Whalen thrust out an imperative +hand in restraint.</p> + +<p>"Nothin' doin'!"</p> + +<p>In the same instant, his fingers closed in a +viselike grip on Dan's left hand. Dan was +the stronger man. But, in the moment of surprise, +his muscles yielded. His hand was +pulled forward—it lay open on the table. +<span class="pagenum">[27]</span></p> + +<p>Within his palm four cards were lying. +With his free hand Fingie flipped the four +cards upon the table. They were inconsiderable—a +deuce, a nine, a pair of sevens.</p> + +<p>His trickery thus baldly revealed, Dan +would have acted, but he was too late. As he +pulled the automatic from his pocket, the man +next him thrust an elbow forward and the shot +went wild. In the next instant, the pistol had +been knocked from his grasp, and four men +bore down upon him. Dan was a strong man, +and, whatever his faults, absolutely fearless. +He struck out vigorously, but the slender, silk-ankled +foot of Jess caught him so that he +stumbled and missed his blow. The fists of +the four beat him to the floor.</p> + +<p>It was then that Jim entered the room. He +had business in town, and, on learning at the +ranch-house that his guest had preceded him, +he had felt it incumbent upon him to seek out +Dan. He had acted from a rather futile sense +of duty toward the man who, as Tom had put +it, required the strong hands of a friend to +keep him in the straight path. +<span class="pagenum">[28]</span></p> + +<p>At the hotel, he made inquiry of the clerk:</p> + +<p>"Have you seen anything of Mr. McGrew?"</p> + +<p>The clerk permitted himself an indulgent +grin at the question. He admired Jim Maxwell, +as did all the better element in the community, +and he found himself wondering over +the disreputable associations of the stranger +who was the ranch-owner's guest. His answer +was prompt:</p> + +<p>"You're pretty sure to find him in the back +room over to Murphy's. Usually, when he +hits this burg, he sets in a game with the gang +over there."</p> + +<p>Jim's face lined grimly. He felt a great +distaste for his mission. He was no precisian. +He was not above taking a glass on occasion +at Murphy's bar. But he had no liking for +the vicious. The coarse debauchery of such +a place was repulsive to him, as it must be to +any decent man. Nevertheless, he went out +of the hotel, and strode rapidly toward the +corner on which stood the rough frame building +of the saloon. As he drew near, the report +of a shot came sharply. +<span class="pagenum">[29]</span></p> + +<p>"What hell's mess is on now?" he muttered +savagely, and broke into a run. In the next +instant, he had leaped through the door to the +back room. He could not see clearly for a +few seconds in the gloomy place, after the +glaring sunlight of outdoors. But the evidences +of conflict were plain enough from the +sounds of stamping boots upon the boarded +floor, the soft thudding of fists against flesh, +the snarling curses, gaspings and guttural +gruntings of the combatants, the shrill screams +and whimperings of women. Then his eyes +adjusted themselves to the dim light, and he +made out the form of Dan McGrew, girt +about with the thrashing arms and legs of +his assailants. Without any hesitation, Jim +plunged into the fray. His fists shot home in +sledge-hammer blows, against which the four, +taken completely by surprise, were defenseless. +As they fell away from their victim, Jim saw +the automatic lying where it had fallen on the +floor during the scuffle. Before his adversaries +could rally to the attack, he had pounced +upon it, and had sprung back against the wall +<span class="pagenum">[30]</span> +of the room, whence he menaced the four, who +halted in fear of the weapon.</p> + +<p>"There's been enough of this," Jim declared, +and his voice was ominous, heavy with authority. +"I don't know the rights of the fuss, +and I don't care a damn, I guess. But there'll +be no murder done here—unless it's been done +already."</p> + +<p>There came some profane grumblings from +the discomfited quartette, but they ventured no +other opposition to Jim's will, for they feared +this man, and he knew it, and he did not fear +them in the least.</p> + +<p>"We caught 'im cheatin'—blast 'im!" Fingie +affirmed, sullenly.</p> + +<p>"I'm not interested in the history of the +row," was the contemptuous retort; "only in +the end of it." Jim thrust the revolver in his +pocket, assured that there would be no further +trouble; for now the bartender and Murphy +had made a belated appearance on the scene. +He stooped over the beaten man, who had already +begun to show signs of returning consciousness. +Presently, in fact, Dan was able +<span class="pagenum">[31]</span> +to sit up, and to swallow the brandy Murphy +had brought. His injuries, though painful +enough, were superficial, and after a little he +was able to clamber into the buggy, which Jim +had hired from the hotel livery for the return +to the ranch.</p> + +<p>They had gone a mile from the village, +when Dan spoke for the first time:</p> + +<p>"It was all a devilish frame-up to rob me," +he asserted. His tone was vindictive, but, +somehow, not quite convincing.</p> + +<p>Jim could not keep the scorn from his own +voice as he answered:</p> + +<p>"You can't complain—you knew what sort +they were."</p> + +<p>Under the lash of justice in the taunt from +the man who had rescued him, Dan McGrew +was silent; but the black malice in his heart +seethed still more fiercely from quickened +fires of hate. +<span class="pagenum">[32]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p>Jim explained the affair to Lou, with a bitter +emphasis that forbade questioning as +to details.</p> + +<p>"Dangerous Dan," he said, unable to avoid +a sarcastic inflection on the adjective, "got +into a fight at Murphy's. When I arrived, +there were four on top of him."</p> + +<p>"And you pulled them off, I suppose," Lou +said, her lips curving to a smile in which +amusement blended with admiration for the +stalwart man who had spoken so curtly.</p> + +<p>"I can't say that I exactly pulled them off," +Jim answered, with a faint responsive smile. +"Anyhow, I managed to get them off him, one +way or another. That's the reason he's here +now—worse luck!"</p> + +<p>In the days that followed, Dangerous Dan +played the hypocrite to perfection. He went +no more to town. With Jim, he was all +<span class="pagenum">[33]</span> +amiability, full of reminiscences concerning +the long-ago, when they had pranked together +in the devious ways of boys. Indeed, he was +so agreeable that Jim found himself at least +tolerant of the company of this guest, for +whom, without any obligation whatsoever, he +had assumed some measure of responsibility. +For he remembered always that phrase in the +letter Tom had written him: "And I think +he requires the strong hands of a friend to +keep him in the straight path." He felt an +onerous responsibility for the visitor whom +fate thrust upon him, though he detested that +responsibility—and the man.</p> + +<p>It was the time of the harvest. Jim was +busy with overseeing a multitude of details +in the gathering of the crops. Often, he was +away from the house from dawn to dark. +Nell, too, was frequently absent, for she delighted +in the activities of men and horses and +machines in the fields. On her pony, she +spent hours in her father's company. The +consequence was that Dan McGrew enjoyed +unlimited opportunities of association with his +<span class="pagenum">[34]</span> +host's wife. Necessarily, the intimacy of their +former relations had its effect on their present +intercourse. Indeed, Dan made a habit of +half-jesting, half-sentimental references to +that time when he had wooed so vainly. The +phrase was often on his lips:</p> + +<p>"Do you remember, Lou, when we were +sweethearts—?"</p> + +<p>Lou, for her part, undoubtedly found something +pleasant in the situation. Dan showed +himself at his best toward her. Since he +knew the utter hopelessness at this time of winning +her from her allegiance, he strove to hide +from her any expression of the passion that +burned within him, though the effort taxed +his strength of will to the utmost. But, because +of his restraint, Lou was unsuspicious as +to the visitor's designs, and accepted Dan's +proffer of innocent friendship. He was an +amiable and entertaining companion, an +agreeable variation from the somewhat monotonous +loneliness of the ranch-house; especially +at this season of the year, when husband +and daughter alike so constantly deserted her. +<span class="pagenum">[35]</span> +Certainly, she knew that her guest was her +lover as well. But the fact did not militate +against him in her regard. On the contrary, +it gave piquancy to their companionship. +The unvarying manner of respect for her as +his friend's wife lulled suspicion. She sympathized +with him for his failure in attaining +the desire of his heart. A mild feminine +vanity found gratification in the presence of +one so humbly devoted. She had no shred of +liking for him, in any deeper sense. Sometimes, +indeed, of an evening, when the three +were together under the lights of the living-room, +she found herself comparing the two +men. She admitted that, in a superficial way, +Dan was perhaps the handsomer. His features +were as clearly cut as those of some +Roman emperor. The eyes, set wide-apart, +gave dignity to his expression. There was in +his air always a suggestion of ruthless strength, +even of lawlessness, as of one who would wreak +his will, reckless of consequence. It was that +quality which in his boyhood had won him the +name of Dangerous Dan. He had been given +<span class="pagenum">[36]</span> +over to escapades, to exploits of daring +prowess, to fights against odds for the sheer +love of fighting. In bodily strength and the +usual manly qualities, the two men were well +matched. Lou could see little to choose between +them. But her comparison ended always +in a great welling of love for her husband. +There was in his expression a kindliness, +in no way weakness, that the other lacked. +And there was, too, something subtle, a quality +of the soul, to be felt, though not to be seen +or described, by those with whom he came in +contact. It occurred to Lou once, as she thus +meditated while the men talked together, that +Jim's love for music, together with his skill +in its interpretation, was characteristic of the +difference between the two; for to Dan, +though he was at times swayed easily and +deeply by music, the art meant little to him, +made no component part in his life.</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, it was Jim's music that, +very directly, precipitated a crisis in the situation. +<span class="pagenum">[37]</span></p> + +<p>It was a day of languorous heat from a sun +like molten brass. Jim, a little weary after +hours among his men, found an opportunity +for leisure, and welcomed it. He rode to the +ranch-house, and sighed gratefully as he +entered the cool-shaded porch, where he +found Lou busy with some sewing, while Dan +lounged at ease over a pipe. The wife welcomed +her husband gladly, and fussed over +him, and brought him lemonade. Jim was +listless at first from fatigue, and listened lazily +to the chatting of his wife and their guest, +without taking part. But presently, he felt +himself revived, and entered heartily into the +talk. Perceiving his increased animation, +Lou made a request.</p> + +<p>"If you're not too tired, Jim," she said +eagerly, "I wish you would play over that +melody you worked out the day you received +Tom's letter. I do hope you remember it," +she continued, with a little catch of anxiety +in her voice. "Bits of it have been running +in my head all day." +<span class="pagenum">[38]</span></p> + +<p>Jim rose obediently, with a smile for his +wife. As their eyes met, Lou smiled mischievously.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, you will remember it began with +a great lot of startling chords. But you don't +need to repeat them."</p> + +<p>Jim grinned appreciatively.</p> + +<p>"I'm not in the mood for those chords, as +you politely term them, to-day. But I think +I have that song still in my head—and in my +heart." The last words were spoken softly.</p> + +<p>From the living-room, a moment later, +came a ripping charm of arpeggios that in +their sequence told softly of the melody to +come. Then, soon, the air itself sounded in +its joyous, lilting rhythm of a passionate tenderness.</p> + +<p>It was plain that the player was telling the +truth of his heart. The music made a rhapsody +of love. Deep within it was a whisper +of spiritual things, of things sacred. But, +too, the weaving notes made a mesh of sensuous +splendor. There was a voluptuous spell +in the throbbing cadences. +<span class="pagenum">[39]</span></p> + +<p>It was the sensual witchery of the music +that probed the emotions of Dan McGrew, +and beat them to swirling revolt against the +calmness he had striven to maintain. The +finer, nobler meaning of the love-lyric touched +him not at all. But the sorcery of that exquisite +voluptuousness thrilled in his blood. +He sat watching the woman, and his eyes were +aflame. The enchantment of the melody was +upon her as well. Body and soul, she responded +in her mood to the mood of the +player, whom she loved, even as he loved her. +The oval of her cheeks bore a deepened rose. +The red curves of the lips bent to a tremulous +smile. The dark glory of her eyes shone +more radiantly, as she stared, unseeing, into +the distance. The lithe, gracious form was +become tense in this moment of absorbed feeling. +Never had Dan McGrew seen her so +wonderfully alive, so vibrant of emotion, so +beautiful, so desirable, so altogether adorable. +With the beat of the music lashing on desire, +the spectacle of the woman's loveliness fed +the flames of longing, until the fires of his +<span class="pagenum">[40]</span> +passion consumed utterly the will that would +have held them in control. The music softened +at last to a mere breath of beautiful +sound. Then, a clangor of triumphant harmonies—and +silence.</p> + +<p>Lou rose quickly, and went into the living-room.</p> + +<p>In his fevered imagination, Dan McGrew +could see the caress between husband and +wife, and, though he continued to sit immobile, +staring dazedly at the spot where a moment +before the woman had been, wrath +surged in him against that other man. By so +much as his love for the woman welled in him, +by so much the tide of his hate mounted. +For a long time, he sat there, through ages of +torture, as it seemed to him. He heard Jim +go out of the house by the back way. Soon +afterward, there came to his ears the clatter +of a horse's hoofs on the gravel of the drive, +and he knew that the ranch-owner was off +again to the fields, though he did not look up +to see. With mad eagerness, he was awaiting +the woman's return. Reason no longer +<span class="pagenum">[41]</span> +had any hold on his mood. He was helpless +in the clutch of passion. The music had +softened the fibers of resolve. The allurement +of the love-light that had shone from +Lou's face while she sat listening, had drawn +his desire of her into a vortex that held him +powerless against its rush. He had no plan +of action, no thought as to what his course +should be. He was conscious only of an intolerable +need of this woman. As the minutes +passed, and still she did not return, the +longing mastered him completely. He got +to his feet, with unaccustomed awkwardness, +and went into the living-room with shambling +steps wholly unlike his usual elastic tread. +He moved falteringly, as might one in the +dark in a strange place. For, in truth, the +mists of passion had settled on his spirit, +shrouding and blinding him.</p> + +<p>Lou was reclining in a low easy chair, +within a nest of cushions. In the abandonment +of her posture, the suave grace of her +body's lines, still maidenly, rather than matronly, +despite her full womanhood, were +<span class="pagenum">[42]</span> +clearly revealed to the man's avid eyes. On +her face was still the expression of rapturous +tenderness that was not for him, which, nevertheless, +had enthralled him. Dan McGrew, +in this hour of folly, was bereft of judgment +utterly. The woman there in the chair, who +did not even turn her head toward him as he +entered, was a loadstone that drew toward +her irresistibly every atom of the blood racing +in his veins. He went toward her—without +any hesitation or faltering now. All the +life in him seemed in this instant to be at its +best, potent as never before, and not to be denied. +So, he moved forward lightly and +swiftly. Before the woman had so much as +guessed his presence there beside her, he had +stooped and taken her in his arms.</p> + +<p>Lou cried out sharply under the shock of +fear in the first second, when the man's arms +closed about her. But, in the next instant, as +she felt herself lifted bodily from her place, +and crushed against Dan's breast, a horrible +fear beset her that sapped her strength, and +left her limp within the fierce embrace. Her<span class="pagenum">[43]</span> +face was suddenly become pallid. She was +half-swooning under the dreadfulness of the +thing that had befallen. Dan rained kisses on +the golden masses of her hair, from which the +delicate perfume penetrated his senses, and inflamed +him to new madness. He loosened his +clasp upon her body, in order to raise the +white face to his lips. But then, at last, the +energies of the woman were suddenly restored. +A hot flush of mingled shame and anger dyed +face and throat. The heavy lids lifted from +the dark eyes, which now were blazing. Her +body tensed, then writhed in an abrupt, violent +effort for freedom. Her action caught +the man unawares. She slipped from his +arms, and darted behind the chair in which +she had been sitting, so that its bulk was interposed +as a barrier between them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have dared—!" She broke off, +choking over the humiliation of such an outrage +against her womanhood. She was pale +and flushed by turns. Her body was racked +by convulsive shudderings. She was wounded +to the depths of her being.<span class="pagenum">[44]</span></p> + +<p>Dan, nevertheless, was without compunction +at sight of her distress. He was still +crazed by desire of her—a desire only intensified +a thousand-fold by that brief contact of +her within his arms. With a great leap, he +was upon her before she could flee again, had +caught her shoulder, wrenched her about, and, +for a second time, swung her to his breast. +The shriek she would have uttered was muffled +by his lips on her mouth.</p> + +<p>Jim returned early from the fields that afternoon. +His heart was fairly singing with happiness, +as he mounted the steps of the house. +His love was overflowing. All things in life +were perfect to him. He halted on the +porch, somewhat surprised that neither Lou +nor their guest should be there. He chanced +to glance through the window into the living-room. +It was the very moment when Dan +McGrew held the woman strained to his +bosom, his mouth on hers. Jim stared, uncomprehending, +unbelieving. Then, horror +fell upon him, enveloped him in a black pall +of agony—for his wife lay supine, unresisting,<span class="pagenum">[45]</span> +yielding to the kisses that polluted purity. +But, in another second, Lou found strength to +twist her lips aside, and the cry that had been +stifled broke from her. Its appeal was unmistakable +in its frantic suffering. Jim heard +and understood, and answered with a roar of +rage, as he hurled himself through the door +and upon the man who thus dishonored him. +Lou, released as Dan heard Jim's shout, +shrank away, and stood trembling against the +wall, while the two men reeled back and forth +in a frenzied grapple. Their strength was so +well matched that neither at the outset could +gain an advantage; for each was keyed to extreme +endeavor by the urge of elemental passions +at their full. Then, as their lurching +bodies sent a massive chair volleying to the +floor, Jim's hold was loosened. Dan had time +to snatch the automatic from his pocket—but +not time to use it. Before his arm could be +raised to fire, Jim had caught his wrist in a +grip not to be broken. A hip-lock threw Dan +backward violently against the table that stood +on one side of the room. Strong though it<span class="pagenum">[46]</span> +was, the table yielded under the impact of the +two heavy bodies upon it, and went crashing +to the floor, with the two men atop the splintered +boards. The force of the fall stunned +Dan for a moment. The automatic dropped +from his released hand. Jim saw, and seized +the weapon. Ere Dan could move, he had +scrambled to his feet, where he stood menacing +the fallen man. Perhaps he would have +shot his enemy there and then—but Lou interposed. +She had watched with dilated eyes +the fight between the men who loved her. +Her whole feeling had been a desperate +prayer for her husband's victory: a prayer +made vital by hate against the man who had +so grossly insulted her. Now at the end, +however, a softer, feminine emotion compelled +her. She leaped forward, and clung +to her husband's arm.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> + <a href="images/p048f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p048t.jpg" width="347" height="223" alt="p048t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE TABLE WENT CRASHING TO THE FLOOR, WITH THE TWO MEN ATOP THE SPLINTERED BOARDS.</p> + +<p>"No, no, Jim!" she implored him. "Don't +shoot! Tell him to go.... Oh, my God! +Tell him to go, Jim."</p> + +<p>Dan clambered clumsily to his feet. The +muzzle of the automatic stared at him in vicious<span class="pagenum">[47]</span> +threat of death. The issue had left him +helpless. He was too weak for further combat, +in the reaction from great emotions. He +stood with downcast eyes, swaying a little unsteadily.</p> + +<p>Jim spoke, his voice metallic:</p> + +<p>"You hear?" he said. "Get out of here, you +dog! I'll send your things to the hotel to-night. +Not a word out of you—damn you!—or +I'll kill you in your tracks."</p> + +<p>Husband and wife stood rigidly motionless, +watching. The beaten man ventured no rebellion +against the decree. He went out of +the room with a stealthy, slinking haste, as +though he feared lest the self-restraint of his +victor might fail. But in his heart was +neither remorse nor despair—only a fiercer +hatred of the man, a fiercer love of the woman.<span class="pagenum">[48]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p>On the porch, Dan caught up his hat, +which had been lying on the chair, and +hastened to the stables. He did not scruple +now to make use, for the journey to the village, +of the horse which he had been accustomed +to ride. As he trotted down the driveway, +he encountered Nell, mounted on her +pony. The girl's gypsy-like face was flushed +from a brisk canter under the hot sun, and her +black eyes shadowed by the long, curling +lashes, were sparkling with the joy of life. +She called out cheerily in inquiry whether her +father was at the house. Dan called a curt, +"Yes," in answer, without checking his pace. +But, as the two came abreast, the girl's glance +took in the haggard fury on the man's face, +and the fearfulness of it fell like a blight +on her gladness. She was terror-stricken, +without in the least understanding why. For +his part, Dan McGrew rode on his way +with an added curse for this innocent child.</p> + + +<p>Dan McGrew registered at the hotel in +the village, with a careless announcement +to the clerk that the loneliness of the ranch +had outworn his patience, and that his +luggage would be along presently. Then, +after he had been fortified with a solitary +drink at the bar, he betook himself to his cell-like +room, which was the best the hotel afforded, +and there gave himself over to evil +plotting. As a result, when night had fallen +he sent a message by the hotel porter to Fingie +Whalen, who at this hour would doubtless +be found somewhere about Murphy's. Under +the circumstances, naturally enough, he +deemed it a measure of prudence not to visit +Murphy's, where he would be at the mercy +of the men from whom Jim had saved him. +He was sure, however, that Fingie would not +permit any false delicacy to stand in the way +of possible gain. He had decided that he +could make use of the gambler, and of the +gambler's painted woman, Jess, and he meant +to bribe the pair to his purpose.<span class="pagenum">[50]</span></p> + +<p>Fingie came promptly. Within fifteen +minutes from the dispatching of the porter, +there came a heavy knock at Dan's door, and +in response to a summons to enter, the squat +form and lowering face of the gambler appeared. +He grinned evilly at Dan, and +swaggered forward truculently.</p> + +<p>"What in hell are you up to?" he demanded, +as he came to a standstill, facing his host, who +remained sprawling in a chair, seemingly +quite at ease. Dan had determined precisely +on how to conduct himself in the interview. +So, now, he waved his hand hospitably toward +a bottle of whiskey which, with a jug of water +and glasses, stood on the table.</p> + +<p>"Help yourself," he exclaimed genially, +"and sit down. I want to have a talk with +you."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to do some mighty tall talkin' +to get rid of them extra four kyards I seen +with my own eyes," Fingie retorted. He approached +the table, however, without any reluctance, +where he helped himself liberally +before seating himself.<span class="pagenum">[51]</span></p> + +<p>Dan made his explanations glibly.</p> + +<p>"I got on to the fact that I was getting the +bad end of a crooked deal in that card game.... +Now, hold your horses!" he commanded, +as Fingie scowled and would have spoken. +"I don't mean anything for you to get mad +about. Only, the four of you were doing me +up. I had too much of Murphy's dope, and +tried a silly trick. It failed, as it ought to +have failed, and I was in bad. I'm sorry, and +I want you to let bygones be bygones. You +bruised me up good and plenty, if that's any +satisfaction to you, and, besides, you got my +money. Not quite all of it, however!" he +added suggestively. He noted with satisfaction +the increasing amiability of Fingie's expression, +and the avaricious glint in the ferret +eyes of the man at the concluding words.</p> + +<p>"What's the game?" Fingie demanded +bluntly.</p> + +<p>Dan forthwith revealed in detail the work +he required to be done. He felt himself safe +in being candid with this accomplice, who was +wholly free from any moral restraints, and<span class="pagenum">[52]</span> +who, as he now made known with many oaths, +was still suffering from a swollen jaw, the +result of one of Jim's blows. In fine, the +gambler entered into the conspiracy with such +evident zest that Dan was able to make a better +bargain than he had expected for his services +and those of his mistress. For an hour, +the two discussed the vicious plot, and then, +at Dan's bidding, Fingie went in quest of the +woman, Jess. Presently, he returned with +her, and she, too, was stirred to pleasurable +anticipations of the evils to be wrought +through her aid. For, on one occasion, she +had cast languishing and provocative glances +on Jim Maxwell, which he had returned with +a look in which pity could not conceal repugnance.</p> + +<p>There was a round of drinks for the three, +and then Dan made his payment to the gambler. +This done, Jess was seated at the table +with writing materials, and took from Dan's +dictation a note, which she wrote in her natural +hand, without any effort toward disguise, +and signed with her own name. When, at<span class="pagenum">[53]</span> +last, the worthy pair took their leave, that note +remained in the possession of their host.</p> + +<p>Dangerous Dan's activities for the day were +not yet completed. Within an hour, he was +astride a horse from the hotel livery, riding +rapidly toward the Maxwell ranch. When +he was within a quarter of a mile from the +house, he dismounted, and hid his horse behind +some bushes by the roadside. He went +forward on foot cautiously, for it was moonlight, +and objects were clearly discernible. +Yet, he had little apprehension of being observed, +for he knew the customs of the place: +that, though it still lacked an hour to midnight, +the household would doubtless be fast +asleep. There were dogs, it was true, which +ran at large; but with these Dan had made +friends, and they would raise no outcry against +him, though he came with malignant purpose.</p> + +<p>Dan, after he reached the lawns that spread +before the house, picked his way so as to keep +within the shadows of the trees and shrubberies. +He avoided the gravel of the drive<span class="pagenum">[54]</span> +and the walks, going noiselessly over the turf. +The dogs charged upon him, welcoming, but +gave no alarm. Burglary was a thing almost +unknown in this region, and the ranch-house, +as Dan knew, was left quite unprotected from +thievery—or worse. The prowler, when he +had come to the porch, took off his shoes, and +then crept silently up the steps, and on to a +window of the living-room. As he had anticipated, +it was open, though there was a wire +screen. Under Dan's hand, the screen was +raised. It slid easily along its grooves, and +in another moment Dan stepped into the room. +Enough moonlight fell through the side windows +for him to see his way distinctly. He +crossed to a corner in which was a writing-desk, +commonly used by the master of the +house for the keeping of papers not sufficiently +important for the safe. Conspicuous upon it +was lying a letter-case of Russia leather. +Dan could distinguish the darker shadow of +its outline upon the surface of oak. With a +deft certainty of movement, he took from his +pocket the note he had that night dictated to<span class="pagenum">[55]</span> +the gambler's woman, and, opening the case, +thrust it within one of the compartments. +Immediately, he retraced his steps across the +room, and climbed out through the window, +where he paused to lower the screen. When +he had descended the porch steps, he sat down +on the grass, and put on his shoes again. In +due time, he reached his horse, and rode back +to the town, filled with unholy joy over the +success of his expedition.</p> + +<p>Dan, like many another conscienceless +scoundrel, slept soundly after his evil work. +Yet, he was early astir, for time pressed, and +there was still much to be done toward the +accomplishment of his design. He found the +morning clear, to his vast relief, since, had +rain come, Jim would in all likelihood have +remained at the ranch-house, thus shutting off +the possibility of Dan's seeing Lou alone, +which was his immediate purpose. At once, +then, after he had breakfasted, he mounted +and rode to the ranch-house boldly. He had +no lack of courage, and freely ran the risk of +meeting the man whose hospitality he had so<span class="pagenum">[56]</span> +abused. That risk, he knew, must be encountered +for the sake of his plan. But he +knew, also, that the chances of an encounter +were small with the harvest requiring the +rancher's presence in the fields.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, when he rode up to the +house, he neither saw nor heard anything of +its master. But, even before he dropped from +the saddle, he saw Lou, sitting on the porch +with idly folded hands, and with an expression +of deep melancholy casting its shadows +over the delicate loveliness of her face. Dan's +heart leaped exultantly. He wondered if, by +any chance, the reflex of her mood from yesterday +might contain some measure of sadness +on his account. The slightest feeling of +womanly compassion for the culprit might +prove invaluable to him in his campaign of +treachery. He was annoyed for a moment +over the presence of Nell on the porch, playing +with a doll. But a second thought caused +him to decide that the child's company at the +outset of the interview might be of benefit to +him, as likely to place restraint on the mother's<span class="pagenum">[57]</span> +expression of anger against him.... That he +was right in his conjecture, the issue proved.</p> + +<p>At sight of Dan McGrew, riding to the +door from which he had been so ignominiously +spurned less than twenty-four hours before, +Lou Maxwell sat in dazed amazement, which +swiftly merged in anger, untinged by any +thought of fear. That the man was dangerous, +she knew. But she was no longer to +be entrapped by a belief in the self-restraint +of this lover. Moreover, she was on her +guard now, not unsuspecting, as yesterday. +And, too, there were servants within call. +These things flashed upon her in the instant of +perceiving him. So, she knew that she need +not fear anything from him beyond the insult +of his presence. But that he should dare thus +to approach startled and confounded her by +the sheer audacity of the act. She was stupefied +by the effrontery of the man as he dismounted +and ascended the steps toward her. +She rose, under a sudden impulse of resentment, +and stood regarding him with a level +gaze, wherein was contempt that might have<span class="pagenum">[58]</span> +caused a weaker man to quail. But Dangerous +Dan had the courage of his wickedness, +and he was not to be intimidated, or swerved +from his design, by her contumely, even +though to win her favor was the dearest purpose +of his heart. For the present, he must +withstand stolidly the shafts of her disdain, to +the end that he might entice her to his will +against her own.</p> + +<p>Dan swept the cap from his head, and stood +undaunted, yet with an air of humility that +was disarming. There was something pitiful +in the appealing glance of his eyes, something +almost pathetic in the soft tone of humiliation +with which he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I want you to forgive me, Lou—if you can +forgive me—for a madness I couldn't help.... +I'm sorry."</p> + +<p>Somehow, the woman was appeased, despite +herself. Her wrath against the man +who had affronted her so mortally was no +whit lessened; yet, his manner of humble contrition +touched her, against her will, to a feeling +of compassion. She still loathed him;<span class="pagenum">[59]</span> +notwithstanding, her mood was unmistakably +tinctured by commiseration. She hesitated +for a moment, then turned toward Nell, who, +with round eyes of wonder, was regarding her +mother and their late visitor.</p> + +<p>"Run out in the rose-garden, dear," she said +quietly, "and play there for a little while."</p> + +<p>The child went obediently enough, though +with obvious reluctance, for her curiosity was +aroused. She had passed from sight around +the corner of the house before Lou spoke +again. Then, she did not mince her words:</p> + +<p>"You have no right either to ask or to expect +forgiveness," she said sternly. Her voice +was very cold, charged with bitter contempt. +"You have shown the kind of a man you really +are. Nothing can change that. I despise +you utterly. I hope I shall never set eyes on +you again. I do not wish to hear another +word from you. Your presence is hateful to +me. Go! My husband may come at any moment, +and, if he finds you here, he'll kill you +on sight, as you deserve."</p> + +<p>With the last words, she turned from him,<span class="pagenum">[60]</span> +unheeding his exclamation of remonstrance, +and went into the living-room.</p> + +<p>Dan did not hesitate to follow her.</p> + +<p>"Let me say this much, at least," he pleaded, +still with utmost humility. "I sinned so because +I loved you so. I could not hold myself +back. Forgive me, Lou." His voice was tenderly +entreating.</p> + +<p>The woman faced him resolutely. Her +eyes were sparkling with wrath, her voice +shook a little under the throb of emotion.</p> + +<p>"You, and your love!" she cried, in disgust. +"Faugh! Must I summon the servants to put +you out of the house?"</p> + +<p>Dan made an appealing gesture. He answered +with a tone of deprecation.</p> + +<p>"No, Lou, you need not do that. I'll go +in a moment, and never trouble you again. +But, before I go, I must tell you one thing—why +I lost my self-control yesterday. It was +because I saw you so tender and fond and devoted +and unsuspecting in your love for a +man who is—unworthy!"</p> + +<p>Lou started involuntarily, then stood rigid,<span class="pagenum">[61]</span> +too astounded for speech. But, in another +moment, she cried out in vehement rebuke:</p> + +<p>"How dare you speak like that of Jim!" +Her tone was virulent; the dark-brown eyes, +usually so limpidly soft in their light, flashed +with the fires of her anger. "Jim is as clean +as you are foul. How dare you insinuate +anything against him! Almost, I wish I +hadn't interfered to save your life yesterday. +Oh, you beast! How dare you!"</p> + +<p>"Because it's true," Dan retorted. He felt +now that the situation was well within his +grasp, and there was an authoritative ring in +his voice that somehow, against her will, +caused a chill of apprehension in his listener. +He went on speaking swiftly, with incisive +earnestness, as one not to be denied. "You +see, Lou, I know the truth, and you do not. +For example, where is Jim this morning?"</p> + +<p>He shot the question at her with such +unexpectedness that she answered involuntarily:</p> + +<p>"Why, Jim's out in the fields, of course." +She realized suddenly the insolence of the<span class="pagenum">[62]</span> +question, and would have added a scathing rebuke.</p> + +<p>But Dan went on imperturbably:</p> + +<p>"Of course, you say that, because you do +not know. But he was wise enough to tell +you that he must go to town to-day, to attend +the meeting of the directors of the bank."</p> + +<p>Lou smiled in derision.</p> + +<p>"To-day is the regular weekly meeting," she +said, with an inflection of dawning curiosity, +which Dan noted complacently. "He always +goes to the bank-meeting. Why shouldn't he?"</p> + +<p>"No reason at all," was the suave response. +"But there is every reason in decency why he +should not go to another place, of which you +know nothing." He spoke in a voice that was +significant, grave, portentous. "That's where +he is now."</p> + +<p>"You mean something—something nasty, I +suppose," the wife exclaimed. Her tone was +full of abhorrence for this traducer of the +man she loved and trusted. "I'll listen to +none of your lies against Jim, Dan McGrew."<span class="pagenum">[63]</span></p> + +<p>"I chanced on some information in the town +last night," Dan persisted, undismayed by her +outbreak. "I have heard gossip before. +There's a woman—one of the sort you good +women shrink from. She had been drinking +too much. She let drop something about the +rich man who was coming to visit her to-day, +and she said his name was Jim."</p> + +<p>Lou felt a tremor of fear. The jealousy +that sleeps or wakes in the heart of all lovers +stirred within her for the first time. She +sought to stifle it, ashamed of even a thought +of doubt as to her husband's loyalty. It was +monstrous that she should be thus moved by +slanderous accusations of one for whom she +had only contempt. Again, she would have +spoken, but the man forestalled her.</p> + +<p>"The woman, whose name is Jess, was +bragging in her cups that her lover, Jim, always +came when she sent for him. And she +said she had written him—Jim—to visit her +to-day."</p> + +<p>The speaker's sneering assurance, his malignant +emphasis on her husband's name, filled<span class="pagenum">[64]</span> +the measure of the wife's wrath full to overflowing. +She advanced a step, raised her +right arm, and with all her strength struck the +palm of her hand across Dan's cheek.</p> + +<p>"Liar!" she cried, savagely.</p> + +<p>The man did not flinch under the blow. +The eyes of the two clashed, and held steadily. +Dan's cheek whitened where the stroke had +fallen, then burned redly. It was the woman's +gaze that dropped at last, and Dan smiled, +cynically exultant.</p> + +<p>"I don't ask you to believe me," he said impressively. +"I only ask you to open your eyes +to the truth. I suppose Jim would take pains +to destroy any note from the woman, Jess. +But there's always a chance. Men get careless +when they have wives that are so very +trusting." His sharp eyes perceived a lessening +tension in the woman's form, a growing +listlessness in the expression of her face. He +knew that there had come a reaction from the +strain of her emotions, that her will was growing +impotent, that now, at last, she would be +pliant to his purpose.<span class="pagenum">[65]</span></p> + +<p>He strode to the desk, and drew out the +letter-case, while Lou watched his every movement +narrowly, as though she expected some +trickery, while powerless further to combat +him. Her loyalty to Jim was no less, but her +powers of resistance had snapped. So, she +looked on as Dan fumbled for a moment +among the papers in the letter-case, and then +held out to her the note that the woman had +written in his room at the hotel, the night +before.</p> + +<p>Lou took it rather gropingly, in mechanical +obedience, because of the utter weariness that +was fallen upon her. She read it with eyes +that were dimmed—and again. Then, she +stood staring still at the page of coarse paper +with its rudely scrawled lines, with its words +of vile insinuation; but her gaze was unseeing. +The man's voice came to her very +faintly, as from a great distance.</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"It's all a lie, of course," Lou said, feebly. +"But I—don't understand."</p> + +<p>The cynical exultation in Dan's smile grew.<span class="pagenum">[66]</span> +At last, he was bold enough to bring the affair +to a crisis.</p> + +<p>"Do you dare to ride with me to the town, +to test the thing for yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Do I dare?" Lou repeated, arousing in +some degree from her apathy. "What do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean just that," he said. His voice was +intentionally brutal. "You've begun already +to be afraid of the truth. Do you dare to +ride to town with me, and so test the truth with +your own eyes?"</p> + +<p>The taunt provoked her to a new anger, to a +new strength. Once again, the slender form +grew tense, the head was raised proudly. Her +voice came harshly. There was no note of +fear in it now, only a great disdain and something +of cruelty.</p> + +<p>"I will ride with you, Dan McGrew," was +her answer, "to find my husband, and I shall +tell him what you've said, and he'll kill you. +Now, do you dare?"</p> + +<p>"I dare," the man said, quietly. "Let's go."<span class="pagenum">[67]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p>Dan McGrew had plotted with devilish +cleverness. He had seized on the +fact of Jim's attendance at the bank-meeting +as timely to his purpose. He had, indeed, +made it the pivot about which the details of +his scheming were grouped. As a result of +his carefulness in planning, during the hour of +his interview with Lou, Fingie Whalen was +stationed in the street outside Murphy's saloon. +He sat on a bench that stood against the wall +of the structure, and smoked incessant cigarettes, +the while his ferret eyes scanned closely +the length of the main street, down which Jim +Maxwell must ride on his way to the bank. +Just before him, a saddled horse stood patiently, +with the bridle-rein trailing. Within +the saloon, Jess, also, waited—with a drink, as +well as a cigarette, to comfort her in the interval. +Thus, it befell that, when Jim Maxwell<span class="pagenum">[68]</span> +came riding briskly into the town, his approach +was noted from afar by eyes hired for +the purpose. Instantly, then, Fingie acted. +He sprang up, and darted into the back room +of the saloon, where he called Jess's name, and +beckoned. The response of the woman was +no less prompt. She stood up quickly, and +hurried out of the place, while Fingie himself +remained to peer anxiously from the window +that gave on the street. There, for a minute, +he observed events outside. Afterward, he +lounged against the bar with a gratified smirk.</p> + +<p>Jim, as he rode slowly down the main street, +idly noted the woman who hastened out of +Murphy's, and mounted astride the horse. +He wondered a little that she did not start +away. But, as he drew closer, his keen eyes +perceived that the form of the woman was +swaying unsteadily in the saddle. Alarmed +for her safety, though with a suspicion that +only excess of drink ailed her, Jim quickened +his horse's pace—too late. Before he could +reach her, the woman lurched, and fell heavily +to the ground, where she lay motionless, evidently<span class="pagenum">[69]</span> +stunned, if not more seriously injured, +while the startled horse backed away snuffing.</p> + +<p>Jim was on the ground almost as quickly as +the woman herself, and was beside her before +the few others in the street who came running. +He did the natural thing under the circumstances, +precisely as Dan McGrew had expected +that he would. Since the woman lay +with closed eyes, showing no signs of consciousness, +unless in the faint moaning that issued +from her rouged lips, Jim lifted her in +his arms, and bore her through the side door, +which Fingie had thoughtfully left ajar, into +the back room of Murphy's saloon.... It +was at this moment that the gambler left the +window to lounge unconcernedly against the +bar. Jim carried his burden to one of the +round tables which was empty, and placed her +gently upon it, continuing to support her with +his arms about the waist and shoulders.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> + <a href="images/p049f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p049t.jpg" width="340" height="222" alt="p049t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">JIM CARRIED HIS BURDEN TO ONE OF THE ROUND TABLES.</p> + +<p>"Bring brandy!" he called out sharply to +the nearest of the occupants of the room, who +now came crowding forward with ejaculations +of dismay. The man addressed was Fingie<span class="pagenum">[70]</span> +Whalen himself. He stared down at the +woman with shocked surprise writ large on +his sullen features.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Jess!" he mumbled, in a voice +that he vainly strove to fill with distress. +"Whatever has she been an' gone, an' done?"</p> + +<p>"Get that brandy!" Jim reiterated the +command curtly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Fingie answered humbly, and +hurried off to the bar. In a moment, he was +back with the liquor, which he held to the +woman's lips. To Jim's relief, Jess swallowed +the draft easily enough—to tell the +truth, rather greedily; but of that fact her +rescuer was quite unaware, and from it he +augured well.</p> + +<p>Jess managed her apparent recovery from +the effects of the fall with such art as she +possessed, which, in truth, was not of the +highest, though ample for the beguiling of a +man who was honest and kindly and wholly +unsuspecting. Soon, her eyes unclosed a little, +and she breathed more deeply, and the +moaning, which had been interrupted by the<span class="pagenum">[71]</span> +brandy, was resumed more vigorously. +Through the paint on her cheeks showed the +deeper red of a genuine flush, the natural result +of the dram, but a sure evidence of vitality, +none the less. Jim rejoiced over these +signs of restoration, and even smiled on Fingie, +as he bade him continue the chafing of +the woman's hands.</p> + +<p>"She's not seriously hurt," he remarked, +with much satisfaction in his voice; "though +the way she flopped off that horse was enough +to jar her teeth loose." Being ignorant of the +fact that Jess had been a member of a circus +troupe before she yielded to the blandishments +of the gambler, Jim wondered mightily that so +severe a fall should have had no worse effect.</p> + +<p>Jess opened her eyes wide, and stared up +blankly into the face of the man who held her +in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" she asked, with the languid +air of her favorite stage heroine when +swooning.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," Jim hastened to explain +soothingly, having due regard to her dazed<span class="pagenum">[72]</span> +condition. "You were dizzy for a second, I +suspect, and fell from your horse. But there +doesn't seem to be anything much the matter, +and you'll be all right in a jiffy." He addressed +Fingie.</p> + +<p>"Bring her another nip of the brandy."</p> + +<p>The gambler would have remonstrated +against this unnecessary extravagance, but +could find no plausible reason for refusal, and +Jess, who was enjoying herself hugely, offered +him no assistance. When the drink had been +brought, she swallowed it without too much +display of eagerness, and coughed as a lady +should who is unaccustomed to strong waters. +At once thereafter, she straightened up to a +sitting posture on the table, though she still +accepted the support of Jim's arms to his discomfiture, +and regarded him with coquettish +glances of gratitude, which were offensive to +him, and to Fingie Whalen as well. He tried +to withdraw his arms, but she leaned upon him +too heavily, and he was forced for a few minutes +longer to retain her in a passive embrace. +But, as he repeated the effort tentatively, Jess<span class="pagenum">[73]</span> +bethought herself that her recovery had now +advanced so far as to make such support unnecessary. +Therefore, to play her part, she +withdrew herself, and sat up unassisted, but +with a hand to her brow to indicate that her +brain had not yet wholly cleared.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have been so good to me, Mister!" +she gushed. "I shall be thankful to you to +my dying day. Why," she added in a burst +of imagination, "the horse might have stepped +on me, if you hadn't been right there to save +me."</p> + +<p>"Nothing like that, I'm sure," Jim declared, +as amiably as he could contrive. "The horse +seemed to be doing his best not to step on you +without any help from me. You don't owe +me any thanks, really."</p> + +<p>Jess put out an appealing hand. It was accepted +reluctantly by Jim, and, with his assistance, +and that of Fingie on the other side, +she got down from the table totteringly, and +sank into a chair, where she sat limply, with +closed eyes, following her rôle devotedly to +the end.<span class="pagenum">[74]</span></p> + +<p>"You'll have a drink with us, Mr. Maxwell," +Fingie urged, twisting his lowering features +to an expression of affability. "What's +past is past an' done. You sure did give me +an almighty swat on the jaw t'other day, but +I ain't one to nuss no grouch, an' Jess here, an' +me, we're plumb grateful for yer kindness to +her this mornin'. What'll you have, Mr. +Maxwell? I'll bring it."</p> + +<p>Jim shook his head in refusal. He, too, +had no wish to nourish a grudge; but he had +no liking for the gambler—less for the woman, +whose tawdry airs nauseated him. He was +already a little disgusted, with the episode, +and desirous to end it.</p> + +<p>Jess saw the refusal in his face, and was +quick to intervene; for failure now would +mean the utter collapse of all their plotting. +She spoke gently, and, in the genuineness of +her anxiety, her voice trembled with appeal:</p> + +<p>"Please, sir—please, Mr. Maxwell!" she besought +him.</p> + +<p>Jim, in spite of his repulsion, was touched +by the woman's earnestness. His sense of<span class="pagenum">[75]</span> +chivalry impelled him to yield to a plea so +natural and so ingenuous on her part. He +smiled, a bit wryly, in answer to her imploring +look, and nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"I'll have a glass of beer," he said to Fingie, +and, as the gambler hurried off to the bar, +he seated himself at the table beside Jess.</p> + +<p>The woman prattled nervously, made garrulous +by the brandy, and by fatuous ambition +to impress this aloof companion with her +charms. As a matter of fact, the conspiracy +came perilously near to failure in consequence +of her chatting, which almost drove Jim to +flight. His instinct of politeness, however, +conquered inclination, and he remained in his +place, listening with a forced semblance of +interest to hide how desperately he was bored. +Yet, throughout, he rested without a faintest +suspicion that this affair was aught beyond the +innocent thing it seemed. To him, the happening +was merely a nuisance—nothing more, +nothing in any wise sinister. It did not occur +to him to wonder why Fingie should have +volunteered to serve as their waiter. He did<span class="pagenum">[76]</span> +not trouble even to follow the gambler with +his eyes, as the fellow went to the bar.</p> + +<p>For that matter, it would have availed Jim +nothing, had he watched never so closely. +The card-sharp possessed the dexterity of his +trade. Those long, slender, mobile fingers of +his had been fashioned by fate for a surgeon, +a conjurer, a gambler, or a pick-pocket. Not +even the keen-eyed bartender, who was close +to him, noticed the tiny vial in Fingie's hand, +as it hovered over the frothing glass of beer +on the counter, or saw the trickle of the colorless +drops into the brew. So, the gambler +came back to the table presently, with a tray, +on which were two glasses of brandy—one for +himself, of generous size; the other for Jess, +so tiny that she frowned indignantly at sight +of it—and the glass of beer for Jim. The +three drank together.... Then, the gambler +and his woman watched avidly for what +should befall.</p> + +<p>There was no delay. Jim, glad that the +ordeal was at last done, would have risen to +leave. But a strange lethargy held him fastbound.<span class="pagenum">[77]</span> +A black cloud descended on his +brain; thought ceased. Suddenly, he slumped +in his chair. His arms dropped heavily on +the table. His head fell on them. Fingie +and Jess chuckled aloud in gloating over the +inert form of the man. They were not afraid +lest he hear them, now.<span class="pagenum">[78]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p>There was not a word exchanged between +Lou and Dan on their ride from +the ranch-house to the town. For his part, +the man was filled with rejoicing over the triumph +that he anticipated. He had no fear +of failure. The ingenuity of his plot insured +success. Its strength lay in the seeming simplicity +of the events that would lead to the +desired climax. Dan's only doubt had been +concerning his ability to hold the woman to +his will, and to make her play her vital part +in his machinations. He had realized that +he would have need of all his wit to secure +from her even a hearing of his accusations +against the man she loved. By his arts, he +had enticed her into listening, and by reason +of the very indignation thus aroused, he had +warped her mood to his purpose. So, he +went forward full of confidence as to the outcome,<span class="pagenum">[79]</span> +exultant, heedless of the misery of the +woman who rode by his side.</p> + +<p>That misery was poignant. At intervals, +wrath flamed high in her, and she longed for +the moment when she should bring the two +men face to face, that the slanderer might receive +the punishment he merited from the one +maligned. But, oftener, her emotion dropped +into abysses of despair. There had been +something unspeakably revolting to her +wifely instincts in the tawdry phrases of the +ill-written note, signed "Your loving Jess." +Her spirit writhed as she recalled the words, +so damning in their explicitness: "Shall expect +you at the usual time. Don't let your +trusting Lou keep you away, as I can't do +without you." The wife found herself compelled +to fight with all her energies against +the demon of doubt that so hideously beset +her. That note had been addressed to "Dearest +Jim." And Jim was her husband's name, +and the note had been lying in his letter-case. +And, if these things of themselves were not +enough to sap faith, there was the sneering<span class="pagenum">[80]</span> +use of her own name: "Don't let your trusting +Lou keep you away." The distracted +wife told herself a hundred times that her belief +in the loyalty of her husband remained unshaken, +but it was not so. She lied to herself, +from very horror of the truth. Only by fierce +and incessant denials of the doubt that welled +in her could she repel the assaults of despair. +Of the man beside her, she thought hardly at +all, except in the fitful and constantly lessening +flashes of her anger. Her thought was for +the husband, with a pitiful wondering over +the hateful mystery that had come to pass. +Oh, surely, there was some simple explanation +of it all—there must be! It was a hoax, a +jest, some misunderstanding—anything! But, +though she argued against belief, there remained +always in her consciousness the stubborn, +sickening facts, and a great dread lay +crushingly upon her spirit. The agony of +suspense grew unbearable. Her quirt rose +and fell in a vicious lash on the flanks of the +mare. The astonished thoroughbred leaped +and stretched into a run.... Dan McGrew<span class="pagenum">[81]</span> +pressed his own mount forward, to keep pace.</p> + +<p>While the two thus rode toward the town, +there was a period of tedious inaction for +Dan's accomplices. In the back room of +Murphy's saloon, Jess remained impatiently +in her seat at the table, with the empty brandy +glass before her. She would have liked another +drink, but dared not call for it, since it +had been forbidden by her master, because her +part in the sordid drama was not yet finished. +Beside her, Jim sat motionless, his body +sprawled clumsily over the table. He had +not stirred since his yielding to the influence +of the drug. The only evidence of life about +him was the sound of stertorous breathing. +The habitués of the place had given no heed +to him after a few sneering comments concerning +one who would get drunk so early in +the day.</p> + +<p>Fingie Whalen, after he had seen his drops +take effect on the victim, went out of the saloon, +and reëstablished himself on the bench +against the wall, where once again he gave +himself over to an unremitting survey of the<span class="pagenum">[82]</span> +main street, down which any one coming from +the ranch must pass. He smoked with nervous +rapidity, which increased as minute after +minute passed, and there was still no sight of +those for whom he watched. At the end of an +hour, the gambler's impatience had become +anxiety. He began to fear failure at the last, +when success had seemed assured. It might +well be that, in spite of Jess's note, Dan +McGrew had been unable to persuade Lou +Maxwell into accompanying him. Or—as +would be equally disastrous—they might come +too late. Fingie had been as liberal as he +dared in the drugging of the beer, but there +is a great difference in the reactive powers of +various men against such poison. He had not +been minded to run any risk of murder. +Therefore, he could not tell with precision +when Jim Maxwell would recover consciousness. +As the minutes hurried on, Fingie's fear +mounted by leaps and bounds. From time to +time, he left the bench, and peered in through +the window, to reassure himself as to the continued +unconsciousness of the drugged man.<span class="pagenum">[83]</span></p> + +<p>Then, at last, as he turned from one of these +glimpses through the window, Fingie Whalen +saw in the distance the forms of two riders +coming at a furious gallop. For a second, he +stood staring, to make sure that there was no +mistake, that these were in fact those for whom +he had waited with such anxiety. In another +moment, he became certain that one of the +two who approached was Dan McGrew. +The flapping of a divided skirt proved that the +other rider was a woman. He could no +longer doubt that McGrew had succeeded. +There needed now only to set the stage for the +final scene. For the second time that day, +Fingie whirled and darted into the saloon. +He caught up from the bar a glass of brandy, +which he had left under the barkeeper's +charge, since he had not deemed it safe on the +table within Jess's reach. He moved now +without undue haste, in order to avoid attracting +attention to himself and the others concerned. +When he had reached the table at +which Jess and their victim were seated, he +put the glass down, with a nod to the woman<span class="pagenum">[84]</span> +to indicate that the end of the play was now at +hand. Jess shoved her chair close to that in +which Jim slouched. At the same time, Fingie +seized the unconscious man by the shoulders, +and lifted the heavy form upright in the +chair. Jim yielded limply to the procedure—a +dead weight in the other's grasp. He was +still unconscious. His face was hot and +flushed, the face of one under the influence of +liquor. His breath still came noisily. Fingie, +straining under the weight, tilted the flaccid +body over a little way, until it rested +against the shoulder of Jess, who braced herself +to sustain it. Fingie raised Jim's left +arm, as the unconscious man reposed thus +against the woman at his right, and laid it +about her neck. Thus the two remained in +an embrace, which bore every evidence of +fondness that knew no shame in this public +and disreputable place. Jim's head sagged, +until it rested upon the woman's bosom. Her +right arm was wreathed about him, holding +him tenaciously, with all her strength, lest he +lurch away from her. With her left hand,<span class="pagenum">[85]</span> +she took up the glass of brandy, which Fingie +had brought, and held it close to the lips of +the unconscious man.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:340px"> + <a href="images/p114f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p114t.jpg" width="340" height="223" alt="p114t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">JIM'S HEAD SAGGED UNTIL IT RESTED UPON THE WOMAN'S BOSOM.</p> + +<p>Such was the business of the piece, as it had +been arranged beforehand in each detail by +the conspirators. Jess cast a look of inquiry +toward the gambler, to learn whether or not +the situation met all the requirements of the +plot. He gave a brief nod, and grunted approval. +He heard the clatter of hoofs in the +street outside—a clatter of hoofs of horses +ridden in haste. It ceased just without the +door of the saloon. Fingie walked quietly +to the bar. A quick glance about showed that +the attention of none had been attracted to his +movements. He grinned evilly in anticipation.... +From the time when he had first +sighted the riders, not more than a half-minute +had elapsed. He leaned against the bar, +and stared furtively toward the window that +gave on the street.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew drew close alongside Lou, as +the pair pounded down the main street of the +town.<span class="pagenum">[86]</span></p> + +<p>"Stop at the corner, this side of the bank," +he called to her. "At Murphy's saloon."</p> + +<p>The woman shivered as her ears caught the +words. She knew the character of the notorious +place, which catered to the most depraved +tastes of the community. Was it to a +resort so ignoble that she must go to refute the +slander against her husband? To refute it! +Or—she broke off her thought, appalled by +the terrible alternative. Then, in the following +instant, she found herself already abreast +of the saloon. She heard her companion's +brisk command:</p> + +<p>"Stop here!"</p> + +<p>She obeyed, though, almost, the dread that +beat upon her forced her to flee on, and on—anywhere +away from the horror that menaced. +She pulled her mare to a standstill, and got +down from the saddle, and let the bridle-reins +trail. She moved as one in a dream—rather, +as one in a nightmare. Yet, now the crisis +was upon her, she did not suffer quite so +cruelly. Her feeling was numbed, somehow. +It was with a certain listlessness in her voice<span class="pagenum">[87]</span> +that she addressed Dan McGrew, as he +stepped to her side.</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"There's no need to go inside," Dan explained. +"We can see enough, I fancy, +through the window.... Come!"</p> + +<p>Lou followed obediently whither he led. +So the two came to the window, with the dirty +glass and its tattered shade raised high, so that +whosoever would might look freely on the +squalor within. Dan stepped forward and +peered into the room for a moment, then +turned and beckoned to Lou.... And the +wife advanced, as he bade her, and looked +over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Lou's eyes, accustomed to the full glare of +the noon-day sun, could at first distinguish +nothing more than a vague litter of weaving +shadows within the murk of the dingy room. +Very soon, however, her vision adjusted itself +to the dim interior, so that she began to see +distinctly. Even in this moment of emotional +stress, Lou was conscious of her repugnance +at the spectacle of coarsely flaunted vice. She<span class="pagenum">[88]</span> +noted the line of sodden men loafing along the +bar, the few others grouped about the tables +with the bedizened and painted women, +whose wanton faces, and more wanton manners, +proclaimed their unsavory sort. Yet, +her attention was thus arrested for only a +fleeting fraction of a second. Then her gaze +fell on that other table and she saw her husband.</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt as to Jim's identity. +As she recognized him, Lou's dark +brown eyes dilated before the fearfulness of +this thing. For she saw, as well, every detail +of his visible plight. The scene was etched +on her consciousness with the acid of horror, +there to remain indelible throughout the +years. She knew, in the first second of seeing, +every feature of the creature within whose +arms her husband was lying. She knew the +cut and color of the soiled bodice, with its +drapery of cheap lace over the bosom—on +which his loved face reposed. She felt a +nausea. There was nothing lovable now in +his face. Instead, it was bestial, repulsive—the<span class="pagenum">[89]</span> +face of a man who had given himself over +to gratification of the beast within him, and +who was wallowing in the mire of his degradation.... +So it seemed to Lou Maxwell, +as she stood staring, bereft, upon that scene +which to her meant the end of all things. +The life had gone out of her face. A sickness +as of death clutched at her heart. Suddenly +her gauntleted hands caught Dan McGrew's +shoulder. Only his quick support +saved her from falling. She spoke dully, in +a broken whisper:</p> + +<p>"Take me away."<span class="pagenum">[90]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p>Lou was able to climb to her saddle with +Dan's assistance, though she moved very +feebly, and her white, drawn face was that of +one who had been stricken with a mortal hurt. +But once safely mounted, with less strain on +her muscles, a little strength flowed back into +her, so that she sat steadily enough as the two +started back at a walk over the way down +which they had ridden so furiously. By the +time the town was left well behind, the +fresh air and the motion had restored her faculties +in part, both physical and mental. But +with the clearing of her brain came an agony +of realization almost unendurable. She +urged her horse to its full speed, fain to put +all distance possible between her and the detestable +scene on which she had just looked. +Indeed, the instinct of flight in this crisis of +her fate was dominant. Her one desire was<span class="pagenum">[91]</span> +to flee to the ends of the earth, to escape forever +from all that had been.</p> + +<p>Throughout the years of her life hitherto, +Lou had experienced no real anguish. Her +sorrows, great though some of them had +seemed to her as child and woman, had been +essentially trivial, over trivial things. She +had never known the ills of poverty. The +death of her father had occurred while yet +she, the only child, was too young to grieve +deeply or long. Her mother's death had occurred +some years after her marriage, when +she had been weaned from the old home-life. +In truth, all her years had been pleasant ones. +The sum of her happiness had been far beyond +that of most. The love between her and +her husband had been a beautiful one, in +which she had found supreme content. It +had been crowned by the birth of the child. +It had held the promise of serenely joyous +years to come.... And now, the catastrophe! +Here was the end of all things. Doubt +of her husband's loyalty had never tainted her +devotion. She had believed utterly in his<span class="pagenum">[92]</span> +cleanness, his wholesome manhood. And +now, in an instant, the whole fabric of her life +was in shreds, beyond any possibility of reweaving; +befouled beyond any possibility of +purifying. All her happiness had been an +illusion, the gracious charm of it only a mask +that covered the ugly truth.</p> + +<p>Lou had never a doubt concerning that +truth. With her own eyes, she had witnessed +it. She had seen Jim in drunken debauch +with the painted woman, who had boasted +that this lover came always at her call. The +wife had seen her husband fondled openly by +a wanton in a public place, had seen the creature +holding the glass to that husband's lips. +Dan McGrew had plotted well. By his intrigue, +he had destroyed absolutely all her +faith and happiness.</p> + +<p>The humiliation of the revelation sharpened +the torture. It would not have been +quite so terrible, Lou thought, if Jim had +loved some woman of a decent sort. But the +loathesomeness of being scorned for that infamous +woman of the dance-hall—! The<span class="pagenum">[93]</span> +wife writhed under the ignominy: that a being +so sordid should have ousted her from her +husband's heart. His infatuation for one so +base proved his entire worthlessness. He was +but the gross, soiled caricature of her ideal. +The idol of gold which she had worshiped +was shown to be of clay—clay filthy and corrupt.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew realized, to some extent at +least, the anguish of the woman at whose side +he rode. Had it been consistent with his purposes, +he would have spared her that suffering. +In his way, he sympathized with her +keenly. Yet the fact that her grief was +wholly of his making, had no cause whatsoever +except the visible lie which he had built +for her eyes to see—the fact that he alone had +thrust the iron into her soul troubled Dangerous +Dan not at all. He had no remorse, +though he pitied her. He was absolutely +without compunction for the misery he had +wrought. Dangerous Dan was a strong man, +save for his vices. He was a hard man as +well. What he desired, he meant to take, and<span class="pagenum">[94]</span> +he was ruthless and unscrupulous as to the +manner of his taking. More than anything +else in the world, he desired to possess for his +own Lou Maxwell. To that end, he had concocted +his scheme of villainy. The woman's +present agony was a necessary part in the success +of his plotting. So, though he was sorry +for her whom he had thus fearfully wronged, +he felt no vestige of regret—only exultation. +In his way, Dan McGrew loved Lou. His +love for her was, indeed, the chief passion of +his life. But his love, like that of many another +man, was wholly selfish. She was +necessary to his happiness. That he must destroy +her happiness in order to secure his was +of no importance. Moreover, with the egotism +of a strong man, he was confident that he +would be able in the days to come to make her +happier than she had ever been before.</p> + +<p>Now, on the ride, Dan discreetly kept +silence. He could follow well enough the +workings of the woman's mood, and he believed +that it would be unwise at this time to +attempt the direction of her thoughts. It<span class="pagenum">[95]</span> +seemed to him certain that under the circumstances +she must inevitably reach the conclusion +he desired. There might be danger that +a suggestion from him would provoke suspicion, +though this possibility was remote, after +the effectiveness of the scene on which she had +looked. Nevertheless, despite his confidence +in a victorious issue of the affair, Dan was +glad when Lou went forward at full speed. +He, like Fingie Whalen, knew that the influence +of the drug on Jim Maxwell would be +only of a temporary sort, and that soon the +ranch-owner would recover consciousness. +Just how long an interval there might be before +the husband's return to the ranch, Dan +could not tell. But, because he was in a fever +of impatience for a rapid development of +events, he rejoiced over the haste in which +they rode, and welcomed with a sigh of relief +their arrival at the ranch.</p> + +<p>As Lou dismounted, Nell came running +from the porch with a rapturous cry of greeting. +The mother dropped to her knees, and +gathered the girl into her arms, with passionate<span class="pagenum">[96]</span> +kisses. She realized, with bitter self-reproach, +that in all this time of trial she had +had not a single thought for the daughter +whom she so loved. In her humiliation as a +wife she had forgotten her obligation as a +mother. Now, abruptly, the shameful significance +to the daughter of what had befallen +was borne in upon Lou's consciousness.</p> + +<p>"He is unworthy ever to look on her face +again." She was unaware that in the intensity +of her feeling she had spoken aloud with +deliberate emphasis.</p> + +<p>Nell, already somewhat perplexed by the +ardor of these caresses, became even a little +frightened by the unfamiliar expression on +her mother's face, and by the sternly spoken +words, which she did not understand. She +was relieved when, the next moment, she was +released, and she hurried off to her favorite +nook in the rose-garden, where she might +be alone to puzzle over the meaning of it +all.</p> + +<p>Unlike the child, Dan McGrew understood<span class="pagenum">[97]</span> +exactly the wife's ejaculation, and he knew +that he had achieved his end. Without invitation, +but quite as a matter of course, he +walked at Lou's side as she ascended the steps +and entered the living-room. She accepted +his company without remonstrance, indifferently. +It was only after she had sunk down +into a low easy chair, where she lay back +wearily with closed eyes, while she drew off +her gauntlets, that Dan McGrew finally dared +to address her explicitly:</p> + +<p>"You must leave him, of course," he said +gently. His voice was very grave and kindly. +It came with something of a shock to the +woman's ears—she had forgotten him so completely +in the self-absorption of her mood. +But, too, there was something soothing to her +in the manner of his utterance. She became +aware that here was one to aid her in the accomplishment +of things to be done. She no +longer remembered how, within the hour, she +had execrated this man who now stood before +her. She had become oblivious of the insult<span class="pagenum">[98]</span> +he had so recently put upon her. The revelation +of her husband's treachery obsessed her +mind to the exclusion of all else. So, she was +fully disposed to accept the assistance of Dan +McGrew in this emergency. She was ready +to acquiesce in his suggestions for her guidance +in escaping from this place which her +husband had polluted. She sat up in a quick +access of energy.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said harshly, "I must leave him—at +once." Her animation grew. Her face, +which had been pallid a moment before, was +flushed with eagerness. Her expression became +resolute. "I must take Nell away from +him. I don't want him ever to set eyes on +her again—he's not fit."</p> + +<p>Dan forbore comment. There needed +from him no condemnation of the husband. +The wife's conviction as to Jim's guilt was +complete. So he avoided Lou's reference to +her husband's culpability, and spoke to the +point:</p> + +<p>"You want to get away without seeing him<span class="pagenum">[99]</span> +again," he remarked, in a tone of positiveness, +as if the matter admitted of no doubt.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the wife answered. "It would be +too horrible to see him again! And for +Nell—"</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew nodded sympathetically.</p> + +<p>"It would only mean a nasty row," he +agreed. "You might as well spare yourself +that—and spare the child, too," he concluded, +craftily. For he realized that Lou would fly +fast and far for the child's sake, if not for her +own. He detested the necessity of the child's +presence in their flight, but he recognized the +fact that it was a necessity, and therefore to be +endured—even, as far as possible, to be turned +to advantage.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Lou continued, "we must hurry as +fast as we can, for I suppose there's no telling +when Jim might return. And it would be +dreadful to run into him in the town, on the +way to the train."</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"It would, indeed!" he declared. "In the<span class="pagenum">[100]</span> +condition he's in now there's no telling what +he might do."</p> + +<p>Lou shuddered at the memory of her husband's +sodden face, as she had seen it resting on +the breast of the woman in Murphy's saloon.</p> + +<p>"We must not meet him!" she declared desperately. +"It would be too terrible to have +him see Nell." She pressed her hands to her +bosom as if to hold back the emotion that +surged within her. "More dreadful for Nell +to see him. I want her to have a clean memory +of her father, whatever he is."</p> + +<p>"We can avoid any danger of meeting him," +Dan McGrew asserted, with a brisk tone of +confidence that reassured his listener. "We'll +just ride across country to the main line. Do +you know the road? I have only a general +idea."</p> + +<p>Lou was all eagerness over the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," she exclaimed excitedly; "that +is the way to do it. I know the road. We +must get ready and start at once. But you +don't need to go with us."</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew spoke decisively:<span class="pagenum">[101]</span></p> + +<p>"I've got you into this mess, Lou, and it's +up to me to see the thing through. I want to +help you in any way I can—and just now you +need help." His tone was firm, yet tender, +with a note of devotion in it that touched the +distraught woman. She sprang to her feet +and held out both her hands, which were +seized in a warm clasp.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Dan," she said gently. "God +knows I need help."</p> + +<p>Then, forthwith, she became all animation. +She summoned her maid, and ordered that +two small bags which could be carried on +horseback should be packed with necessaries +for herself and Nell. At Dan's suggestion, +she sent an order to the stables for Nell's pony +and two fresh mounts to serve for Dan and +herself. These things done, it occurred to her +that she must leave some explanation of her +departure for her husband on his return. +She seated herself at his desk, and wrote hurriedly +and briefly, in distaste for even this +indirect contact with the man who had +wronged her.<span class="pagenum">[102]</span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="salutation">Dear Jim:</p> + +<p>I know all. I do not want to be in your +path, so am going away. You love another, +so will perhaps not miss me.</p> + +<p>Good-by, Jim.</p> + +<p>I forgive you.</p> + +<p class="signature"><span class="smcap">Lou.</span></p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Lou, when she had set her name to the short +form of words, thrust the sheet into an envelope, +which she addressed with the single +word, "Jim." For long seconds she sat staring +at the lines she had last traced—that name +which had been through so many years the +symbol of her happiness, which was now become +the symbol of vileness and misery. The +horror of it smote her anew, essenced in that +name which had been her blessing, which was +now become her curse.</p> + +<p>The sound of the hoofs stamping on the +gravel before the door aroused her. The +maid came to announce that the horses were in +readiness, with the bags strapped to the saddles. +With the maid came Nell, who had +needed no preparation, since she was already<span class="pagenum">[103]</span> +in her riding clothes. Lou took the girl in +her arms and kissed the exquisite dark face +with a tenderness that was like a benediction.... +She had no least hint that this was destined +to be the last time her lips should touch +the soft roundness of the girlish cheek.</p> + +<p>"You are to ride with me this afternoon, +Nell," she said. "Don't ask any questions +now. I'll tell you all about it by-and-by. +It's a surprise." She shivered over the words. +A surprise—yes, a surprise that meant the end +of all things. So, presently, the three went +forth from the living-room, and across the +porch, and down the steps, and got into the +saddles of the waiting horses. Without any +exchange of words among them, they rode +away. None of the three looked back—Nell, +because she had no guess as to the sinister +meaning of this parting; Dan, because even +his calloused soul felt a twinge of shame over +the ruins that he left behind; Lou, because she +could not.<span class="pagenum">[104]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p>It was not until late afternoon that Jim +slowly struggled back to consciousness. +He was first aware of a deadly nausea, which +seemed billowing through every atom of his +being. Then he felt the torture that stabbed +through his brain. In an effort of revolt, he +raised his head, though the movement tried +his strength to the utmost. His eyes swept +dimly over the scene, and a dull wonder filled +him. Just at first, he did not recognize the +place. Very quickly, however, the acrid +odors of spilled liquors and the reek of cheap +perfumes from the women quickened memory. +Suddenly his eyes opened wide, and he saw +clearly, with new consciousness of his surroundings—and +of himself. He realized that +in some mysterious fashion, altogether inexplicable +to him, he had been overcome in the<span class="pagenum">[105]</span> +back room of Murphy's saloon. His mind +went to the period immediately preceding the +blank in memory. He remembered his presence +there along with the woman, Jess, and +the gambler, and his taking a drink with them. +Of whatever had followed, he had no knowledge. +Evidently, he had suffered a seizure +of some sort. As his faculties were restored, +it occurred to him that he might have been +drugged by the gambler or the woman, for +the purpose of robbery. But a hasty examination +showed that his watch and money were +untouched. Besides, it seemed to him, on +second thought, preposterous that either of the +two should have dared anything of the kind +against him. No, it was certain that he had +been attacked thus without warning by some +unexpected physical ailment. He was rather +alarmed by the experience, as strong men +usually are when unaccustomed weakness assails +them. He determined to submit himself +to a careful examination at the hands of a +competent physician, on his first visit to the +county-seat.<span class="pagenum">[106]</span></p> + +<p>The nausea had subsided in some measure, +and the pain in his head, too, had lessened. +But he felt mouth and throat parched. He +got up, moving with difficulty, and, after a +few moments of unsteadiness while he held to +the back of a chair for support, he was able to +stand firmly enough and to walk forward +to the bar.</p> + +<p>"Give me a glass of water," he said to the +bar-keeper.</p> + +<p>The fellow obeyed with alacrity, for he +knew Jim Maxwell to be a man of importance +in the community, and he had been puzzled +by the events of the day—even a little frightened +lest trouble come of them. Jim gulped +the water and demanded more. He drank a +number of glasses before his thirst was even +partially quenched. The effect was speedy. +He felt strength returning to him. His brain +was quite clear again.</p> + +<p>The bar-tender, watching narrowly, saw +that the ranch-owner was himself once more. +He ventured to speak ingratiatingly, in the +hope of satisfying his curiosity.<span class="pagenum">[107]</span></p> + +<p>"That was quite some snoozle, Mister," he +remarked, with a smirk.</p> + +<p>"It was nothing of the sort," Jim snapped. +"I don't know what it was. But it was bad +enough."</p> + +<p>"I thought mebbe as how you'd had a drop +too much," the bar-keeper explained, "an' +was jest nacherly sleepin' it off. If we'd +knowed you was sick, we'd have got the Doc +in to give you a look-over."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," Jim answered. "I'm not +blaming you any—unless it was the drink you +gave me that poisoned me."</p> + +<p>Presently Jim went out into the street. He +found his horse tied to a ring at the corner of +the saloon building. He unhitched it, +mounted, and rode slowly homeward. He +was still in distress physically, but his condition +was improving from moment to moment, +so that he no longer felt apprehension as to the +outcome. Soon, indeed, he became sufficiently +sure of himself to put his horse to a +trot.... As the shadows of evening drew +down, he rode up to the door of his home.<span class="pagenum">[108]</span></p> + +<p>There was a bank of lurid clouds in the +west, massed heavily on the horizon. The air +was motionless, weighted with portents of +coming storm. Jim felt the oppressiveness, +and in a subtle way it rested upon his mood +as something sinister. A weight of melancholy +pressed upon him as he entered the +house. The stillness of the air seemed reënforced +in the quiet of the living-room into +which he stepped. There was no sound. He +listened for his wife's greeting. It did not +come. He listened for the pattering steps of +Nell, running to welcome him. He did not +hear them. The silence hurt him in some +curious way. He had an overwhelming sense +of the absence of those he loved—the absence +of wife and child.</p> + +<p>He crossed the room to his desk. He +slipped the loop of the quirt from his wrist +and let it fall on the desk. The effect of the +drug was not yet assuaged; he was very thirsty. +He called to the maid passing through the +hall:</p> + +<p>"Bring me a glass of water, Mary."<span class="pagenum">[109]</span></p> + +<p>The girl came quickly with the drink. She +and the other servants were in a ferment of +curiosity, full of suspicions and wonderings. +There had been much gossip in the house over +the fight between the two men the day before, +which had not passed unobserved. To-day, +the wife had suddenly left her home with the +man who had been ordered out of the house. +Over this fact, scandalous tongues were clacking +loudly. Mary had made it her business +to be passing in the hall, in order that she +might note the attitude of the master at such +a time. So she stood, in eager expectation, +eying her master closely, as he took the glass +of water.</p> + +<p>But he set the glass back on the tray suddenly, +for he saw an envelope lying on the +desk, addressed in the handwriting of the +woman he loved:</p> + +<p>"Jim."</p> + +<p>A foreboding of disaster crashed upon him. +He trembled, standing there with the envelope +unopened in his hand. Then he strove +to throw off this craven dread—for which<span class="pagenum">[110]</span> +there was no reason. He turned to the maid.</p> + +<p>"Where is your mistress?" he asked, quietly.</p> + +<p>It was the question for which Mary, and +the whole household, had been waiting.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir," she answered falteringly, dismayed +now that the matter was coming to a +crisis, "she has gone out—with Miss Nell, sir—and +with Mr. McGrew."</p> + +<p>McGrew! The name roared in Jim's +brain. The man who had insulted his wife, +whom he had beaten and driven from his +home like a whipped cur.... And Lou and +Nell had gone with Dan McGrew. He felt +a sickness, inexpressibly more horrible than +the physical nausea that had sickened him +there in Murphy's saloon. That Lou should +have gone with Dan McGrew—and Nell! +The thing was incredible!</p> + +<p>His eyes searched the room, as if looking +for wife or child, or for some clew to explain +the mystery. They fell on the envelope, +which he still held in his hand. He tore it +open in a frenzy of eagerness.</p> + +<p>He read confusedly. But, somehow, the<span class="pagenum">[111]</span> +essential meaning beat upon his brain. He +grasped the fact that the woman he loved had +gone from him. It was all a monstrous lie, +of course. Yet, there was the horrid truth—she +had gone away. Lou and Nell—the two +things in the world—had gone away. He +could not understand. But they had gone.</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Jim!"</p> + +<p>She had written that, and she had signed it +"Lou." There was confusion in his thoughts. +He could not guess the meaning that lay back +of what his wife had written. He only knew +that there was some monstrous lie.</p> + +<p>The maid's voice came softly. The girl +was appalled at the expression on the man's +face as he stood staring down at the sheet of +paper in his hands. It was from a desire to +bring things back to the ordinary that she +spoke apologetically:</p> + +<p>"Your glass of water, sir."</p> + +<p>The words made a mechanical impression +on Jim Maxwell's consciousness. He +stretched out his left arm, and his hand, from +which he had not yet pulled off the riding-gauntlet,<span class="pagenum">[112]</span> +closed over the glass on the tray. +He raised it toward his lips. His eyes fell on +the note once more.</p> + +<p>"You love another, so will perhaps not miss +me."</p> + +<p>The incredible words were there before +him. And she had gone—she and Nell.... +With Dan McGrew! The thing was impossible. +There was no truth anywhere. He +stared down at the letter, aghast at the horrible +conundrum propounded to him by fate. +Lou had gone—with Dan McGrew!... +Why?</p> + +<p>His eyes held to the note.</p> + +<p>"—so I am going away."</p> + +<p>The words beat a refrain of dreadfulness in +his brain.</p> + +<p>"—so I am going away."</p> + +<p>His hand, holding the glass of water, +clenched fiercely in the reflex of emotion. +The glass was shivered, and the fragments +were multiplied as his passion still sought expression +in the violence of that clutch.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:348px"> + <a href="images/p115f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p115t.jpg" width="348" height="227" alt="p115t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">HIS HAND CLENCHED FIERCELY IN THE REFLEX OF EMOTION.</p> + +<p>Jim turned to the maid, who had watched +his unconscious splintering of the glass with +distended eyes.</p> + +<p>"When did they go?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Mary answered hurriedly, disconcerted by +the obvious distress of her master.</p> + +<p>"It was some hours ago, sir. They went +sort of unexpected-like, as it seemed to me, +sir."</p> + +<p>Jim reasoned swiftly. Somehow, he sensed +a frightful fraud underlying this mystery. +But he knew the need of haste. By some +malevolent chance, his wife had been led into +this error of understanding—out of which she +had written:</p> + +<p>"I do not want to be in your path, so am +going away."</p> + +<p>Jim turned to the girl, who was still hovering +doubtfully in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"There's been a mistake somewhere, I +guess." His voice was quiet, but in it +throbbed a heart-beat of deepest feeling. +"Tell the foreman, I want the boys to ride with +me to-night."<span class="pagenum">[114]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p>As the cavalcade passed from the driveway +into the high road, which ran east +and west, Dan McGrew spoke quickly.</p> + +<p>"We'll ride toward the town."</p> + +<p>Lou turned her horse obediently, according +to his direction.</p> + +<p>"But why?" she demanded, wonderingly. +"We might meet—him."</p> + +<p>"That's a risk we must run," was the decisive +answer. "When we are well out of +sight of the house, we'll cut around through +the fields, and get back into the road below. +So, if they come after us, they'll start the pursuit +in the wrong way."</p> + +<p>In this fashion, the matter was carried out. +Half an hour later, the three were back on +the high-road, riding in the direction opposite +to that in which they had started. They went +forward rapidly through the hot hours of the<span class="pagenum">[115]</span> +afternoon, but not too rapidly, in order that +the horses might hold out for the long journey. +Nell, from time to time, would have questioned +her mother over this strange outing. +She became a little petulant, fretful from +balked curiosity. But the mother was not +minded to explain as yet. It required all her +powers of self-control to maintain a fair degree +of composure in this time of trial. She +knew that any attempt to make plausible explanations +to the girl would overtax her +strength, and cause collapse.</p> + +<p>Night drew down on the travelers. With +its coming, the storm, which had been threatening +in the sultry air, broke furiously. +Within the minute, the three were drenched. +Dan was disturbed by the discomfort thus inflicted +on mother and child, as well as himself, +but pressed on stubbornly, since no relief was +possible. Presently, however, as he asked a +question concerning roads and distances, Lou +had an inspiration:</p> + +<p>"We can cut off eight or ten miles by not +going through Salisbury, to which this road<span class="pagenum">[116]</span> +runs. We can ford the river, and beyond it's +open range to Hoytsville. Then we'll strike +the high-road again."</p> + +<p>Dan questioned her closely, and was convinced +by her replies.</p> + +<p>"I've ridden it often with—with Jim," she +said. There was a catch in her throat at utterance +of the name. "I think it would be +quite safe, even in the dark."</p> + +<p>Dan agreed as to the advisability of her +plan. Presently, then, the three turned out of +the road, and moved toward the river, which, +Lou explained, ran through a little valley just +beyond. The rain had ceased as suddenly as +it had begun. The passing of the storm had +cleared the air. The oppressive heat of the +afternoon and evening was gone. Now, a +chill breeze was blowing. It pierced the +drenched garments of the three, so that they +shivered with cold. Lou became alarmed lest +Nell should suffer some ill consequence from +this exposure. As they descended the slope +that ran down to the river-bank, she spoke suddenly.<span class="pagenum">[117]</span></p> + +<p>"Let's stop here for a little rest," she suggested; +and her voice was so anxious that Dan +hardly dared refuse. For that matter, he had +had something of the sort in his own mind.</p> + +<p>"It's imprudent," he answered; "but, if we +must, why, we must, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"I don't think it's really imprudent," Lou +maintained. "There are trees and bushes +along the river-bank to hide us and the horses. +Anyhow, we're out of sight from the road. +Could you build a fire?"</p> + +<p>"If I can find any wood dry enough to +burn," was the rather doubtful response.</p> + +<p>They halted on the edge of a grove, which +grew close to the river. Dan led the horses +within the concealment of the trees, and tied +them as best he could with his chilled fingers. +He had difficulty in finding dry leaves and +branches for the fire, but, in the end, succeeded +in making a blaze. Soon, the three +were grouped close around the flame, grateful +for the heat, which relaxed their stiffened +muscles, and sent up steaming vapors from +their wet garments. After a little, Dan left<span class="pagenum">[118]</span> +the fire for a look at the river, which was to +be forded at this point. He could see only +very indistinctly, for scudding masses of black +cloud hid moon and stars. As nearly as he +could make out, the river was about fifty yards +in width, its surface almost flush with the bank +on which he stood. In the darkness of the +night, the vaguely seen stream appeared somehow +disquieting, as if in treacherous waiting +Dan McGrew, looking on it, felt a shiver that +was not from the cold. He turned away, with +an impatient curse for his moment of weakness. +Lou had said that the utmost depth of +water in this shallow creek would not reach +to the stirrups. Yet, despite self-contempt +over his feelings, Dan experienced a depression +of spirit for which he could in no wise account, +as he returned to the fire.</p> + +<p>It was perhaps an hour after their arrival +in the grove that the man's alert ears caught +a thudding of hoofs upon the high-road from +which they had turned aside. He listened +and made sure that the riders—for there were +several—were following the road toward Salisbury<span class="pagenum">[119]</span> +and Hoytsville, at full speed. Had +they been going in the opposite direction, they +could have been disregarded. But, under the +circumstances, their presence seemed a sure indication +that pursuit in the right direction had +been begun. To escape them, it would be +necessary to press forward with all haste, taking +advantage of Lou's plan for a shorter distance.</p> + +<p>Even while his thoughts were formulating +this decision, Dan had taken prompt measures +of precaution against discovery. He had scattered +the glowing embers with thrusts of his +feet, and had stamped upon them, until they +were completely extinguished.</p> + +<p>"We must ride instantly," he said, in an +authoritative voice to Lou, who acquiesced at +once. For she, too, had heard the galloping +through the night and had guessed its meaning.</p> + +<p>Dan hurried to unfasten and lead out the +horses. When he was come to the place +where he had tied them, he could distinguish +in the faint light only the two larger mounts.<span class="pagenum">[120]</span> +Instantly, the apprehension that had been so +formless crystallized in definite fear of a possibility, +which, in the following moment, was +proven fact. Dan cursed again over the +clumsiness of his cold-stiffened fingers, which +had caused such a mishap. More than ever, +now, he detested the presence of the child with +him and Lou, for it was likely to prove a serious +encumbrance in their further flight. He +called softly, but there came no nicker of response +from the pony. He explained to Lou +and Nell what had happened, and, at his request, +the girl called, in hope that her pet +would hear the summons and obey her voice, +if not another's. But, again, there was no response. +A search, Dan knew, would be useless, +since the escaped pony might be already +miles distant, on its way to the ranch.</p> + +<p>"I'll take Nell on behind me," Dan announced +roughly. "It's the only way."</p> + +<p>Within a minute, Lou and Dan were +mounted. Then, Dan bent over, and swung +the girl up to a seat behind him.<span class="pagenum">[121]</span></p> + +<p>"Hold on tight," he commanded.</p> + +<p>The girl obeyed passively. What with the +cold and the soaking and the loss of her pony, +and this dreadful river which they were about +to enter, and the strangeness of everything, the +child was frightened and miserable. She was +sobbing very softly, and the sound irritated +Dan McGrew.</p> + +<p>"You lead, Lou," he ordered, "since you +know the way. You can see well enough?" +he asked anxiously. "You're sure that you +know the way?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the confident reply. "But the +water is higher than I've ever seen it. Why, +it's up level with the bank, almost."</p> + +<p>"Is it safe, then?" Dan demanded.</p> + +<p>"We must risk it, anyhow," Lou returned. +"If we go by the road now, they'll be waiting +for us ahead."</p> + +<p>"If the creek's as shallow as you said, I +guess we can manage it, all right," was the +man's decision. "There must have been a +cloud-burst somewhere in the mountains<span class="pagenum">[122]</span> +where the stream rises. We got the tail end of +the storm—and that was a plenty!" he added +savagely. "Let's be off."</p> + +<p>Lou led the way as he had bidden her. She +rode a furlong down the bank of the stream, +to a point beyond the grove where she and her +husband had entered the water for the crossing. +As the horse stepped reluctantly down +the shelving bank into the current, a qualm of +dismay stirred in the woman. She could not +doubt that the rush of the water as it came +swirling about the horse's legs was much more +violent than it had been on those other occasions +when she had ridden through it. And, +too, there was something strangely dispiriting +in the combined effects of the black tide and +the ominous gloom of the night beneath a +heaven hidden by the masses of scurrying +clouds. She looked back, as her horse advanced +with laggard pace into the deepening +water. She craved the comfort of companionship +in this horrible time and place. Her +eyes could make out only a silhouette that +moved a little way behind her. She could not<span class="pagenum">[123]</span> +perceive any detail there in the darkness. But +she knew that Dan McGrew rode close at +hand, and with him, though invisible, rode her +daughter, Nell—the one thing dear left to her +in all the world. So, she went forward +bravely enough, though her mood was as black +as the blackness of the night that hung upon +her in a smothering pall of weariness.</p> + +<p>The water deepened and flowed with more +fierceness. It reached to the horse's belly. +The steed snorted in affright. Then, it lost +its footing, and sank until only its head, with +the nostrils lifted high, was clear of the water. +Lou cried out at the shock, as she found herself +immersed in the coil of waters. But, even +as she screamed, she threw herself out of the +saddle, to relieve the mare of her weight, and +swam, holding to the pommel of the saddle. +Her horse fought its way forward, breasting +the flood valiantly. At an oblique angle to +the force of the current, the woman and her +steed won slowly to the shore.... Her own +cry and the splash of her body, as she threw +herself from the saddle, had shut from the<span class="pagenum">[124]</span> +mother's ears another shriek that had broken +the silence of the night.</p> + +<p>Dan's mount, troubled by its increased burden, +was more reluctant even than Lou's had +been to advance through the lashing currents +of the swollen river. It had held back, in +spite of Dan's urging, so that it was at some +distance in the rear, when, at last, it slipped, +and scrambled wildly to regain its footing—only +to fail and plunge beneath the surface, +borne down by the weight it carried. It was +in the second before the two riders were finally +submerged that Nell voiced her terror in a +shrill cry. The noise of it rang in Dan's ears, +confusing him. But it was strangled in the +second of its birth by the enveloping waters. +As he struggled out of the saddle, holding his +breath, Dan became aware that the girl was +no longer on the horse. She was not clinging +to him. She had gone from him out into +the mystery of the black night and the hungry +river. He realized that her cry had been that +of despair, as the force of the current wrested +the child from her hold on horse and man.<span class="pagenum">[125]</span> +Dan's head came above the surface, and he +floated easily enough, supported by a hand on +the swimming horse. Even his iron nerves +were shaken by the calamity. There was no +further sound out of the stillness of the night, +save the rippling murmur of the water as the +horse swam onward. Dan was aware that he +could do nothing toward the girl's rescue. +Already, the hurrying current must have +carried her far beyond his reach. It seemed +clear enough that Nell must have lost consciousness +at once after being swept down into +the element. Otherwise, she must have cried +out again—and there had come no second cry. +Strong man as he was, Dan McGrew felt himself +helpless in the grasp of circumstance. +There was nothing that he could do to avert +or to mitigate the tragedy. He could only go +forward helplessly, leaving the unfortunate +girl to her fate. The suddenness, as well as +the dreadfulness of the catastrophe, sickened +him. Later on, he might rejoice over this +summary removal of one who must have +proved an obstacle in his path. But, just now,<span class="pagenum">[126]</span> +his emotion was of dismay—a dismay strange +to his experience. Beyond the natural horror +aroused in him by the accident, Dan +McGrew found himself almost in despair over +what must come to pass when the mother +should learn of her daughter's death. He +knew well that Nell was the one treasure that +remained in the mother's heart. The loss of +this last possession would rend her being to +its depths, and leave her utterly desolate. The +first effect from knowledge of the tragedy +would be that the mother would not go a step +further, until after the river had been +searched, and her daughter's body recovered. +Such a delay would be fatal to the plotter's +every hope.... At once, Dan McGrew forgot +his horror, his despair. He began again +his plotting—to the end that the mother should +not learn the truth too soon.</p> + +<p>When, finally, his horse gained a footing, +near the other bank of the river, Dan McGrew +had matured a plan to suffice for the +moment. Beyond that, he could not see his +way. The future lay in the lap of the gods.<span class="pagenum">[127]</span></p> + +<p>On dry land again, Dan reined in the horse, +which welcomed the respite gladly after its +battling with the river. He listened, and soon +heard Lou calling his name. From the sound +of her voice, he knew that she was at some distance +from him, further up the stream. He +sent a cheery shout in answer to her hail. +Then, he rode forward slowly and cautiously +through the darkness, which was so deep that +he could hardly see to pick a way among the +bushes and trees that lined the bank of the +creek. And Dan McGrew blessed fate for +that darkness. Lou's voice came again, near +at hand. Now, Dan could perceive the vague +outline of her form against the background +of the sky, as she sat her horse on the crest of +the little knoll that rose from the river's +brim.</p> + +<p>"We're all right," he cried, and his voice +was full of content. "But I don't think much +of your easy ford, Lou. It was a nasty crossing." +Then his voice rang sharply, imperiously: +"But we must hurry on, if we are to +gain anything for all our trouble."<span class="pagenum">[128]</span></p> + +<p>"And you're all right, then?" Lou asked. +There was a note of vast relief in her voice. +"You're all right, you—and Nell?"</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew's voice came with an emphasis +of sincerity:</p> + +<p>"We're all right, Nell and I." Again his +voice came insistently:</p> + +<p>"Ride on, Lou. We'll follow."</p> + +<p>Lou called out once again, and the music +of her voice was very tender:</p> + +<p>"It will only be for a little longer, Nell. +Mother's brave darling!"</p> + +<p>Dan's voice came roughly, to cover the lack +of any response from the child.</p> + +<p>"Hurry, Lou! Hurry! We'll follow."</p> + +<p>Wholly unsuspicious, Lou rode on her way +amid the shadows of the night. She had no +least instinct to warn her that now, at last, she +had lost everything her life had held dear. +There was still the torture that had come when +she had learned the baseness of her husband. +But she could not guess the last evil that was +upon her. So, she rode swiftly through the +night. Always, even when they came into the<span class="pagenum">[129]</span> +road at Hoytsville, Dan rode a little in the +rear. Lou looked back from time to time. +She could see the outlines of man and horse. +She could not see the form of her daughter; +the bulk of the man hid even its shadow from +her eyes. But the fact that she could not see +caused no fear in her, and she rode swiftly, as +contented as one may be when the sweetness of +life has changed to abomination.</p> + +<p>It was not till they came to the outskirts of +the little city, through which the main line of +the railroad ran, that Lou learned the truth. +It was under the lights of the streets that she +turned, and looked, and saw Dan McGrew +close behind her—and saw that there was none +clinging at his back. She stared disbelievingly. +Then, a ghastly fear leaped within +her.</p> + +<p>"Nell!" she cried.</p> + +<p>Her voice was strained and shrill, broken +with dread. "Nell!" she repeated, in a tone +muffled by terror. "Where is she?" She +turned her horse sharply and reined it to Dan +McGrew's side. Motionless, the two regarded<span class="pagenum">[130]</span> +each other through seconds that were +as ages.</p> + +<p>Finally, Dan McGrew spoke:</p> + +<p>"She was torn away when we were swept +under," he said; and his voice was very compassionate. +"I did what I could. There was +no way to save her. She only cried out once. +She must have gone down immediately."</p> + +<p>Lou sat rigid, gazing with eyes that widened +and burned in flames under which the man before +her cringed. And then, of a sudden, the +fires of her gaze were quenched. It was as if +a black flood rolled over her as well, and extinguished +the very last sparks of her spirit. +The lids slowly fluttered down to closing. +Under the blue white of the arc-light, her +face was that of a dead woman. The last +blow of fate in that frightful day had overwhelmed +her. She tottered in her saddle. +Dan McGrew, watching fearfully this thing +that had come to pass through his machinations, +leaped, and stood, and caught the fainting +woman as she fell.</p> + +<p>He remained motionless there for a full<span class="pagenum">[131]</span> +minute, with the lifeless body in his arms. +For once, he found himself perplexed, incompetent. +But, abruptly, his thoughts cleared. +Something of his usual self-confidence, so +greatly shaken this night, came back to him. +He smiled with a cruel, utterly selfish satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"It's the best way out," he muttered to himself. +"I'll get her into some quiet place. +She'll need a lot of nursing before she gets +over all this. I'm sorry for Lou, but it had +to be; and it's all for the best."</p> + +<p>With that monstrous declaration concerning +the evil that he had wrought, Dan +McGrew strode forward toward the nearest +house, carrying the unconscious woman in his +arms.<span class="pagenum">[132]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p>Jim and his men rode throughout the +night in vain. Nowhere could they +come on any trace of the fugitives. There +was as yet no telephone installed in this newly +settled region. But their search was thorough. +There were inquiries at the railway +stations in the various towns round about. At +none of these had ought been seen of Dan +McGrew and woman and child. Jim found +himself baffled in his quest. He could not +guess that the wife who had thus deserted him +was lying in a stupor, from which she aroused +only to rave over a lost husband and a dead +child. He could not know that she had +broken under the stress of sorrow, and was +being ministered unto by a kindly woman to +whom Dan McGrew had told many lies, in +order to enlist her sympathetic aid. Even had +his inquiries reached the very house in which<span class="pagenum">[133]</span> +Lou was sheltered, he would still have been +deceived. For he sought a mother and her +child: and here was no child.</p> + +<p>So, the hunt availed nothing. The three +who fled had vanished utterly. There came +not even a rumor as to their whereabouts. +They were gone as completely as if the earth +had opened and swallowed them up.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Jim was not slow in learning +something of the truth. He was told of Dan's +visit at the ranch that fatal day, and of his +wife's accompanying this visitor to the town. +Those there were who had seen the two as +they dismounted at Murphy's saloon, and +looked in through the window. Jim, remembering +his own experiences of that day in the +back room of the saloon, was aroused to suspicion +of the fact. He got from the bar-keeper +details as to what had occurred. The +fellow's reference, jestingly made, to the manner +in which Jim and the woman, Jess, had +embraced, gave him a sudden illumination +concerning the plot of Dan McGrew by which +his wife had been beguiled.<span class="pagenum">[134]</span></p> + +<p>Straightway, Jim hunted out Fingie Whalen's +woman. She would have denied, but, in +the face of the injured husband's rage, she was +fairly terrified into confession. In the end, +the woman wrote at Jim's dictation, even as +she had written at the dictation of Dan +McGrew. But, now, she wrote without any +smirk of vicious satisfaction—with a face pallid +and with fingers that trembled from fear +of the fierce-visaged man who stood over her +in stern and menacing domination. Fingie +Whalen, all his bluster gone, looked on in +timid consternation, cringing from the baleful +threat in the eyes of the man mortally +wronged.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:347px"> + <a href="images/p140f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p140t.jpg" width="347" height="222" alt="p140t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">SHE WOULD HAVE DENIED, BUT WAS FAIRLY TERRIFIED INTO CONFESSION.</p> + +<p>The painted woman was so moved by the +anger of the man whom she had helped betray, +that, for the first time in more years than she +would have cared to tell, she revealed the name +with which, back in a quiet New England village, +she had been christened by simple, God-fearing +parents.</p> + +<p>This was the note of confession, which the<span class="pagenum">[135]</span> +woman wrote at Jim's command, duly dated, +and witnessed by Fingie Whalen and the landlady +of the house, who was summoned for the +purpose. Jim realized that these formalities +were extravagant, but, somehow, they seemed +necessary to him just then, to put this evidence +of the crime against his home and happiness +beyond cavil of doubt.</p> + +<blockquote><p>I, Anne Weston, confess to tricking Jim +Maxwell and deceiving his wife at the instigation +of Dan McGrew. McGrew hired +Fingie Whalen and me to help him fool Mrs. +Maxwell. I wrote the note signed "Jess." +At the time when Mr. Maxwell was due to arrive +in town, I was all ready, and as he came +by fell from my horse as if I had fainted. He +carried me into the saloon, and then Fingie +gave him knock-out drops, and we fixed it up +so that when McGrew came with Mrs. Maxwell +and looked in at the window, it was as +if we were loving together. But it was all a +lie, worked out by Dan McGrew to make +Mrs. Maxwell believe her husband was false +to her.</p> + +<p class="signature"><span class="smcap">Anne Weston.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[136]</span></p> + +<p>Jim carried that paper in his pocket. It +was the document with which he would prove +to Lou how she had been deluded. But the +days passed, and there came no opportunity to +show her the sheet of paper on which Anne +Weston had scrawled her confession. He +used every means at his command, but he was +powerless to gain any trace of the woman +whom he had loved and lost through despicable +treachery.</p> + +<p>It was on the fourth day after Lou had fled +her home, that Jim Maxwell seated himself +at the piano in the living-room. Hitherto, he +had been so occupied in the vain effort to find +his wife that he had been, in some measure, +unappreciative of the misery that was upon +him. Now, when he had exhausted every resource +of activity, he suddenly felt the desolation +of his home—the ruin of his life. With +his instinct toward the musical expression of +moods, he took his place before the instrument.</p> + +<p>Then, again, that glorious love-lyric came +softly sonorous from the keys. The lilt of the +melody rose and fell with a subtle vigor, instinct +with the joy of life. The delicate tenderness +of the music throbbed the story of a +love complete and enduring. There was passion +in the rhythm. It was a passion ennobled +and purified by the intricate harmonies woven +around and within it. It was a song of the +spirit. It was overlaid with a splendor of +sensuous sound. There was nothing gross—only +the fullness of life.... Jim was playing +with exquisite art that song of happiness which +he had improvised on the day he received the +news of Dan McGrew's coming.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[137]</span></p> + +<p>Now, after he had followed the melody to +its end, the truth, which during the moments +of his playing he had forgotten, crashed upon +him in a discord so horrible that he could not +touch the keys to voice it—could only sit, +moveless, listening to the din within his own +soul in an ecstasy of despair.</p> + +<p>Often, again, in the years to come, Jim Maxwell +played that same melody. Always, he +was searching for the wife whom he had loved +and lost. Men whose eyes were sharp noted<span class="pagenum">[138]</span> +him here and there around the world, because +he seemed so uninterested in everything, and +because so often his left hand touched his +breast.... In the pocket there, he carried, +ready for Lou's reading, the confession signed +by Anne Weston—the woman Jess.</p> + +<p>And, in the years as they passed, Jim Maxwell +gained something of reputation for another +thing. He traveled the world over; he +had money enough. His foreman was competent. +Even without his personal attendance, +the revenues from the ranch increased +year by year. He lived for only two things: +to find Lou and prove to her his innocence—and +to kill the man who had betrayed them. +In his search, Jim Maxwell went everywhere. +He was known in the capitals of Europe; he +was known in the wild places of the earth. +Men spoke of him, though they had little +acquaintance with him. The reason they +spoke of him was because on occasion—it +might be in the parlor of some sailor's lodging-house +in Vladivostok, or it might be in a +drawing-room of the Savoy, this man would<span class="pagenum">[139]</span> +seat himself at the piano, and he would play. +And, always, he played the self-same melody, +a lilting air of love and tenderness, filled full +of the joy of life. Always, too, the melody +was embroidered over with an intricate web +of harmonies, magnificent, yet somber. And, +in the end, always, the player beat suddenly +upon the keys a frenzy of discord.<span class="pagenum">[140]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p>"Then you're quite sure, Jack? You +don't mind my being a—nobody?" +The girl's tone was half-playful, half-sad. +There was a note of wistfulness in the musical +cadences of her voice.</p> + +<p>The young man whom she had addressed +answered with an emphasis that left no doubt +as to his sincerity. His clear gray eyes were +alight with love, as he looked into the dark, +gypsy-like face of the girl at his side.</p> + +<p>"Why, Nell, you're just everybody. +You're everything worth while in this little +old world of ours."</p> + +<p>"You do say the sweetest things, Jack!" +The shadowy eyes that met tenderly the warm +gaze of the lover were lighted with fond appreciation. +Then, of a sudden, the red lips +trembled into a mischievous smile, as she +added: "I guess I wouldn't give a snap for<span class="pagenum">[141]</span> +a sweetheart who was tongue-tied when he +talked about my charms."</p> + +<p>The two were seated in the main room of +a small, roughly-built Alaskan cabin, which +stood on the outskirts of a ramshackle village, +created almost in a day by the gold lure's +magic. The lovers had been left alone together +on the eve of their wedding-day by the +kindness of the girl's foster parents, Mr. and +Mrs. Ross. It was of these, who, in the tiny +back room, were recalling the distant days of +their own courtship, that Nell now spoke.</p> + +<p>"They have been so good to me!" she said +musingly. "I've told you that they were not +really and truly my parents. I didn't tell you +just how I came to be with them, because it +was such a dreadful time to me. Even after +all these years, I hate thinking of it."</p> + +<p>"Don't!" Jack Reeves urged. "What's past +is past, and there's no earthly reason for you +to worry yourself over it by telling me."</p> + +<p>The girl shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I want to tell you, dear," she said simply. +Then she fell silent for a little. The lover,<span class="pagenum">[142]</span> +watching the warm olive contour of the cheek +against which the long black lashes swept as +her eyes closed in meditation, rejoiced yet +once again in the beauty and the daintiness of +this maiden whom he had found and won for +himself here amid the rigors of the Northland. +He noted the slight drooping of the +tenderly curving lips, and longed to kiss away +their sadness. Presently Nell went on speaking, +rather rapidly, as if anxious to be done +with an unpleasant task, and in a tone that told +of restrained emotion:</p> + +<p>"It was twelve years ago that Papa and +Mamma Ross found me. You know Papa +Ross is a born pioneer, and Mamma has grown +to be just like him. For years they have been +moving with the frontiers. That time they +were camping by a river down below. There +had been a heavy storm, and the river ran high. +They heard a cry from somewhere out in the +night on the water. They ran to the bank +and looked. But it was dark, and they +couldn't see anything or hear another sound.<span class="pagenum">[143]</span> +Rover was with them—a splendid big Newfoundland." +The girl's voice softened. +"Rover died two years ago, just before we +came up here. I loved him so!"</p> + +<p>"I think I can guess," Jack ventured, as the +girl paused. "It was Rover who saved you—for, +of course, it was you out there in the +river."</p> + +<p>The girl nodded somberly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," came her answer, very gently uttered; +"I was out there in the river, drowning. +The current swept me along with it. There +was a point of the shore just below where +Papa Ross had camped. I was carried into +the eddies there. Somehow, Rover caught a +glimpse of my face, or, maybe, just his instinct +guided him. Anyhow, as Papa Ross has told +me, Rover sprang into the river, and, when +Papa Ross had followed around the inlet toward +the point, he found the dog trying to +drag me out of the water, up on the bank. +Papa Ross carried me to the camp, and there +he and Mamma worked over me for a long<span class="pagenum">[144]</span> +time. It was a close call, Papa Ross says, but +finally they got me to breathing again.... +And that's about all."</p> + +<p>"And so," Jack questioned in some surprise, +"you don't know any more than that?—where +you came from, or anything?"</p> + +<p>Once again Nell shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No, nothing more than that. Papa Ross +always thought that I must have struck my +head somehow, there in the water. Anyhow, +I was confused when I came to. I couldn't +seem to remember anything exactly—except +my name, Nell. Sometimes I have shadowy +memories, but they melt away before I can +get anything definite. So, you see, I'm just a +nobody, Jack, as I told you—just a mystery +that came out of the night and the river."</p> + +<p>"Everybody to me," the lover declared +again; "everything to me." And now, at last, +he took the lithe, slender form of the girl into +his arms, and kissed the sorrowfully drooping +lips to smiles again.</p> + +<p>But, after a little, when there came a lull in +the caresses and murmured endearments, Jack<span class="pagenum">[145]</span> +Reeves spoke a question that was puzzling +him:</p> + +<p>"But I should think it would have been +easy enough to trace you? If inquiries had +been made, surely you might have learned +where you came from, and who you were, and +all that?"</p> + +<p>But, once again, Nell shook her head, and +this time very emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Papa Ross did what he could, but it came +to nothing. When we got to a town, he tried +to find out about any girl's being lost like that. +Nobody knew of any such case. There was +no report of any child's having been drowned. +He did what he could—I'm sure of that. +Anyhow, as long as you don't care, Jack, I +don't suppose I need to. But, somehow—" Nell's +voice broke, and she sat silent, absorbed +in melancholy reverie. Always, this mystery +was a painful thing to her. Even now, when +her happiness was full, on the eve of her marriage +to the man she loved, she was grieved +by the fact that she must come to her husband +as a waif, a creature whose origin was unknown,<span class="pagenum">[146]</span> +a nameless bit of flotsam, dragged +from the river by a dog. Then, in another +moment, the depression of her mood was forgotten +as she drew away from Jack's embrace, +for she heard Papa Ross stamping heavily +about the back room of the cabin—in kindly +warning that he was about to intrude upon +the lovers.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The next morning broke clear, and when at +last the slowly clambering sun rose to traverse +its short circle between the horizons, its slanting +beams seemed full of warmth and good +cheer, though the mercury stood at twenty degrees +below zero. There was not a breath of +wind, and the chill air, pure with a purity +unknown to lower latitudes, was like the wine +of life. The breath of it in the lungs set the +blood a-tingle with joyousness. And the +purity of the air had for its background +the visible purity of the snow-mantle that lay +over everything. Beneath the sun, the white +expanse shimmered in prismatic brilliance. +Afar, the mountains loomed in purple masses—the<span class="pagenum">[147]</span> +green of conifers seen through the vista +of many miles.</p> + +<p>And the day, in its spirit of vigorous life +and wholesome gayety, was suited to the mood +of the tiny temporary town, which sprawled +here in the wilderness. For the place was en +fête. The hardy men who had thus ventured +into the wilds of the North welcomed the diversion +of this romance among them, which +was to culminate to-day in the wedding of +Jack Reeves and Nell Ross at the Dyea Hotel. +Public sentiment had insisted that the nuptials +should be celebrated at the hotel. The hotel, +truth to tell, was neither commodious nor imposing. +But it was a boarded structure, the +only one in the village, and it was by far the +largest, small though it was. And the citizens +were determined that they should be +permitted to assemble in force on this auspicious +day, when the glamour of love was to +soften in some degree the austerity of the +arctic land. So, betimes, the men of the community +gathered at the hotel to await the marriage +ceremony. A scant half-dozen women,<span class="pagenum">[148]</span> +courageous followers of the men they loved, +were there as well. Some had been at pains +to bring heaps of evergreen boughs, and with +these the main room of the hotel—at once +lobby, bar and office—was decorated. Caribou +Bill brought a great bank of moss, for +which he had dug through six feet of snow. +To it was attached a piece of flaming-red +paper, in which tea had originally been +packed, and this paper had been laboriously +cut by Caribou Bill into the shape of two +hearts, lovingly joined as one. The symbol +of wedded happiness was established by its +smirking inventor on the central shelf above +the bar, where it commanded the enthusiastic +admiration of the populace.</p> + +<p>It was noon to the second when Nell Ross +and Jack Reeves stood in the center of the +main room of the hotel before the one who +was to make them man and wife. He, too, +was at heart a pioneer, and he was, as well, +an earnest worker for the saving of souls. +His own preference, with a roving commission, +had brought him to this remote place.<span class="pagenum">[149]</span> +He found a singular pleasure in the fact that +his ministrations were required for the uniting +of this winsome maiden and this virile, clean +young man. It was as if the ceremony typified +in some fashion the purity and vigor of +life here within the frozen North.... It +was noon to the second! The time-keeper +was Harry, the Dog-Man, who carried a +Waterbury watch, on the accuracy of which +he would cheerfully have staked his hopes of +eternal happiness. Because of the exactness +of his time-piece, which none cared to deny, +he had usurped the office of master of ceremonies. +When he saw the two hands of the +watch blent as one upon the hour of twelve, he +raised his arm, and Nell and Jack moved forward +within the little lane walled by the +crowd, to stand before the clergyman, who +regarded them with a benevolent smile, in +which, unknown to himself, was something almost +of envy in the presence of their youth +and happiness and love.</p> + +<p>So, the minister spoke the words that made +this pair husband and wife.<span class="pagenum">[150]</span></p> + +<p>There was a noise of snapping dogs outside. +A man came into the hotel, stamping the snow +from the high-buckled overshoes worn over +his boots of felt. Behind him came a woman +muffled in furs. She looked on the scene with +a certain feminine interest, for she realized at +once that a wedding was in progress; but +without any personal concern. Indeed, she +was rather displeased, being weary from a +long journey over the snows, because she saw +that she must wait for attention until the ceremony +should be concluded. The man with +her shook the hood of the parka from his +head, and stood regarding with cynical amusement +the two who had clasped hands before +the clergyman. So he waited while the +words were uttered that made the pair one. +The ceremony ended, the husband kissed the +bride; the minister in turn bent and touched +his lips to hers, with a curious stirring of half-forgotten +emotions.</p> + +<p>Then the crowd surged forward, eager for +its prerogative of a kiss. And, as she turned,<span class="pagenum">[151]</span> +Nell saw the man who had just entered, standing +there with that smile of cynical amusement +upon his handsome face. The eyes of +the two met and battled. There came to her +a strange feeling of dread. In this, the supreme +moment of her life, wherein all had +been happiness, there stirred a feeling of +doubt, of evil anticipation.</p> + +<p>The man, staring into the face of this beautiful +girl upon whose nuptials he had stumbled +by chance, experienced a thrill of emotion +which he could not understand. Some secret +monition moved him to an alarm. He felt an +unreasonable disturbance in the presence of +this girl.... Dan McGrew had no suspicion +that he had blundered thus on the child +who, years before, had been swept away from +him in the darkness of the river's flood-tide.... +Nor did the woman, who stood behind +him so wearily, waiting for the end of this +tiresome ceremony, guess that the gentle girl, +blushing there under the storm of kisses +claimed by the crowd, was, in fact, the daughter<span class="pagenum">[152]</span> +for whose death she had mourned through +so many years.... Nell did not see the +woman at all.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:344px"> + <a href="images/p141f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p141t.jpg" width="344" height="222" alt="p141t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">"THEY'VE STRUCK IT RICH ON FORGOTTEN CREEK!"</p> + +<p>Of a sudden there came an interruption:</p> + +<p>A man leaped through the doorway. He +waved his hands and staggered as one +drunken. His voice rose in a raucous shriek:</p> + +<p>"They've struck it rich on Forgotten +Creek!"</p> + +<p>There was a moment of intense stillness. +These men had fled from civilization in pursuit +of the will-o'-the-wisp of gold. Now +sounded the clarion call:</p> + +<p>"They've struck it rich on Forgotten +Creek!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:354px"> + <a href="images/p166f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p166t.jpg" width="354" height="228" alt="p166t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THESE MEN HAD FLED FROM CIVILIZATION IN PURSUIT OF THE WILL-'O-THE WISP OF GOLD.</p> + +<p>For long seconds the stillness endured. +Then, abruptly, there came a huge cachinnation. +It was the mellow, roaring laughter of +Bert Black, the only negro in this Aladdin +village so close up under the Pole. The company +looked at the man expectantly, and he +answered the interrogation in their eyes:<span class="pagenum">[153]</span></p> + +<p>"We-all is just shohly goin' to have a stampede!"</p> + +<p>Then, again, the silence held for a little, +while each and every man of them saw the +vision of the straggled crowd trailing the +waste places, lured on by the will-o'-the-wisp +of gold.<span class="pagenum">[154]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p>The Fates, in weaving the intricate web +of human lives, smile grimly oftentimes +over the curious intermingling of the threads. +Often, too, the incomplete design might well +move them to a cruel mirth, but that they see +beyond the seeming tangle of events to the +perfecting of their pattern at the last. So, +perhaps, they are content of their task, though +we mortals, with short-sighted eyes, seeing +dimly, look on the happenings of our lives as +the blessed or the baneful work of chance. +Thus, now, the Fates had brought here, beneath +the flickering of the Northern Lights, all +the actors in the drama of the years agone, +when the happiness of a home had been shattered +by a villain's ruthless passion. Their +presence within a short radius of miles had +every appearance of purest chance. Nevertheless,<span class="pagenum">[155]</span> +the Fates had brought them within +reach of one another, that thus the seeming +snarl in the threads of these lives might be +shown as in fact untangled and woven into a +design just and harmonious and beautiful.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew moved sociably among the +men of the village, as they celebrated the wedding +with many jovial libations. He was +hail-fellow-well-met with each and all, for it +had come to be a matter of professional necessity +with him to attain a fair measure of +popularity whithersoever he went. He had +deteriorated much with the passage of the +years. He had sunk to be a common gambler, +and on occasion had not scrupled at worse +methods in pursuit of ill-gotten gains. To-day +his keen eyes were speedily drawn to one +of the men, who was especially lavish in hospitality.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" Dan asked of the bar-tender. +"Seems flush, all right."</p> + +<p>"That's Sam Ward," was the answer. +"He's got a hole somewhere up in the hills, +which nobody don't know nothin' about—'cept<span class="pagenum">[156]</span> +it's cussed rich. Sam blows a pokeful +o' dust ev'ry time he hits town."</p> + +<p>Dan eyed the fortunate prospector greedily, +and his predatory instinct brought him to a +quick decision. He went to Lou, who was +sitting, drearily enough, alone at a table in a +corner of the room. He spoke to her softly, +that none might overhear, though of this there +was little danger amid the noise of rollicking +gayety.</p> + +<p>"There's a chap here I mean to chum up +with a bit," Dangerous Dan explained. "I'll +introduce him, and you must be nice enough +to him to make him talk."</p> + +<p>The woman nodded assent. For it had +come to such a pass. Often, she had stooped +to play decoy for the man in his schemes +against his fellows.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew had persistently lied to this +woman. By his arts he had ruined her life. +But Lou had still no inkling of the truth. +One great fact was impressed upon her as time +passed: This man loved her—and he was +loyal to her. Since she had lost everything<span class="pagenum">[157]</span> +dear, it seemed her duty to give the worthless +remnant of her life to the one who thus +esteemed it something precious.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>When Lou returned to consciousness, after +the fever and delirium that seized her the +dreadful night of the flight from home, her +first question was concerning the drowned +child.</p> + +<p>The man at the bedside met her imploring +gaze steadfastly, and spoke his falsehoods so +convincingly that she had never a doubt. +The river had been searched with every care, +he declared. The body had not been found. +The bereaved mother had been denied the last +pitiful solace of grief—a place of burial +wherein to mourn over the lost.</p> + +<p>After the final deprivation, Lou was apathetic. +The light had gone out of her life. +She was numb with misery. Her most distinct +emotion was a sort of passive gratitude +toward the man who had so frightfully +wronged her. It was in obedience to the +promptings of this feeling that Lou meekly<span class="pagenum">[158]</span> +accepted his every suggestion. She did so +with the more readiness because these suggestions +were so skillfully contrived as to seem +the epitome of unselfishness.</p> + +<p>Thus, for example, there was the matter of +divorce. Dan learned that the kindly woman +into whose house he had brought Lou suffered +from nostalgia. She had come out into the +West with an eager, improvident husband, +who had died and left her with this tiny home, +on which the mortgage of a few hundreds +rested as a burden beyond her strength to remove. +She was sick with longing to go back +among the home-folk. Dan's sympathetic +voice and candid, honest eyes won confidence +from the lonely old woman. And, too, she +quickly grew fond of the invalid in her house. +Therefore, she had no hesitation in acceding +to the proposal made to her by Dan McGrew: +that she should travel to the East with Lou, as +nurse and companion. The money offered to +her by Dan McGrew for these services was +enough to ease her declining years. Moreover, +there was the added inducement that, in<span class="pagenum">[159]</span> +this manner, she would be able to return to the +place for which she longed.</p> + +<p>Lou made no objection to the arrangement. +She liked the old woman, and the instinct of +flight was still upon her.... She was only +grateful to the man who was at such pains in +her behalf.</p> + +<p>In due time, the three were duly established +in the East. Dangerous Dan, in the course of +his daily visits to Lou from a lodging he had +taken close at hand, guided her thoughts so +craftily that, with no suspicion of having been +influenced, the heart-broken woman decided +that she should get a divorce. Dan had +chosen a location in a State where desertion +was a sufficient cause. Lou brought suit, and +the issue was expedited in the courts. She believed +that thus she gave to her husband an +opportunity to marry the woman with whom +he had become infatuated, and thus, too, an +opportunity to restore in some degree his self-respect.... She +could not guess that, owing +to the treachery of the man on whose advice +she relied, her husband had no knowledge<span class="pagenum">[160]</span> +whatsoever of these proceedings. The newspapers, +with their formal advertisements to +the defendant in the action instituted in the +courts, were never posted to the address of +the ranch-owner.... Dan McGrew saw to +that.</p> + +<p>Eventually, there came a decree <i>nisi</i>. In +due time, the divorce was made absolute. +Throughout this interval of delay, the man +demonstrated the firmness of his purpose by +the patience with which he waited for the attainment +of his ends.</p> + +<p>It was not until a year after her flight from +home that Lou became the wife of Dangerous +Dan McGrew.... Why should she not give +herself to him who had so befriended her?</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The late dawn of the morning after the +wedding came on clear, with a soft wind +blowing from the south. Under its gentleness, +the sun was able to thaw the surface of +the snow. Then the wind swung to the north. +Within an hour, the crust on the snow, as the +Arctic air blew over it, was strong enough +to support a horse. And Dan McGrew and +many another took advantage of the fact. +There were a few meagerly fed horses in the +town, remnants from the discontinued Lodestar +Mine, which had failed to pay a profit, +after elaborate installation of equipment. +They knew that at the first change of the +weather their mounts would become worse +than useless. In the meantime, however, +there was a luxury in this form of travel that +appealed. And there were hangers-on in the +town, too poor for a grub-stake, who for a +pittance would run on foot with the train, and +afterward take back the horses to the village, +when a softer snow should make them a hindrance +rather than a help.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[161]</span></p> + +<p>Nell used the voice of wifely authority:</p> + +<p>"Why, the idea! Of course I shall go +too!" She was all eagerness. For years she +had lived with those who were informed with +the spirit of the frontiers. Her husband, thus +far in his battling with the Northland, had +been successful. He had found claims of +value. Some of them he had sold; some of<span class="pagenum">[162]</span> +them he had worked. From most of them he +had won a deserved profit. So, when the +news of the strike on Forgotten Creek came—even +though it was his wedding-day—Jack +Reeves was all agog with anxiety to be off to +this region whither fortune beckoned.... And +Nell would not be left behind. She +would follow her husband where fate led. +She would not be denied.</p> + +<p>Thus it came about that the bridal pair +were among the crowd that surged in the village +street before the Dyea Hotel on the +morning after their wedding. Jack had a +team of dogs, the best within hundreds of +miles. They were strong enough to make +play of hauling the long sled, laden with provisions, +on which Nell was seated with ease, +well-wrapped in furs, and sheltered beneath +a drapery of white—the skin of a polar bear, +which Jack had brought back with him as +a trophy of experiences beneath the Arctic +night.</p> + +<p>There were in the throng men who had no<span class="pagenum">[163]</span> +dogs. They carried on their backs the small +allowance of bacon, beans, flour, tea, coffee, +sugar, tobacco. The adventurers were of all +sorts. Some went well supplied. Others +joined in the stampede recklessly. They might +starve, or freeze, out there in the mountains. +But they were caught and drawn on by the +lust for riches. Somewhere out there in the +cold and the distance gold was lying. In the +sands of the creeks, in the ledges of the mountains, +were the golden flakes, the riches for +which each and every one craved....</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> + <a href="images/p167f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p167t.jpg" width="357" height="230" alt="p167t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE ADVENTURERS WERE OF ALL SORTS. THEY WERE DRAWN ON BY THE LUST FOR RICHES.</p> + +<p>The huskies yelped and snarled in fierce +rivalry. Harry, the Dog-Man, snapped his +whip with a vicious crack like the report of a +gun. The dogs strained against the breast-straps +in their fierce lunge forward. Along +the line was everywhere impetuous, eager +movement. The stampede had begun.</p> + +<p>Dangerous Dan McGrew, who rode beside +his wife, spoke to her softly, so that his question +would not be overheard by Sam Ward, +who rode on her other side:<span class="pagenum">[164]</span></p> + +<p>"What does he say?"</p> + +<p>Lou answered in a whisper:</p> + +<p>"He'll leave to-night, when the camp's +quiet, for his own claim."<span class="pagenum">[165]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p>From a nook on the mountainside, a lone +man watched scornfully the long, thin +line of the stampede.</p> + +<p>Those same threads spun by the Fates had +caught another in their mesh. In a lonely +hut, there in the desolate Northland, Jim +Maxwell had his home. His presence was +needful for the weaving of that design by +which right should be realized in the final +presentation of life's tapestry. He had traveled +thus far beyond the confines of civilization +under the urge of that immutable +purpose which drove him in all his wanderings +throughout the years—to find the man he +hated, and the woman he loved. He had +sought vainly over all the world in the usual +haunts of men—in many that were unusual. +Never, anywhere, had he found a trace. He +had come into this forbidding land, not for<span class="pagenum">[166]</span> +the lure of gold, as the others had come; but +for the lure of vengeance against the man who +had despoiled him, and for the lure of love +toward the woman who had his heart in her +keeping.</p> + +<p>Then, somehow, Jim Maxwell, when he +found himself isolated there in a cabin amid +the loneliness of this land, almost forgot vengeance, +almost forgot love, in the immensity +of the peace that brooded over the snow-clad +wastes. In the hut he had built with his own +hands, from spruce timbers, he was snugly +sheltered against the austerities of the clime. +He had fuel enough, of his gathering along +the wooded slopes of the foot-hills. In the +maw of the sheet-iron stove, which he had +packed, the resinous branches were transmuted +into dancing flames, redolent of +warmth and cheer in the tiny room of the +hut, though outside the blasts from the Pole +were cold as the ice from which they +came.</p> + +<p>The day of his daughter's wedding—though +he had no least suspicion that wife, or<span class="pagenum">[167]</span> +child, or enemy was within thousands of miles—Jim +made a round of his traps. In making +the circuit, he was absorbed, without thought, +for the time being, of the life that had +been, without thought of vengeance, without +thought of love. It was only after he had returned +at nightfall to the hut, and had fried +his mess of bacon on top of the red-hot stove, +and had boiled his coffee hard, as one must +in the North, where there is need of all the +energy from food, that Jim sat down on his +bunk of spruce boughs, ready for sleep—yet, +for a moment, wakeful.</p> + +<p>Then there sounded softly on his ears that +old, old lyric of love. It was the song that +had been played out of the feeling of his heart +for his wife, in the years long gone. It was +that improvisation with which he had told +Lou his passion on the day when he had heard +that Dan McGrew was coming to visit them. +Now, Jim had no means of audible expression. +Nevertheless, the song welled in him. It +thrilled in every atom of his being. It was +that same wonderful, joyous, lilting melody,<span class="pagenum">[168]</span> +full of life at its best. The tenderness of love +rang in its cadences. Jim's fingers tensed—they +were hungry to seize the chords, rapacious +to pounce on the notes that voiced this +heart-song of a lost happiness.</p> + +<p>Jim aroused from the trance of memory. +He looked to the fire, and rolled into the bunk.... He +had heard, that day, in a native +iglook, of a find of gold on Forgotten Creek. +He recalled the fact drowsily as sleep fell on +him.</p> + +<p>"I'll take a look across the valley in the +morning," he thought. "There's sure to be a +stampede."</p> + +<p>So it came about on the day following the +marriage of Nell Ross and Jack Reeves that +there was a watcher who looked out over the +valley through which the long line of dogs +and men hurried toward the possible riches of +Forgotten Creek.</p> + +<p>Jim seated himself on the trunk of a fallen +spruce, high on the mountainside. From this +point, he overlooked the whole length of the +valley. He saw at last the animate line darting +out of the distance, and watched as it became +definite, with a smile of cynical amusement.... +These were the hunters of gold. +And gold—Bah! There were only two +things in the world: love and vengeance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[169]</span></p> + +<p>From his seat on the fallen spruce, Jim +Maxwell stared out over the valley. For +hours he sat there. He saw the breaking up +of the company, as its members scattered in +various directions, now that they were come +into the region of possible wealth. At the +last, the valley showed clear of the human +invaders.... And, just then, Jim Maxwell +heard a sound, which already he had learned +to know, there in the Northland. It was a +gentle sound, but with a sibilance that held a +threat of danger—like the hiss of a gigantic +serpent.</p> + +<p>As he heard, Jim instinctively let out a +great shout of fear in the presence of this +peril so close upon him. In the same moment, +without pausing to look up, he dropped +from the log on which he had been sitting, +and crowded as closely under it as he could,<span class="pagenum">[170]</span> +to make it serve as a bulwark—though, indeed, +he well knew the futility of such a protection +against the avalanche that was now +crashing down the slope. Crouched there beneath +the log, Jim awaited the issue with an +unuttered prayer for escape in his heart—if +escape should be possible.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:346px"> + <a href="images/p176f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p176t.jpg" width="346" height="226" alt="p176t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">CROUCHED THERE BENEATH THE LOG, JIM AWAITED THE ISSUE.</p> + +<p>In another instant the din of the snow-slide +burst on his ears in its full fury. And, along +with that thunderous noise, the daylight was +blotted out. In the darkness, the man felt the +soft, yet inexorable weight of the massed snow +crushing upon him, holding him as in a vise. +There was a tiny free space still beneath the +log, and as yet he had no lack of air. But +he was powerless to stir. He realized that +there was no possibility of digging his way +out through the heaped bulk of snow within +which he lay entombed. He could find no +room for hope. He resigned himself to meet +the end with what fortitude he might. A +wave of wrath swept through him that he +must die thus futilely, with his vengeance unaccomplished. +The emotion passed presently,<span class="pagenum">[171]</span> +and in its stead came a vast and poignant +yearning for the woman he loved. By a +fierce effort of will, he fought down such desires, +which he deemed weakness at this time, +and strove to look Death in the face calmly, +with resignation and without fear.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Jack Reeves and his bride, despite the excellence +of the young prospector's dog-team, +lagged behind the others in the long line of +the stampede, for the young husband had his +own ideas concerning a location likely to yield +the best results, and meant to let the crowd +precede him, in order that he might pursue +his course unmarked. So it came about that, +after the straggling procession of gold-hunters +had passed from the sight of Jim Maxwell, +the newly married pair entered the valley, +riding at ease behind the leisurely moving +dogs. Jim Maxwell, from his position on the +mountainside, held his gaze turned toward +where the last of the stampeders had vanished, +and so failed to observe the newcomers. +Thus, when the avalanche swept down upon<span class="pagenum">[172]</span> +him, he had no thought that his wild, instinctive +cry for succor could be heard.</p> + +<p>But it was. A quarter of a mile away, +Jack Reeves heard the despairful shout; and +Nell, too, heard it. Jack's quick gaze, darting +in the direction of the sound, caught a +glimpse of moving shadow against the white +surface of the slope, as Jim dropped from the +log to take shelter beneath it. At the same +time, there came to Jack's ears the first noise +of the avalanche's descent, and he understood +fully how great was the peril of the unknown, +whose cry for help he had heard. He called +to his dogs savagely, and sent them forward +toward the slope at speed. Before he had +time to explain to the startled Nell, the rush +and roar of the snow-slide made clear the situation +to her, familiar as she was with this peril +of the mountains. Yet, ere the hurtling +masses of snow buried the spot where he had +seen the moving shadow, Jack marked its location +precisely by means of an outcropping +ledge, just to the right of the tree-trunk. As +he went forward swiftly, he noted with relief<span class="pagenum">[173]</span> +that the slide, which soon ceased, was a +comparatively small one, though of a size sufficient +to prove fatal to its victim, unless aided +from without.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the slope, some distance to the +right of the freshly heaped-up snow, the sled +was halted. Jack and Nell put on their snow-shoes, +and, with a couple of spades from the +pack, made their way with some difficulty to +the jutting point of the ledge, which still protruded +a little beyond the new covering of +snow. A few feet to the left of this, they began +to dig, working with feverish haste. +They progressed rapidly, for the prospector +was in the full prime of his manhood, with +muscles like steel, and the girl, if less strong, +was in equally perfect condition, and with +training enough in the arduous life of the +frontier to make the toil simple to her.</p> + +<p>They had dug down perhaps a score of feet, +and had reached, as Jack judged, almost to +the ground, so that he feared lest he might +have mistaken the location, when suddenly +Nell rested motionless.<span class="pagenum">[174]</span></p> + +<p>"Listen!" she commanded. Her tense face +was radiant.</p> + +<p>Jack ceased shoveling, and listened as he +had been bidden.</p> + +<p>There came a faint, strangely muffled sound. +It came again—an indistinguishable, inarticulate +mutter from somewhere under the snow +at their feet.</p> + +<p>Jack shouted triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"By cricky, Nell," he cried joyously, "we've +struck him, sure as sin!" He raised his voice +to its full volume in a cheerful bellow, meant +to reach the ears of the imprisoned man +below:</p> + +<p>"Buck up, old pal! We'll have you out in +a jiffy." Then the bridal pair betook themselves +to shoveling with the enthusiasm inspired +by success.</p> + +<p>There was no difficulty in the completion +of the work of rescue. Very soon, the excavation +reached the log under which Jim Maxwell +was sheltered, and he was able to crawl +forth with some difficulty, owing to cramped +and aching muscles, but safe and sound. He<span class="pagenum">[175]</span> +was a little dazed over his escape, when he +had resigned himself to hopelessness. It +seemed to him as if a miracle had been +wrought in his behalf by the timely appearance +of these two, where he had believed there +was none to aid him. His feeling of wonder +was increased by the fact that one of these two +who had saved him from death, and who now +stood beside him supporting him, was a girl, +whose dark, lovely face beneath the fur cap +was alight with an almost maternal joy over +the deliverance in which she had shared. +The event seemed, somehow, to soften in a +certain degree the nature of the man, embittered +by long years of suffering under a grievous +wrong. For almost the first time since +the loss he had sustained at the hands of Dan +McGrew, Jim Maxwell felt a warm emotion, +which was close to tenderness. He continued +to regard the two bewilderedly. But his +voice, when at last he spoke, was firm, and +vibrant with gratitude:</p> + +<p>"You saved me—and I sha'n't forget it." +He paused for a moment, then added whimsically:<span class="pagenum">[176]</span> +"I don't know who you are, or how +you got here—unless you're two sure-enough +angels, dropped plumb-straight down from +heaven for this special occasion." The half-jesting +note left his voice. "And I'll say just +one thing: If you children ever need a +friend, you can call on me, and I sha'n't fail +you. In the meantime," he added briskly, +"I want you to be my guests for the night. +My cabin is near by—a little way up the gulch +there."</p> + +<p>Something in the dignity of his manner as +he made the proffer of hospitality, some refinement +of inflection in his tones, caused the +listeners to look with new curiosity on this +roughly dressed man, whose face was almost +hidden beneath the thicket of beard. They +were moved by a sudden, compelling respect +for this uncouth-appearing dweller in the +waste. It needed but a glance between husband +and wife to ensure their acceptance of +the invitation. So, presently, the three rode +on together. They felt a certain unusual +kindliness in their relation as host and guests.<span class="pagenum">[177]</span> +They attributed it, as far as they thought of +the matter at all, to the peculiar manner of +their meeting.... They could not guess that +strands woven by the Fates had caught them +in a mesh for the final right weaving of a +perfect design.<span class="pagenum">[178]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p>After the horses had been given up +and sent back, Lou, by Dan's arrangement, +continued the journey on the sled of +some men who were not properly of the stampeders, +but were bound for Malamute. Dan +himself, hardy as he was, had no difficulty in +keeping up the pace with the best of the travelers +on foot. He carried snow-shoes—for +which he had no present need as the crust held—and +a light pack on his back. The others +of the stampeders regarded him as one of +themselves, without ulterior purpose beyond +the legitimate finding of gold somewhere in +the creek-beds, or within the ledges of the +mountains. Only Lou guessed aught of the +evil project cherished by her husband. She +had little compunction, for her sensibilities +had become hardened with the passage of the +years, and she had long ceased to regard herself<span class="pagenum">[179]</span> +as in any wise the keeper of Dan's conscience.</p> + +<p>Dan himself, as always, had no scruples, +though he meant to add yet another to the list +of his crimes. He went warily to his work. +He held Sam Ward under close observation, +but so discreetly that the victim of his watchfulness +had no hint of it. As the train straggled +out toward nightfall, Dan contrived to be +near his intended victim, though not in company +with him. Because of the information +gathered by Lou, that the miner meant to steal +away from the others during the night, Dangerous +Dan had determined to keep a vigil +during the hours of darkness, so that, when the +miner slipped away by stealth, thinking himself +unobserved by any one, he would be able +to follow as stealthily, and thus to trace the +owner to the secret mine.</p> + +<p>To one of Dangerous Dan McGrew's accomplishments +the task was very simple. +The night was clear, and he became aware at +once when Sam Ward prepared to set forth. +He allowed the miner to proceed for a considerable<span class="pagenum">[180]</span> +distance before following. Against +the white surface of the snow, the moving +form was distinguishable for a long way, and, +since it alone in the expanse moved at all, it +was not to be mistaken. But, while the miner +was so distinctly visible to his pursuer, Dan +McGrew had little fear of being himself observed, +since no eyes were seeking his presence +there. So, separated by a considerable distance, +the two men advanced through the +night, ascending at a smart pace from the level +reaches of the valley to the lower slopes of the +mountains. Here the spruce cast black +shade, and often gorges lay deep in shadow. +Dan was forced to lessen the distance between +himself and the one he followed. Often, he +was hard put to it to keep close enough on his +quarry to be sure of the man's movements, +without revealing his own presence on the +trail. Some risks he took, since needs must. +But the danger of discovery did not trouble +Dangerous Dan, for he had never lacked +courage, whatever his other vices.</p> + +<p>It was in the gray of the dawn when at last<span class="pagenum">[181]</span> +Sam Ward halted, with a grunt of satisfaction, +which the listening man, crouched behind +a stump fifty yards away, plainly heard +through the motionless chill air. The miner +cast off the pack that he had carried throughout +most of the day and all of the night, and +began hasty preparations for pitching camp.... +It was evident that Sam Ward had +reached his destination.</p> + +<p>Assured that this was the end of the journey, +Dangerous Dan silently withdrew to a +sheltered nook within the trees, a full quarter +of a mile from the other's camp. Here he +built a fire, without any fear of its light being +seen by Sam Ward; for, besides the screen of +trees, a high ridge intervened between the two +camps. Dan, owing to the unusual mildness +of the night, did not trouble with piling green +logs against which to stack his fire, but contented +himself with selecting a spot where a +steep bank at his back aided in the retention of +the heat.</p> + +<p>Tired as he was, Dangerous Dan gathered +sufficient fuel ready at hand, so that he might<span class="pagenum">[182]</span> +replenish the blaze, arousing instinctively +from sleep as the flames died down. He +guessed that the miner would sleep late, after +the fatigue of the trip. But he allowed himself +only two hours of rest; for he had yet +much to do, and weariness must await leisure. +Dan McGrew could sacrifice selfish desires +for the time being in order to attain to selfish +ends.</p> + +<p>The sun was well above the horizon, when +Dan McGrew at last arose reluctantly, and +stamped out the dying embers. He rolled up +his pack, but left it where he had camped. +He carried a revolver with him, but he had no +intention of using it, lest the report attract +the attention of some chance prospector in the +vicinity. He was not quite sure, even, that he +meditated violence—it might not be necessary. +But, before setting forth, he drew from its +sheath, hidden within his bosom, a long, +wicked-looking knife, the blade of which he +examined approvingly, testing its edge with a +bare thumb. When he had returned the +weapon to its place of concealment, he went<span class="pagenum">[183]</span> +forward very cautiously, his feet leaving +hardly a trace of their passage over the snow-crust. +He took advantage of the shelter afforded +by bushes and trees, so that his approach +might not be detected. Thus, he came +finally to a vantage point behind a clump of +bushes, which grew on a little knoll. Below +this, hardly a score of yards away, was Sam +Ward's camp.</p> + +<p>The miner was just arousing from sleep, +when Dan reached this point of observation. +While the hidden man watched attentively, +Sam Ward replenished the fire, and hastily +prepared a breakfast, which he devoured even +more hastily. Forthwith, then, he set about +the serious business of the day. To the +watcher's surprise, the miner removed a heap +of firewood, which had been stacked against +the sloping bank, some distance above a tiny +frozen stream. When the branches had been +thrown aside, there was revealed an opening +through the snow, and on into the earth itself. +It was evident that the miner had already tunneled +into the ledge.<span class="pagenum">[184]</span></p> + +<p>Now, he got dynamite from his pack, and +set it carefully where it might thaw out within +the radius of heat from the fire. Thereafter, +he crawled into the tunnel, and was occupied +out of the watcher's sight for some time. On +emergence, he examined the dynamite, and, +satisfied with its condition, took it, along with +caps and fuse, on his return into the tunnel. +This time, he was gone for only a short interval. +Presently, came a dull rumble as the explosive +detonated within the earth. The +miner reëntered the tunnel, carrying a bag. +When he brought this forth, he was staggering +under the weight it contained.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:209px"> + <a href="images/p177f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p177t.jpg" width="209" height="324" alt="p177t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">DAN McGREW, STARING DOWN WITH HUNGRY EYES, SAW THE MINER.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew, staring down with hungry +eyes, saw the miner pound the fragments of +rock to powder in a roughly contrived mortar, +which was set beside the fire. Dangerous +Dan had learned enough of gold-mining to +understand that the miner had chanced on a +quartz lead of the richest sort. Undoubtedly, +it was a vein of considerable size which would +assay thousands of dollars to the ton. It was +free-milling ore. The rough method employed<span class="pagenum">[185]</span> +by the miner was sufficient to secure the +golden treasure. Now, when he had made an +end of crushing the bits of rock, Sam descended +to the creek, where he chopped a hole +through the ice, and so, after great labor, was +able to winnow the dust. Dan McGrew was +able to see the golden stream of tiny flakes that +the miner at last poured into his poke, with +chuckles of glee. The watcher's steady eyes +narrowed and grew savage, for black envy +and avarice filled his heart. Of a sudden, his +vague purpose became crystallized.... He +would have this mine for his own—at any cost.</p> + +<p>Dangerous Dan looked over the scene carefully, +as he made his plans. The little stream, +above which the miner had encamped, ran +straight between shallow banks out into a +broad valley beyond. Dan was sure that he +could advance to a point on the slope where he +would be just above his unsuspecting prey. +Thence, he could drop down on the miner, +who, all unconscious of any peril, squatted before +the fire gloating over his treasure. A +single blow of the knife would put a term to<span class="pagenum">[186]</span> +his ownership of the mine. Afterward, it +would be a simple matter to conceal the body +in some cranny where only the wolves would +be likely to scent it out. And Dan McGrew +would have the treasure-house for his own.</p> + +<p>His decision made, Dan acted upon it at +once. It came about according to his calculations—with +two exceptions:</p> + +<p>The first was that, as he leaped upon his victim +from behind, some faintest sound of movement, +or some subtle instinct in the victim, +gave warning. Sam Ward sprang to his feet, +whirling as he rose. The lust of gold was in +him, too. On the instant, he understood the +death that threatened and the cause of it. He +fought for his life and his gold with all the +strength that was in him. He got his hands +to his assailant's throat, and the fingers +clutched in a clutch meant to kill. Dangerous +Dan's eyes goggled from his head as he +strangled within that grip. But he did not +forget, even in his anguish, either his purpose +or his advantage. He thrust the knife with +all his power into the miner's breast. For a<span class="pagenum">[187]</span> +second that seemed to endure for an eternity, +Dan was still held in the vice-like grasp. +Then abruptly, there came a gurgling moan +from Sam Ward's lips. The clenched fingers +relaxed. Dan thrust the form of his adversary +from him. The haft of the knife, which he +still held in his right hand, was broken from +the blade by the wrench of the inert body, as +it fell and went limply sliding down the slope +toward the creek.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:349px"> + <a href="images/p202f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p202t.jpg" width="349" height="227" alt="p202t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">HE FOUGHT FOR HIS LIFE AND HIS GOLD WITH ALL THE STRENGTH THAT WAS IN HIM.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew gazed on the grim descent +with eyes that were dull still from the deadly +grapple. His breath came in sobs. He was +triumphant, but he realized how close he had +been to failure.</p> + +<p>Then, a minute later, when his brain and +his sight were clear again, he suddenly uttered +a frightful curse....</p> + +<p>In the wide expanse of the valley into which +the creek flowed, a sled moved rapidly, as the +dogs strained in their harness. And it was +coming straight toward the creek—toward the +place where he stood. Dangerous Dan +McGrew cursed yet once again—and more<span class="pagenum">[188]</span> +horribly. Then, he leaped down the slope to +where the dead body had halted. He stooped +over it—searched with desperate rapidity. A +moment later, with the poke of gold and a few +papers from the dead man, Dangerous Dan +raced back up the bank, and on, flying from the +spot where he had committed a crime so great +for a reward so small.<span class="pagenum">[189]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p>The bridal pair were at once astonished +and gratified by the entertainment offered +them in this remote wilderness. There +was nothing remarkable in their surroundings +at the cabin. The fare provided was of the +simplest. The effect on the two visitors was +produced wholly by the personality of the +man himself. As the men sat in easy communion +over their pipes, while Nell listened +eagerly, Jim Maxwell, still under the influence +of that softer feeling aroused by gratitude +to the two who had rescued him, relaxed from +the usual aloofness toward his fellows, and +talked of many things in a manner of singular +charm. Jack Reeves had had excellent advantages +in education, before ever the spirit of +adventure drove him toward the Arctic. As +he perceived the extent of the older man's experience,<span class="pagenum">[190]</span> +he plied his host with questions. +To these, Jim responded readily—at first from +courtesy, and then, moved by patent interest +on the part of his hearers, with a certain enthusiasm. +He found a long-forgotten pleasure +in thus speaking at ease of the things he +felt to sympathetic auditors. In the years of +his wandering and suffering, the man's nature +had deepened and mellowed, even though it +was shut within the crust of bitterness. So, to-night, +he gave himself unreservedly to this +new mood of genial intercourse. He marveled +over his own changed mood, but indulged +it to the full, nevertheless. In a gentle, +unfamiliar fashion, Jim Maxwell was +almost happy to-night—almost happy, for the +first time in twelve years.</p> + +<p>Nell's presence moved him deeply, though +she sat silent for the most part. Her close attention +was a compliment greater than any +words she could have uttered. Jim Maxwell +felt this, and yielded to the inspiration of it. +He was by no means unaware of the piquant +loveliness of the girl. His critical appreciation<span class="pagenum">[191]</span> +was betrayed by many swift, penetrating +glances at the rapt face. The dusk, lucent +beauty of her eyes especially appealed to him. +In them, he glimpsed her soul, full of the joy +of life, a-thrill with expectation of the happiness +that awaited, pure and undaunted by any +fear of evil. As he looked on her, Jim's admiring +gaze was always a little wistful. Since +the tragedy in his life, women had had no interest +for him, because he had lost her whom +he loved. To-night, somehow, it was different. +He felt himself strangely drawn to +this unknown girl. His heart stirred toward +her. It was not an emotion of which even a +bridegroom could complain—it was something +utterly untouched by any instinct of sex, something +subtle and exquisite. Jim himself could +not understand his feeling in the least. Only, +he yielded to the spell of it with delight.</p> + +<p>The host left his guests in possession, when +it came the hour for retiring. He was deaf to +their remonstrances, and betook himself to an +outbuilding, which had been his first shelter +in this place, before the making of the cabin.<span class="pagenum">[192]</span></p> + +<p>Left alone with her husband, Nell spoke +musingly, very softly:</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful man, Jack! He is the +sort of man I should like—" She broke off, +staring with vaguely puzzled, unseeing eyes at +the glowing stove.</p> + +<p>"Now, what do you mean by that?" the +bridegroom demanded, with asperity.</p> + +<p>Nell aroused from introspection at the +shortness of the husband's tone. Then she +laughed.</p> + +<p>"Don't be absurd, goosie!" she bantered. +"I actually believe you'd like to be jealous of +the first man I've met on our honeymoon." +Her voice softened. "Well, you needn't be. +But he is a dear, all the same."</p> + +<p>Something in her tone quelled the young +husband's impulse of alarm. Straightway, he +spoke his own admiration, without further +jealousy.</p> + +<p>"He sure is a wonder," he declared emphatically. +"He's one of the sort who could make +himself at home—and make himself the +center of attraction, too—anywhere around +the world, with high or low or Jack or the +game."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[193]</span></p> + +<p>A little later, he spoke again, reflectively:</p> + +<p>"I wonder what he did!"</p> + +<p>"What he did!" Nell repeated, bewildered.</p> + +<p>"Whether he robbed a bank, or just murdered +somebody," Jack explained.</p> + +<p>Nell flared.</p> + +<p>"He's not that sort!" she flung at him. +Then, her eyes grew dreamy again.</p> + +<p>"But," she added—and there was a note of +sympathetic tenderness in her voice—"perhaps +it was something that somebody else did."</p> + +<p>"Eh?" Jack demanded, perplexed in his +turn.</p> + +<p>"I mean," Nell said, half-apologetically, +"perhaps it was something—some crime even—some +one else did that made Mr. Maxwell +come away off here, to live alone in the mountains. +A man like him!"</p> + +<p>Next morning, Jack and Nell went on their +way, almost regretfully, so great was the impression +made upon both by this man whom +they had rescued from death. Still without<span class="pagenum">[194]</span> +haste, Jack drove his dogs over the level valley-crust. +As it drew toward night, he selected +for his camp a point where a few +stunted spruce grew a little way up the slope.</p> + +<p>"I guess we're alone in our glory," he commented, +as his eyes swept the scene. "Not a +stampeder in sight—and I'm glad of it. You +see," he continued, as Nell looked at him inquiringly, +"I've been over this way before. +There's a creek flows in here from the other +side of the valley. I was up it once. It +showed some prospects. I'd like another look +at it—without any stampeders by. And +there's not a one in sight."</p> + +<p>"I wonder!" While Jack went to +straighten out the over-lively dogs, Nell took +the field-glasses from their case, and amused +herself with a careful scrutiny of this white +world over which now lay a purpling glamour +as the sun sank wearily below the horizon.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, there was a moving blur, a fleeting +black shadow, in the line of vision. +Hitherto, there had been no sign of life anywhere. +This trace of activity, in the stillness<span class="pagenum">[195]</span> +of the snow-clad wild, interested her, even +startled her a little, though she had no thought +that it could be more than a glimpse of some +stampeder plodding through the distance.</p> + +<p>Nell adjusted the glasses, and sought again. +Then, in a flash, she saw clearly—a camp-fire +burning, a man squatted close to the flames. +There was nothing out of the ordinary in the +scene. It was not the sight of camp-fire and +man beside it that caused Nell's cheek to pale, +that caused her hand to shake, until for a +moment the vision was blurred, that caused the +little gasp from her lips. It was another figure +thus revealed there in the far distance that +so affected her—another figure high up on the +slope, which moved with a craftiness and +stealth that were in themselves sinister. These +were the slinking movements of a beast of prey. +But the figure was that of a man.</p> + +<p>Nell called to Jack—softly, as if she feared +lest, across the valley-space, that skulking man +might hear her cry.</p> + +<p>When Jack came to her, Nell put the glasses +in his hands.<span class="pagenum">[196]</span></p> + +<p>"Look there!" she directed, and pointed. +Afterward, she sat tensed and apprehensive in +her place on the sled, while her husband stood +at her side, and looked as she had bidden him.</p> + +<p>An ejaculation burst from Jack as his eyes +caught the action in that drama across the valley. +Through a long minute, and another, +he rested rigid, silent. Suddenly, with an +imprecation, he tossed the glasses toward Nell. +He pointed desperately across the valley, then +sprang to the dogs, and straightened them out, +his voice so harsh that they cringed under it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> + <a href="images/p203f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p203t.jpg" width="358" height="234" alt="p203t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">HE POINTED DESPERATELY ACROSS THE VALLEY.</p> + +<p>"Mush!" he yelled savagely, and the whiplash +hissed its message to the leaders.... They +were off at full speed.</p> + +<p>"Too late!" Jack groaned, as the dogs +bounded forward. "Oh, damn him! I hope +he hangs for it—the dirty murderer!"</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, too late. When they were +come up the lesser valley, through which the +creek ran, to a point near where the body of +Sam Ward was lying, Jack halted the dogs, +and went forward alone. He would not +yield to Nell's pleadings that she be allowed<span class="pagenum">[197]</span> +to accompany him. He was not minded that +she should thus look on the assassin's victim.</p> + +<p>Jack returned very soon.</p> + +<p>"Dead as a door-nail!" he said shortly. His +face was a little pale under the bronze of +open-air living. "A knife-blade in his chest—handle +broken off. We've seen the chap. +It was Sam Ward. Had a secret mine, they +said."</p> + +<p>Jack chose a camp-site close at hand, to +which he removed the body of the murdered +man, so that it would be protected from any +prowling wolf. He brought down to his +camp the dead man's pack, and he covered the +still and rigid shape decently with one of the +blankets that had been Sam Ward's. He +made no attempt to trace the assassin. To +have done so would have been useless in itself, +and would have been to risk the like +death. Nor did he make even a cursory +search for the secret mine. He had no wish +for personal profit out of this grewsome event. +On the contrary, he was willing to delay his +operations in the mountains, in order that he<span class="pagenum">[198]</span> +might deliver the corpse to the authorities, and +make known to them the facts in the case.</p> + +<p>"We'll put him on the sled in the morning," +he said to Nell, who was very quiet, and who +turned her eyes from time to time fearfully +toward a place just on the edge of the firelight, +where flickering shadows danced grotesquely +over a deeper shadow—a shadow +huge and misshapen and menacing.</p> + +<p>"We'll take him up to Kalmak. It's a little +place on the way to Malamute. But they +have a sheriff, and that's what we need."</p> + +<p>And neither he nor his wife, who looked +from time to time affrightedly toward the +shadows, had any hint as to the irony that the +Fates had put into the husband's concluding +words.<span class="pagenum">[199]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p>Dan McGrew, from a point of safe +concealment, watched the coming of +the sled with keen interest. He was still furious +over the miscarriage in his plans caused +by this arrival. There was no longer possibility +of his holding the secret of the mine for +himself. In return for the blood on his hands, +he had gained a single poke of gold-dust. +His chief concern now was the evading of +any possible suspicion against himself. His +thoughts were busy with this problem of +safety. At his distance, and in the darkening +light, he could not make out the identity of +the man who examined the body of Sam Ward, +and afterward removed it. Since Nell did +not leave the sled, he did not guess even that +one of the two was a woman. But it did occur +to him that, since the arrival of these persons +had thwarted his evil hopes, it would be<span class="pagenum">[200]</span> +fitting that they themselves should serve his +need as the scape-goats of suspicion.</p> + +<p>Once this idea had stirred in his brain, Dangerous +Dan found little difficulty in planning +the accomplishment of his designs. He remained +in hiding, without venturing even to +light a fire though he was hard put to it to +resist the numbing cold. It was not till some +hours after nightfall, when he judged the two +in their camp safely asleep, that Dangerous +Dan acted on the plan he had formed.</p> + +<p>He crept with the utmost caution down the +slope, and made a wide détour, so as to come +near the camp to windward of the point where +he heard the little yelps and whinings of dogs +restless in their sleep. The night was clear, +and, even within the shadows of the trees +about the camp, Dan could see distinctly +where the sled stood outside the limit of the +firelight. Toward this, with increased care +and slowness in the progress, Dan made his +way.</p> + +<p>He had almost reached the sled, when he +stumbled over what he had deemed merely a<span class="pagenum">[201]</span> +deeper shadow beside it, and sprawled forward. +To save himself from falling, he +thrust out his right hand. The palm touched +something cold—with a coldness beyond that +of the arctic air. It was the face of the man +whom he had slain, from off which his rough +contact had thrust the blanket. And Dan +McGrew knew the thing for what it was.</p> + +<p>Strong man that he was, he was sickened. +For a little, he stood there shivering, unnerved +by the grisly encounter. But it was only the +shock that had unmanned him. Presently, +his courage rose again. He grinned to himself, +standing there in the dark over the dead +body. Here was nothing to be afraid of, he +said to himself in brutal disdain of his own +weakness. So, soon, he went on again, quite +undismayed, to carry out his purpose.</p> + +<p>Noiselessly, Dangerous Dan fumbled over +the pack on the sled for some minutes. Once, +he put a hand in his pocket, and drew forth +something, which he disposed within the +wrappings of the pack. Finally, he readjusted +everything, as nearly as he could by the<span class="pagenum">[202]</span> +sense of touch, to the condition in which he +had found it. Only, there was something +added to the contents. For once in his life, +Dangerous Dan had not been a robber. Yet, +never had his intent been more deadly.</p> + +<p>His task thus accomplished, the man withdrew +as silently as he had come. Nevertheless, +despite his bravado, he was at pains to +tread aside, lest he brush a second time against +that blanketed form.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Jack and Nell were up and away early. +They made good speed with the grewsome +burden on the sled. They ran easily without +snow-shoes, for the crust still held. Jack +was distressed that his bride should be unable +to ride luxuriously on their honeymoon. +But for this Nell cared not at all. In her +youth and perfect health, the physical activity +was, in truth, a pleasure, rather than a +toil. But she was disturbed by the presence +of that grim thing which they escorted. She +could not avoid yielding in some measure to +superstition. The radiant joy of her bridal<span class="pagenum">[203]</span> +was quenched by this tragedy that had followed +so close upon it, and into association +with which they had been forced by circumstance. +Her mood was oppressed with forebodings. +She was all anxiety to reach Kalmak, +where they might be rid of this ill-omened +clay. So, she urged Jack often to increase the +pace. And he, for his part, hardly less sensitive +to this malignant influence at such a time, +consented readily enough, hurrying on the +dogs with whip and voice.... The train +swung into Kalmak in mid-afternoon—at least +an hour sooner than it would have made the +distance with a lighter load.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> + <a href="images/p220f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p220t.jpg" width="358" height="233" alt="p220t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">SHE WAS DISTURBED BY THE PRESENCE OF THAT GRIM THING WHICH THEY ESCORTED.</p> + +<p>Jack halted the dogs before the very unpretentious +structure that was inappropriately +designated the Grand Hotel. At sound of the +arrival, those within hurried forth, eager for +any interruption of the day's monotony. +Among the others came a tall, lank man, with +a lantern-jawed face and a drooping, melancholy +mustache, whom Jack recognized as Hal +Owens, the sheriff. He himself, however, +was not known to Owens, or to any of those<span class="pagenum">[204]</span> +present, nor was Nell, as they were speedily +to learn to their sorrow. Another face in the +group was vaguely familiar to both the young +husband and his bride. Jack, for the moment, +could not recall where he had seen this +stalwart, handsome man, who stood with a +masterful erectness, emphasized by his frank +and fearless gaze. But Nell, in the instant of +seeing the stranger, recollected him perfectly, +though she had seen him but once in a fleeting +glance. She remembered how he had appeared +on her wedding-day, and how he had +regarded her with that cynical smile, which +had aroused in her an inexplicable sense of +dismay, a fear of mysterious disasters, past +or to come. It seemed to her appropriate +enough that now this man should be present to +welcome her and her husband as they brought +in their ghastly load. Again, she experienced +a curious repugnance in meeting the steady +stare that seemed to probe into her soul with +a mocking amusement. Nell wrenched her +eyes from his, and turned away with a little +shudder of revulsion. Then, the natural<span class="pagenum">[205]</span> +buoyancy of her spirits asserted itself. After +all, this man, who affected her so strangely, +was nothing to them—could be nothing to +them. And they were at last free of the horrible +incubus that had been thrust upon them. +The dead body was now gone out of their +charge, was become the property of the law. +She smiled, a little wanly, while her eyes +moved over the roughly garbed cluster of men. +She was glad—oh, so glad!—that miserable interruption +of their honeymoon was done and +over.</p> + +<p>Jack addressed the sheriff briskly, himself +almost as anxious as Nell to have done with +this wretched matter.</p> + +<p>"This is your business, Sheriff. I've +brought in the body of a chap who got killed +out Forgotten Creek way, yesterday afternoon."</p> + +<p>The sheriff nodded with what he took to be +the dignity befitting his authority.</p> + +<p>"The coroner should set on the corpse," he +said gravely, pleased at this display of his familiarity +with legal phrases. "In his absence—bein'<span class="pagenum">[206]</span> +there hain't none—I reckon I'll do the +best I kin."</p> + +<p>He strode to the sled, and pulled aside the +blanket that had concealed the dead man's +face. He turned to the men who had crowded +around.</p> + +<p>"Anybody know him?" he demanded, authoritatively.</p> + +<p>There was a chorus of grunts in negation.</p> + +<p>Then, as the others fell silent, Jack spoke +again:</p> + +<p>"I knew him by sight, though I never spoke +to him. His name was Sam Ward. They +said he'd struck it rich—a secret mine somewhere +in the mountains."</p> + +<p>"Know anything more about him?" The +sheriff's voice was heavy with responsibility.</p> + +<p>Jack made an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>"He was in the stampede that came up to +Forgotten Creek day before yesterday. You +know?"</p> + +<p>"I know," the sheriff assented. "What else +do you know?"</p> + +<p>"I know he's dead," Jack snapped. He was<span class="pagenum">[207]</span> +heartily sick of this business, and his temper +grew strained. "If you have any doubt about +it," he added sarcastically, "why, I saw him +killed."</p> + +<p>There was a general start of surprise over +this bald announcement. The sheriff, however, +preserved his official composure.</p> + +<p>"That ought to help some," was his response. +"Supposin' now, you fire ahead, an' tell all +you know about this corpse o' your'n."</p> + +<p>"No corpse of mine!" Jack retorted gruffly, +more than ever annoyed, while Nell felt a +qualm of new dread at the sheriff's ambiguous +words. But Jack curbed his impatience, and +related in detail what he knew concerning the +incidents of the tragedy.</p> + +<p>His hearers listened intently. There were +features in this murder that gave it a certain +distinction. The fact that it had been witnessed +from such a distance through the field-glasses +gave it a charm of novelty that a mere +murder must otherwise have lacked. The +men, who had hitherto been stealing many a +sly glance toward the young woman with the<span class="pagenum">[208]</span> +dainty face and glowing eyes, now stared at +her with open admiration for the one who had +first seen the assassin's advance upon his victim, +and had guessed his deadly purpose. All +those present accepted the truth of the narrative +without question. The young man's +frank expression and the simplicity of his +story, strange as it was, carried conviction. +Moreover, it was well-nigh impossible to suspect +this beautiful girl of any complicity in +crime. So, the account was accepted by all +hearers as truth, and it occurred to none even +to question it.... To none, save one. And +that one was he who, of his own knowledge, +best knew that it was truth. Yet, he would +question, and to some purpose—for his own +safety's sake.</p> + +<p>The formalities of the occasion thus fully +satisfied, the sheriff ordered the corpse removed +to a back room in the hotel, where it +was laid out on the table. Before replacing +the blanket, the sheriff withdrew the blade of +the knife from the dead man's breast.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> + <a href="images/p221f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p221t.jpg" width="358" height="228" alt="p221t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE FORMALITIES FULLY SATISFIED, THE SHERIFF ORDERED THE CORPSE REMOVED.</p> + +<p>"It's a clew," he explained, with obvious +admiration for his own sagacity, as he wiped +the blackened blood from the blade upon the +blanket.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[209]</span></p> + +<p>Dan McGrew had followed the four men +who, at the sheriff's direction, carried the body +into the hotel. He was known here, as +through most of the region round about, +where he was regarded as an honest gambler—for +his methods had improved in the +twelve years since his discomfiture by Fingie +Whalen.</p> + +<p>To be here at this time, Dangerous Dan +McGrew had employed the resources of both +mind and body. His reasoning had convinced +him that Kalmak would be Jack's destination +in the trip. He had been obliged to +risk the correctness of this conclusion in order +that he might be free to start for the village +at once, after completing his night-visit to the +young man's camp. Since he must travel on +foot, and slowly because of increasing fatigue, +he had need of all the time he could gain for +the journey, in order to reach the scene first. +He had succeeded. Even, he had had time<span class="pagenum">[210]</span> +for an hour's sleep, which was craved by every +atom in his body after a day and two nights +of almost constant exertion.</p> + +<p>So, now, Dan McGrew was on the spot, +alert and arrogant with evil purpose. He +stepped close to the sheriff, and spoke so that +the others could not overhear. He knew the +harmless vanity of the official, and meant to +play upon it for his own ends, by letting the +other take credit on himself for great shrewdness.</p> + +<p>"You think that youngster's story is a bit +fishy, I see!" Dan remarked; and there was +deep admiration in his voice.</p> + +<p>The sheriff, who had thought nothing of the +sort, immediately assumed an air of suspicion, +and nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"Fishy—very!" he agreed.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Dan continued deprecatingly, +as if even to question this were an impertinence +on his part, "you'll search that young +man's pack?"</p> + +<p>The sheriff nodded glumly.</p> + +<p>"It's my sworn duty to do jest that."<span class="pagenum">[211]</span></p> + +<p>Dan sauntered away, well content. He +went out of the hotel, and stood unobtrusively +among the other idlers, watching while Jack +and Nell, restored to the best of spirits by the +completion of their unpleasant duty, were now +laughing and chatting together as they busied +themselves about the sled.</p> + +<p>Presently appeared the sheriff. He approached +the sled, and spoke with a harshness +he had not hitherto displayed.</p> + +<p>"Young feller, I'll jest take a look through +your pack."</p> + +<p>Jack and Nell glanced up in amazement at +the tone no less than at the words.</p> + +<p>"But what—what the devil do you mean?" +Jack demanded, wrathfully.</p> + +<p>"Never you mind what I mean, young feller," +was the offended retort. The sheriff +threw back the lapel of the heavy outer coat +he wore, and showed a silver shield. "There's +my authority," he sternly announced. "I'll +jest take a squint through your belongin's."</p> + +<p>Jack and Nell protested, but their protests +were in vain. The sheriff in explanation<span class="pagenum">[212]</span> +vouchsafed only a single word, most contemptuously +uttered:</p> + +<p>"Fishy!"</p> + +<p>In the end, the young pair stood by in mute +indignation, while the official search was +prosecuted.... They had one consolation in +the presence of this outrage: The search +would prove its own absurdity.</p> + +<p>The issue came on them like a thunderbolt. +From somewhere in the pack, the sheriff's +groping fingers drew forth an object, which he +held up that all might see. It was undoubtedly +the bone handle of a large knife. Without +a word, the sheriff reached into a pocket +of his coat, and brought forth the blade which +had been in the dead man's breast. Still without +a word, while all looked on in breathless +tension, he put blade and haft together. They +fitted perfectly.</p> + +<p>The sheriff's mouth, under the drooping +mustache, twisted in a triumphant grin. An +amazed consternation held Jack and Nell silent +for the moment in the face of this damning +evidence against them. The sheriff<span class="pagenum">[213]</span> +moved forward a step, and laid his hand on +Jack's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Young feller," he said heavily, "I arrest +you in the name of the law, for the murder +of Sam Ward, deceased. And don't say anythin'," +he added, in paraphrase of the legal +formula, "for what you say will be used agin +ye."<span class="pagenum">[214]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p>The catastrophe that had thus put an end +to the honeymoon, drove the unfortunate +husband and wife almost to despair. +The thing was monstrous, incredible. Nevertheless, +it had occurred. Jack raged against +the unjust accusation which Dan McGrew +had caused to be laid against him; but neither +his wrath nor his entreaties were powerful +enough to create even a doubt on the part of +the public of Kalmak as to his guilt. The +evidence against him was, in fact, incontrovertible. +His case was made the worse, also, +by the absence of any one who could vouch for +his character. Given time, he could easily +enough summon witnesses in his behalf, +though even then the issue might be uncertain. +He had no plausible explanation to offer concerning +the presence of the knife-handle +among his effects. He could only deny all<span class="pagenum">[215]</span> +knowledge of how it came there. And such +denial was utterly valueless, as Jack himself +realized with utter discouragement.</p> + +<p>As for Nell, there was only a single thing +to mitigate her misery, and of this she was +hardly conscious. It was that she herself was +not subjected to the indignity of arrest. In +this matter, the chivalry of the community +worked in her behalf. These men of the +Northland were not of a sort to war against +women. They left such warfare to a more +complex state of civilization.</p> + +<p>But, in truth, no arrest was needed for the +unhappy bride. Nothing could have tempted +her to leave the place where her husband was +in peril. Indeed, she was like a thorn in the +side of the sheriff's ideas concerning official +strictness and decorum—and rose as well as +thorn; for the winsome loveliness of this suffering +girl disturbed him greatly, so that he +was fain to grant her privileges which ill accorded +with his conception of official etiquette. +It was owing to this laxness under Nell's persuasion +that she was permitted to interview<span class="pagenum">[216]</span> +her husband, though separated from him by +the heavy grating in the cell-door, and though +fretted by the presence of the sheriff himself, +who sat within ear-shot, and forbade secret +communication.... Those interviews harrowed +the souls of the lovers, for, though each +strove to cheer the other, neither could understand +how this calamity had come to pass. +Nell occupied the intervals between visits to +her husband in frantic efforts to devise some +means of proving Jack's innocence, or in pitiable +weeping, shut within her squalid hotel-room.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:220px"> + <a href="images/p230f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p230t.jpg" width="220" height="342" alt="p230t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">NELL WAS PERMITTED TO INTERVIEW HER HUSBAND.</p> + +<p>It was in the forenoon of the day following +his arrest that the prisoner had his first glimmer +of hope. It came to him while he was +surveying for the thousandth time the roughly-hewn +timbers that made the walls of his cell. +He had long ago admitted the uselessness of +trying to break out, inasmuch as he had not +even a penknife with which to work. Yet, +now, as his glance roved the tiny room, his +eyes lighted with hope.</p> + +<p>Forthwith, Jack began plotting escape. +He understood that his situation was most desperate. +The sheriff, who from pride in his +office had added the cell to his log-house at +his own expense, was fond of sitting on guard +in the adjoining room; not so much for the +sake of precaution against the prisoner's escape, +as for pleasure in receiving visitors, in +the full majesty of his office. And Jack had +heard some of the low-spoken remarks of the +visitors among themselves. He knew that +these men of primitive emotions looked upon +him as a murderer, and were disposed to end +the affair in a lynching-bee. Only the sheriff +interposed between him and such a fate, and +the man was by no means strong enough to +stand against a mob. Therefore, Jack was +convinced that the only possibility of safety +lay in flight. And that flight must be made at +once, or it would be too late.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[217]</span></p> + + +<p>Little by little, the details of a plan were +evolved. He went over the matter with every +care, knowing well that he risked his life on +the accuracy of each detail in his device. +Some ideas he rejected; others, after much<span class="pagenum">[218]</span> +testing and readjustment, were approved. In +the end, he became confident that his method +might win success—confident that it would.</p> + +<p>His preparations thus complete up to the +point of action, the prisoner did not delay the +action itself. For that matter, the opportunity +he desired at the outset was offered to him +almost immediately after he had decided upon +his course.</p> + +<p>The sheriff, who was a kindly soul, apart +from the sternness compelled by his ideas of +high office, repeated a favor he had already +shown the prisoner, by coming to the grating, +and thrusting forward a cigar.</p> + +<p>"Smoke up, young feller," he said.</p> + +<p>Jack took the cigar with due expressions +of gratitude, and he was at pains to conceal +the new hopeful eagerness that filled him.</p> + +<p>"And here's the match, young feller," the +sheriff continued, as he held it forth. It was +one of the regulations formulated by himself +that the inmates of the jail should not be allowed +possession of matches.</p> + +<p>Of that regulation, Jack was already aware,<span class="pagenum">[219]</span> +and to secure its evasion, he now acted. As +the sheriff turned away, in pursuance of his +principle of not encouraging familiarity on +the part of a prisoner, Jack tossed the match +to the floor, where it lay invisible in the light +which shone in from the other room. Then +he addressed the sheriff, with becoming humility.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Sheriff, but the match went out."</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew, in the sheriff's place, would +have demanded the return of that match. Instead, +the official turned back promptly, and +gave another, with which the prisoner succeeded +in lighting his cigar. The sheriff, +seated at his table, could not see the captive, +who stooped and picked up from the floor the +first match, and put it away in his pocket with +extraordinary care.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, still careful to escape observation +by the sheriff, Jack got out a stub of pencil +which he had been allowed to retain. He +secured a small fragment of paper from the +untidy litter on the floor of the cell. Then, +he hastily scribbled a brief note. This was<span class="pagenum">[220]</span> +rolled up into a tiny cylinder with the writing +on the inner side. By liberal moistening with +his tongue he managed to make the roll retain +its shape. Having accomplished all he could +for the time being, the prisoner, with the cylinder +in his pocket, awaited the coming of Nell.</p> + +<p>The wife's advent was not long delayed. +Within the hour, the girl appeared before the +sheriff, softly appealing in voice, more softly +appealing in the gaze of her misty eyes. The +official strove to frown, but only succeeded in +smirking shamefacedly.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it can't do any harm to let you +chin a little," he said grudgingly. "But remember +now," he added, shaking a warning +finger at the visitor, "no whispering, an' keep +your hands in plain sight all the time. An' +I'll have my eyes on you, you bet!"</p> + +<p>With a murmur of thanks, Nell went forward +to the grating, where she stood with her +hands duly exposed against the metal bars. +Husband and wife exchanged greetings as +best they could, thus forced to speak aloud so +that the sheriff could hear every word. Yet,<span class="pagenum">[221]</span> +without anything said to warrant it, Nell knew +instantly that her husband's mood had +changed. There was a light in his eyes, a +smile on his lips. And, too, he nodded almost +imperceptibly, very mysteriously. Nell felt +her own spirits rise in response. They spoke +of sending to Malamute for a lawyer. They +spoke of securing proof against the actual +murderer—at which the sheriff smiled.</p> + +<p>But the sheriff, though he listened so intently, +did not watch with equal closeness. +He glanced over some of the papers lying before +him.</p> + +<p>It was Jack who watched carefully, for +much was now at stake. As he saw the sheriff's +gaze averted, he parted his lips, and with +his tongue pushed forward the tiny cylinder +of paper, which on the instant of Nell's arrival, +he had placed in his mouth.</p> + +<p>The wife perceived the protruding roll in +astonishment. Jack moved his head forward, +puckering his lips as for a kiss. Nell understood. +She turned instinctively. The sheriff's +eyes were still on his papers. At once,<span class="pagenum">[222]</span> +then, the girl put her own lips to the opening +in the grating, where Jack's waited. The +mouths of the two met in a kiss that lingered. +The sheriff looked up, and saw the kiss. He +noted that the hands of the two were duly exposed, +as required by the regulation in such +case made and provided.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:360px"> + <a href="images/p231f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p231t.jpg" width="360" height="235" alt="p231t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE MOUTHS OF THE TWO MET IN A KISS THAT LINGERED.</p> + +<p>Nell took her departure forthwith. Her +murmur of thanks to the sheriff for his kindness +was a trifle indistinct. That excellent officer +observed the fact. Also, he was inclined +to believe that the unfortunate young woman +appeared somewhat cheered by her visit to the +murderer—though what there could be cheering +in such a situation, the sheriff could not +guess.<span class="pagenum">[223]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<p>In the solitude of her bleak chamber, Nell +hastened to take from her mouth the cylinder +of paper that Jack had given her. +Moist as it was, when unrolled it lay flat, and +the writing on the inner side was decipherable +without difficulty.</p> + +<p>The note lacked address or signature, since +neither was needed. But the curt words filled +Nell with rapture:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Have found way to escape. Go to Maxwell, +ask him for help. Have him somewhere +near the village on his side by eleven +o'clock to-night.</p></blockquote> + +<p>With the reading, Nell took new heart of +hope. She could not guess the means that +her husband had devised for his escape from +the jail, but the confident tone in which he +had written to her gave promise of success.<span class="pagenum">[224]</span> +Her own part in the plan was simple enough. +It only required that she act promptly in its +execution. It occurred to her that Mr. Maxwell +might be absent from the cabin, following +the line of his traps. The thought of possible +delay in the performance of her mission +struck a chill to the eager wife's heart. At +once, then, she was in a fever of impatience +to be off and away.</p> + +<p>Nell made her preparations swiftly. At +her order, the dogs were harnessed to the sled, +and were ready at the door of the hotel, as she +issued forth. The news that the murderer's +bride was about to start out, spread through +the village like wild-fire. The sheriff himself +appeared on the scene, as Nell was at the point +of departure. He shook his head dolefully; +but, to the girl's immense relief, he did not +offer to detain her.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:354px"> + <a href="images/p248f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p248t.jpg" width="354" height="229" alt="p248t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE DOGS WERE READY—AT THE DOOR OF THE HOTEL—AS SHE ISSUED FORTH.</p> + +<p>"I dunno," he remarked doubtfully, "what +you git by goin', an' I dunno neither what +you'd git by stayin', fer the matter o' that.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, a wife can't testify agin her husband,<span class="pagenum">[225]</span> +so I hain't got any call to hang on to +ye."</p> + +<p>That was his valedictory.</p> + +<p>Nell wasted neither words nor smiles on the +assembly. She had no kindly feeling toward +these men, who had dared accuse her husband +of crime. Her sole response to the sheriff's +statement was a crack of the whip and a lively +cry to the dogs, which leaped forward with +a speed and surety of movement in the splendidly +muscled bodies that made the watchers +exclaim admiringly.</p> + +<p>There was now no leisurely progress, such +as had been that with which she and her husband +had traversed the miles together, before +death brought tragedy to their bridal-journey. +Nell, in two years of her living in the North, +had learned the management of these animals, +on which transportation over the snowy expanses +of the Arctic so depends. She knew +well how to get from her team every ounce of +speed, and she did not spare them in the least. +The crust still held, so that the going was of<span class="pagenum">[226]</span> +the best. Mechanically, with the instinct that +develops quickly in those who live among the +wilds, Nell had noted each salient detail of the +route followed by her and Jack. So, now, she +was sure of her course, and drove the dogs at +full speed on and on, following the levels of +interwoven valleys with never a hint of hesitation.</p> + +<p>It was late afternoon when, at last, Nell +found herself passing along the valley where +they had lingered behind the line of the stampede. +Hope mounted higher here; for only +a few miles still separated her from the man +whose aid she sought.</p> + +<p>In turn, despair smote her at thought of the +possibility that this Mr. Maxwell might be +absent—might even not return that night. +She had a dreadful vision of Jack, escaped +from his prison, yet helpless, without dogs or +supplies, doomed to perish in the cold. She +resolved that, should other help be wanting, +she herself would return alone to meet him. +She took a little encouragement from this determination, +until it occurred to her that there<span class="pagenum">[227]</span> +were limits to the endurance of the dogs. +Then, again, desolation fell on her. But, at +least, they would be together!... Thus, her +thoughts rioted in the stress of anxiety.</p> + +<p>Anxiety became an anguished suspense, +when, finally, she saw the tiny bulk of the +cabin, showing darkly against the white of the +valley-slope. As the dogs raced nearer, she +stared with fierce eagerness to catch some sign +of life. She was in terror when she made sure +that no smoke issued from the chimney. One +does not sit at home fireless in the Far North. +A great fear was on her as she halted the dogs +before the cabin-door, and none came forth +to greet her.</p> + +<p>Nell's misery, like that of most persons in +this world of mistaken ideas, was of her own +making. Hardly had she clambered down +stiffly from the sled, when the cabin-door +swung open, and Jim Maxwell stepped out. +At sight of his visitor, whom he recognized in +the first glance, he uttered an ejaculation of +astonishment, and advanced toward her +quickly. His thought on seeing her alone<span class="pagenum">[228]</span> +thus before his cabin was that some serious accident +must have befallen her husband. He +was deeply concerned over the girl's plight, +and sympathy showed in his face with a sincerity +of feeling that touched the girl deeply—so +deeply, indeed, that for a few seconds +after he was come to her, she could only stand +wordless, with her hands in his firm clasp, her +eyes glowing with the gratitude and the relief +with which his presence inspired her.</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell's voice was softer than it had +been in more than a decade of years.</p> + +<p>"Why, child, what's the matter?" he asked +soothingly. "Whatever it is, we'll make it +come out all right. Tell me about it."</p> + +<p>Nell choked down her emotion, and presently +regained a fair degree of self-control.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad—so glad you're here, Mr. +Maxwell!" Her voice throbbed with feeling. +It stirred to a new life a joy long dead +in the man's bosom—joy in the realization that +some one wanted him. It had been twelve +years since any one had wanted him.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," he repeated. His tone was even<span class="pagenum">[229]</span> +gentler than before. The warmth of it +cheered the girl like a draft of rich wine.</p> + +<p>Nell fumbled at her bosom for a moment, +and drew forth the note that Jack had written. +She held it out, and Jim Maxwell took it from +her, and read it through with growing astonishment.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:363px"> + <a href="images/p249f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p249t.jpg" width="363" height="235" alt="p249t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">JIM MAXWELL TOOK THE NOTE FROM HER AND READ IT THROUGH WITH GROWING ASTONISHMENT.</p> + +<p>After he had scanned it for a second time, +he looked up at the expectant girl, with a puzzled, +though no less kindly, glance.</p> + +<p>"But what does it all mean?" he asked. "I +suppose the note is from your husband?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," assented Nell hurriedly. "He's going +to escape."</p> + +<p>Jim patted the girl's hand reassuringly.</p> + +<p>"Now, just take it easy," he counseled. +"You must remember that I don't know a +thing about it. So, you're going to tell me +everything that's happened, and what your +husband is going to escape from."</p> + +<p>The calmness of the speaker's voice quieted +Nell's excitement, and she proceeded to relate +without confusion an outline of what had occurred.<span class="pagenum">[230]</span></p> + +<p>"Poor little girl!" her listener said tenderly, +when the narrative was concluded. "Well, +he did right to send word to me. I owe you +two more than I can pay. And don't you +worry, my dear. This cloud will pass +quickly. The sunshine will be all the brighter +after the shadow." His manner changed, and +he spoke briskly. "Now, you get into the +cabin. I'd only just got back from my line +and kindled the fire when you came. The +stove, I guess, is about white-hot by now. I'll +attend to the dogs."</p> + +<p>Nell went obediently, full of happy reliance +on the strength of this man, who was at +once so courteous and so kind. She smiled +over her distress of a few minutes before. +Now, a thick column of smoke rose into the +still air from the cabin-chimney.</p> + +<p>Inside the tiny room, Nell glanced about +her with a curious sense of contentment. +There was something homelike in the aspect +of the place, despite its bareness. It was +plainly, even roughly, furnished with a few +tables and chairs besides the stove and bunk.<span class="pagenum">[231]</span> +The only decorations were the skins that hung +on the log-walls. An oil-lamp was on a small +table in a corner. On the large table in the +opposite corner were some tins of meat, a +saucepan, a few pieces of heavy crockery, and +the like. Nell could not interpret the strange +effect wrought upon her by these surroundings. +She had felt it, in some measure, on the +occasion of her first visit to the cabin. Now, +however, its force seemed vastly stronger. +She puzzled over it in vain. She tried to +think it was the sense of relief that so affected +her. But she knew that this was not the explanation. +She had that inexplicable feeling +of being at home. There was no visible +cause. Whatever the reason, it lay beneath +the surface of things. It was something in +the atmosphere, some psychic quality.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Nell that the impression made +upon her by this room in the cabin was intensified +by the entrance of the dweller there, +who greeted her with his friendly, gentle +smile. Indeed, the kindliness of that smile +and the look in the grave eyes touched the girl<span class="pagenum">[232]</span> +anew to thankfulness that this man would devote +himself to her service in the time of need. +She thought to herself that Mr. Maxwell must +always have been a very kindly man to all, +because he smiled so easily, notwithstanding +the sadness of his face in repose. She could +not know that, through two-thirds of the years +measuring her span of life, Jim Maxwell had +not smiled at all.</p> + +<p>"First," Jim commanded, "throw off the +outside things, and make yourself at home. +You're going to stay awhile."</p> + +<p>Nell would have protested. But the man +raised a monitory hand.</p> + +<p>"It's no use your arguing about it," he said; +and Nell recognized the masterful note in his +voice, though he spoke as gently as before. +She was rebellious, but she listened patiently +while he went on to explain.</p> + +<p>"You see, my dear, this is men's work. +There might be a hitch somewhere. There +might even be a bit of a mix-up. You'd only +be in the way then, young lady. We may +have our hands full, without you on them. +Probably everything will be all right. Anyhow, +we'll do our best, and to do it we mustn't +be hampered by the presence of a non-combatant. +We'll come straight here as fast as +my dogs can bring us. That will give you a +chance to rest up. You'll just have to wait +here till we come. I don't say that that isn't +the hardest part of the whole job. But that's +woman's work—waiting."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[233]</span></p> + + +<p>Jim had spoken thus frankly and at length, +in the hope of avoiding useless discussion of +a matter concerning which discussion could +avail nothing, and he succeeded; for Nell +yielded at once, very meekly.</p> + +<p>"You're right, of course," she said, unhappily. +"And you're right, too, about my having +the hardest part in just sitting here with +my hands folded, while I don't know what is +happening to Jack."</p> + +<p>"Better unfold them," Jim suggested with +a chuckle, "and rustle yourself some grub." +He waved his hand toward the larger table. +"The larder is quite at your service. As for +me, I'll get ready and start at once. That'll<span class="pagenum">[234]</span> +get me to the edge of Kalmak soon after dark, +so that I'll be all ready and waiting—just like +you!—for whatever's to happen."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Nell said, and again there was the +emphasis of anxiety in her voice, "you must +start at once. You must be there, ready for +Jack when he comes."</p> + +<p>Yet, in spite of this decision on the part of +both that the man should start immediately, +it was ordained by the Fates that there should +be some delay; for this was an hour fraught +with momentous things for the two thus cast +together in the solitary cabin on the mountainside.</p> + +<p>It was as Jim Maxwell began his preparations +for the journey that he chanced—or that +he was guided—to stand close to the girl, facing +her. His eyes were caught by a golden +gleam, which seemed pulsing, as it moved in +the rhythm of her breathing. His gaze rested +there idly at first. And then, a moment later, +his attention was drawn to a more careful +scrutiny—just why, he did not know. Perhaps, +as some maintain, a secret, tenuous vibration<span class="pagenum">[235]</span> +emanated from the metal, and moved +to response a sleeping memory of old associations +in the man's soul. Whatever the cause, +Jim Maxwell's eyes were seized and held fast +by the locket lying on Nell's breast.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden, he started violently. He +thrust his head forward, with a movement so +abrupt, almost threatening in its seeming, that +the girl, in her turn, was startled, and withdrew +a step, half-fearful.</p> + +<p>"I want to see that locket you are wearing." +Jim Maxwell spoke in a tone that Nell had +not heard before. It rang with a note of +command not to be denied. She gazed affrighted +at the change in his face. The kindliness +was fled from it. It was imperious, +ruthless, with a trace of underlying savagery. +The young wife was dazed by the metamorphosis +in the man on whom depended now her +husband's rescue. And she was afraid, as well—no +longer with a doubtful fear, but with a +real terror before the expression in that +heavily lined face, out of which the eyes stared +at her with a cruel insistence.<span class="pagenum">[236]</span></p> + +<p>"I want to see that locket you are wearing," +he repeated harshly, and held out his right +hand with the palm upward to receive it.</p> + +<p>Without a word, Nell took off the chain +from her neck, and dropped it with the locket +into the waiting palm. Then, she moved a +little aside, shrinking from the new being with +whom she found herself. But, after a few seconds, +she forgot her own emotion, her alarm, +her anxiety in behalf of her husband. For +she was looking on the soul of a man, bared in +agony. So great and so terrible was that revelation +that, very quickly, she turned her +gaze aside that she might not see.</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell remained with his eyes fixed +on the little locket, which bore for an ornament +an initial <i>N</i> traced in tiny pearls. He +could not doubt. It was the locket that he +had caused to be made for his daughter, for +Nell—his little girl! Presently, he would +open it, to see if the pictures of Lou and of +himself were still within. But, in this first +burst of emotion, he could only stand moveless +there, racked by all the torments of memory.<span class="pagenum">[237]</span> +It was the tearing open of wounds, which, +though they had never healed, had ceased to +bleed. Now, they bled afresh, and it seemed +to him that his soul was drowning in the blood.</p> + +<p>The fierceness of his first emotion passed. +Suddenly, it was as if a cloud lifted from his +brain, and he became aware of himself standing +there in the cabin. A moment before—or +was it ages?—he had been in heaven—and +in hell. Now, he was back in the cabin in the +wilderness. And he was glad to be there, for +it was home....</p> + +<p>Again, his attention was caught by the gleam +of the gold within his hands. He recognized +the locket. But, at last, he was able to accept +its presence with some degree of calm.</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell turned to the girl, and addressed +her gently enough, but still with that +dominant tone which would brook no denial.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get this locket?"</p> + +<p>"I have had it always," she answered. +None could doubt her truth as she spoke, with +the clear eyes meeting her questioner's stern +gaze squarely.<span class="pagenum">[238]</span></p> + +<p>The severity of the man's expression yielded +a little.</p> + +<p>"Who gave it to you?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>Jim frowned at this check.</p> + +<p>"But you must know," he insisted.</p> + +<p>Nell shook her head resolutely.</p> + +<p>"I do not remember who gave it to me," she +repeated. "But I don't remember anything +about myself when I was a very little girl. +I've had the locket always, just as far back as +I can remember."</p> + +<p>"How far back can you remember?" It +was a perfunctory question.</p> + +<p>"Papa and Mamma Ross, who saved me +from the river, guessed that I was five or six +years old. They decided on calling it six."</p> + +<p>"And you had the locket then?"</p> + +<p>Nell nodded assent again.</p> + +<p>"And how old are you now?"</p> + +<p>"I'm just eighteen."</p> + +<p>As his brain took in the figures, and made a +mechanical calculation, Jim Maxwell's form, +which had relaxed a little, grew tense again.<span class="pagenum">[239]</span> +His eyes searched the girl's face with a strange +hunger in the intensity of the gaze. Twelve +years! Twelve years ago, this girl here before +him, who knew nothing as to her life +prior to that time, had been saved from a river. +And she had worn the locket that he had +caused to be fashioned for his daughter, Nell. +And twelve years ago his wife and his daughter, +Nell, had vanished. The incredible +crowded in his thoughts. Could mother and +child, by an evil stroke of fate, have been +caught somewhere in treacherous waters? +Could one have perished, and the other have +escaped? Could this girl, who stood there +wondering at him—could she be that child, +his little Nell, grown to this splendid womanhood? +The thoughts electrified him. Was +it possible that there was still left for him in +life this supreme consolation—a creature +whom he might love with all his heart, who +would love him in return?</p> + +<p>But Jim Maxwell dared not believe. He +was afraid of hope, lest it become despair to +destroy him. Yet, the chief influences that<span class="pagenum">[240]</span> +wrought upon him were his own desire that +this miracle might be truth, and the new and +singular yearning of his heart toward Nell.</p> + +<p>Presently, Jim Maxwell approached the +girl where she was standing a little aloof. +He reached out and put his hand on her arm. +The girl started at his touch, but, for some +reason she could not understand, she did not +shrink from him now. He spoke very softly; +and in his voice there was a music that penetrated +to the girl's soul.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:356px"> + <a href="images/p258f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p258t.jpg" width="356" height="229" alt="p258t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE GIRL STARTED AT HIS TOUCH BUT SHE DID NOT SHRINK FROM HIM NOW.</p> + +<p>"You are my daughter—my little Nell!... +God has given you back to me."</p> + +<p>The girl did not doubt. As with the man, +her own yearning bore witness. She offered +no resistance, but yielded with a reverent joy +to the caress, as her father turned her about +until she faced him, then stooped and kissed +her on the forehead.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[241]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<p>In the tedious hours of waiting after parting +from Nell, Jack Reeves was infinitely +cheered by the consciousness that he would +have for an ally in this crisis one such as Jim +Maxwell. Often, there came into the prisoner's +thought a memory of how he had last +seen the trapper. He had turned for a look +back as the sled dropped to the level of the +valley. The solitary dweller in that wild +place had been standing erect and motionless +before the cabin—a splendid figure of a man, +posed in unconscious majesty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:217px"> + <a href="images/p259f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p259t.jpg" width="217" height="333" alt="p259t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">A SPLENDID FIGURE OF A MAN, POSED IN UNCONSCIOUS MAJESTY.</p> + +<p>There was, of course, the risk that Jim +Maxwell might be away from the cabin and +so not available to render assistance. That +risk, however, could not be avoided, since +there was no one else to whom appeal might +be made. But Jack was able to hold an optimistic +frame of mind. Somehow the effect<span class="pagenum">[242]</span> +made upon him by the stranger whom he and +Nell had rescued from death was such that +he felt a certain confidence as to the outcome +of his plan, merely because it depended vitally +on the coöperation of Jim Maxwell. Jack +was sure that he could have secured this assistance, +even had there been no sense of obligation +to bind the stranger to his service. +With Jim Maxwell's obvious and profound +gratitude for having been rescued from death, +there could be no doubt concerning his response +to the prisoner's call for help.</p> + +<p>Though he was busy with thoughts concerning +his projected flight, Jack found the +day dragging endlessly. It seemed an eternity +before at last the shadows lengthened into +night. Then, indeed, when patience was least +needed, it became most difficult. Now that +the time was so near at hand, the minutes +crawled with a sluggishness that was exasperating. +It seemed to Jack that the sheriff purposed +to sit in the adjoining room throughout +the night. It was only when he looked at his +watch that the fretting captive learned how<span class="pagenum">[243]</span> +anxiety deceived him, for it yet lacked a half-hour +of the official's usual retiring time.</p> + +<p>Finally, since all things have an end, the +sheriff stood up, and, after an amiable but +formal good-night, went out into the living-quarters +of the house. Followed an hour that +was still more laggard than any of those that +had preceded it in this most laggard day. +Jack had decided that there could be no need +of waiting until late at night before making +his attempt. There were only two classes +among the citizens of the town. One went to +bed early; the other went very late—if at all. +The prisoner hoped that the first class would +sleep too soundly to have any knowledge of +his undertaking until too late to thwart it; +that the second class would be too drunk for +serious interference.</p> + +<p>When he deemed it time to begin his preparations +for escape, Jack gathered the most inflammable +parts of the litter on the floor. +There was more than sufficient for his purpose, +since the sheriff, however great his other +official virtues, was by no manner of means a<span class="pagenum">[244]</span> +tidy person. This collection of fragments of +paper and wood was stacked against the partition +that separated the cell from the outer +room, midway on one side of the door. The +prisoner was at pains to use only paper and +splinters, which would burn with little smoke. +He had chosen the only possible point of attack +for his purpose. The other three walls +of the cell were of heavy timbers, which could +have been set on fire only with difficulty, and, +once well alight, would have assuredly roasted +to death any one in the place, since there could +have been no possibility of breaking through +them.</p> + +<p>The situation was different as to the wall +in which the door was set. This was made of +boards, instead of logs. They were too heavy +to be broken through by blows from the heavy +chair, which was the only tool available to the +prisoner. Jack had conceived the possibility +of setting fire to some of the lower boards, +and thus weakening them to a point where +they would yield to his attack. So, now,<span class="pagenum">[245]</span> +when he had placed his kindling in position, +he made ready with the match.</p> + +<p>Never was a match struck more carefully. +It was the only one, and on its aid at the outset +the whole attempt of escape rested. Jack +breathed a prayer of thanksgiving as the +match sputtered and flared to a steady flame. +Next moment paper and sticks were burning +briskly. The fire mounted, lapping gently at +the boards of the wall.</p> + +<p>Jack, kneeling closely, watched earnestly. +There was nothing more for him to do now; +he had only to wait for his servant, the fire, +to prepare the way. He shuddered a little +at the thought that the servant might become +the master—that in the end he might perish +miserably in a fire-trap of his own devising.</p> + +<p>He stood up, and, by an effort of will, thrust +the thought from him, lest fear drain him of +the energy needed for the flight to come. He +forced himself to think of anything else, +rather than of a failure so horrible—of Nell, +who would be waiting for him in a mood of<span class="pagenum">[246]</span> +hope and despair intermingled; of Jim Maxwell, +who would be ready in this time of need. +He pictured the trapper with his dogs, waiting +patiently on the snow where the spruce +shadows fell.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:351px"> + <a href="images/p269f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p269t.jpg" width="351" height="231" alt="p269t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">THE TRAPPER, WITH HIS DOGS, WAITING PATIENTLY ON THE SNOW.</p> + +<p>The flame rose higher and higher. The +dry boards in the partition were smoking. +Little lines of sparks ran over the rough surface, +then died. The smoke from the boards +grew heavier. The acrid odor filled the cell. +Jack coughed and dropped again to his knees, +in order to avoid the worst of the fumes. The +heat increased, but it was not sufficient to +cause any particular discomfort. Jack had +vastly more fear that the increasing volume of +smoke might overcome him before he should +have opportunity for carrying out his project. +Presently, however, he was greatly heartened +by observing that there was draft which +carried the greater part of the smoke out of +the cell through the grating in the door. As +he looked, he saw that the other room was +filled already with dense clouds of smoke. +He took further comfort from the fact that<span class="pagenum">[247]</span> +the fumes were not apparently escaping into +the main body of the house, where they might +have given the alarm.</p> + +<p>In the cell, the lower boards of the partition +had burst into flame. The heat from +them was now so great that Jack crawled +away from it into the farthest corner. The +tiny room was like an oven, and to add to the +discomfort of it and the deadly danger, the +smoke thickened visibly, notwithstanding the +current passing out through the door.</p> + +<p>Jack realized, with a thrill of horror, that +here was a duel—a duel to the death. It was +a duel between him and those fiercely darting +flames. Rather, it was a duel between him +and those blazing boards in the partition—a +duel of endurance between him and them. +Which would be the first to yield? If the +boards should hold out the longer, then he—! +Jack shuddered once again, with a wry smile +over the irony of fate. Here, in this rigorous +climate, men went often hand-in-hand with a +Death whose scythe was edged with ice. +Jack had contemplated the possibility of being<span class="pagenum">[248]</span> +some time struck down by the numbing +cold. It had never occurred to him that in +this Arctic land he might die in a hell of his +own stoking.</p> + +<p>The stifling prisoner dared hope that at last +the blaze had weakened the boards sufficiently +for his purpose. Whether or no, his suffering +drove him to action. The heat was intolerable +now. Sweat poured from him. The +pungent smoke blinded him, and bit cruelly +at throat and lungs. Still without rising to +his feet, Jack laid hold of the chair, which was +just beside him, and hobbled clumsily toward +the partition, pushing the chair before him.</p> + +<p>Even this comparatively slight exertion +caused the perspiration to gush in new abundance, +and here, closer to the flame, the temperature +was well-nigh unbearable. Jack's +head swam. He felt his senses failing. It +was only by a tremendous effort that he regained +control of himself. He was aware of +his mortal peril. Any least weakening or faltering +now would mean his destruction. It +was, indeed, a duel to the death—a duel of +endurance between him and a foe that knew +no mercy.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[249]</span></p> + + +<p>Jack realized, as well, that there could be +no delay in the issue. He must act at once, +if he were to act at all. A minute later would +be forever too late. His brain was reeling. +His agonized flesh could not longer withstand +the strain. He felt his energies flow out of +him like water.... What he would do must +be done instantly—or not at all.</p> + +<p>Jack drew a long breath, sprang up, swung +the chair, and brought it crashing against the +boards of the partition where the flames +burned most furiously. The wall did not +break, though it seemed to yield a little under +the blow. But, before he could try another +assault, dizziness sent him staggering away +from the unbearable heat and smoke of that +spot. He dropped to the floor, where he lay +stretched at full length, panting in choking +breaths. For a few seconds he was in the +grip of despair. He felt himself impotent, +doomed to shameful death in this furnace-hole.<span class="pagenum">[250]</span></p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the spirit of the young man, +albeit fainting, was not dead. It aroused +presently. And it quickened the flesh. Once +again Jack acted. His brain was dulled. +He was hardly conscious of thought. The +whole strength of his being was concentrated +in his will to make a last, supreme effort. +Again, after a deep breath, he leaped to his +feet, seized the chair and hurled it against the +center of the flaming mass with every atom of +his strength.</p> + +<p>In the interval since his first attempt, the +fire that threatened him with death had, notwithstanding, +been working in his behalf, +weakening still more the boards, his enemies +in this duel of endurance. The heavy chair +burst through the blazing barrier and fell +noisily in the other room.</p> + +<p>Joy surged in the prisoner. Under the +stimulus of it, he forgot pain and feebleness. +He rushed at the flaming wall and kicked +clear a larger opening. Then he plunged +through the flames.</p> + +<p>Jack fell headlong on the floor of the sheriff's<span class="pagenum">[251]</span> +office. By instinct, he remained prostrate, +with his face against the floor, else he +must have strangled. But instinct urged him +onward. He crept toward the window, +which, fortunately, was on the side of the +room where he had fallen. His eyes were +shut fast now, for the smoke had blinded him. +But his groping hand, upraised, found the +window-sash. Once more Jack held his +scant breath as he got to his feet. He drove +his elbows through the panes. The zero air +enwrapped him. The touch of it was bliss. +It brought blessed life to the seared lungs. +Jack took one great breath of it. Then he put +a foot to the window-ledge, drew himself up +and went through, amid the noise of rending +glass and wood. Without an instant of pause, +or a single glance backward, he was off, plowing +his way through the heaped-up snow, +which bordered the clear space beyond the +buildings. In another minute he was on the +solid crust. Thus he ran on in a line parallel +with the one street of the village, but behind +the buildings that straggled there. He passed<span class="pagenum">[252]</span> +the last of these, and saw before him the white +reaches of the valley, without sign of life anywhere, +beckoning him on to freedom. His +stride quickened and he went forward jubilantly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> + <a href="images/p268f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p268t.jpg" width="357" height="231" alt="p268t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">WITHOUT AN INSTANT PAUSE, HE WAS OFF, PLOWING HIS WAY THROUGH THE SNOW.</p> + +<p>A hail came to Jack's ears. He looked in +the direction of the sound and saw, a little to +the right of the trail, a ghostly silhouette, even +as he had pictured it—the trapper, with his +dogs, waiting patiently on the snow where the +spruce shadows fell.<span class="pagenum">[253]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<p>Nell, standing before the cabin-door, +peered for the hundredth time that +night across the valley. Her eyes seemed to +catch in the far distance a hint of movement, +a flickering shadow out there in the dim light +of snow beneath starlight. It was gone in +the same instant. It must have been a trickery +of vision. No! there it was again—a +shadow that moved, a tiniest speck, but real. +Nell's hands went to her bosom convulsively. +It could be none other than Mr. Maxwell—her +father—coming there. Did he come +alone? She stood with straining eyes in a +torment of doubt. Soon she was able to make +out that only one figure ran with the moving +sled. It was as if the heart died in her. +Then, in the next moment, she thought that +she could distinguish vaguely the outlines of +another form on the sled. She was a-tremble<span class="pagenum">[254]</span> +with hope. The sled rushed toward her up +the slope, the wearied dogs mending their +pace in the frantic delight of home-coming. +It was certainty now. Nell could see the man +on the sled. He waved a hand to her. A cry +of rapture burst from her lips. Within the +minute, she was clasped to her husband's +breast—all sorrows forgot.</p> + +<p>Presently, when the first excitement of the +reunion was over, and the three were together +in the cheery warmth of the cabin, Jack told +his story very briefly, whereat Nell paled and +trembled as she realized how near to death +this night had been the man she loved. But, +when the fugitive finished the story with his +arrival at the point where Jim Maxwell +waited, Nell suddenly rose and went to the +older man and threw herself on his breast +and kissed him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:353px"> + <a href="images/p278f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p278t.jpg" width="353" height="233" alt="p278t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">WHEN THE FIRST EXCITEMENT OF THE REUNION WAS OVER, JACK TOLD HIS STORY.</p> + +<p>"Father, if it hadn't been for you—!"</p> + +<p>Jack regarded the scene in amazement, not +untinged by disapproval. Gratitude was all +very well, but it need not express itself too +extravagantly. Then he almost forgot the<span class="pagenum">[255]</span> +embrace in wonder over the word—"father!"</p> + +<p>"Eh?" he questioned confusedly. "You've +adopted him? That is, he's adopted you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Nell exclaimed, drawing away from +her father to regard him with consternation. +"Didn't you tell him?"</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell smiled very tenderly.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't tell him. I thought maybe +you'd like to do that yourself, dear."</p> + +<p>Nell kissed her father again, with such enthusiasm +that Jack's disapproval returned +with increased bitterness.</p> + +<p>"You're a darling, Father," she declared +happily. In the reaction from her suffering, +she was bubbling over with girlish gayety. +"I'd just love to tell him. It will be such fun +to see his eyes pop out."</p> + +<p>It was fun—and something deeper and +sweeter. Jack, for his part, welcomed the +fact of this new relationship with the man +so curiously and intimately brought into his +life. He rejoiced for his own sake, and he +rejoiced more for Nell's; since now she need +no longer mourn over being a nameless waif,<span class="pagenum">[256]</span> +though the mystery of her life was only partly +explained.</p> + +<p>The hands of the two met in a warm clasp, +and their eyes met no less warmly in a firm, +honest gaze of mutual liking and respect.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I've done a pretty good day's +work," Jim said, with a whimsical smile to +mask his emotion. "I've got a daughter and +a son, too—both in one day. And I didn't +have anybody before—not for twelve years." +There was a pathetic intensity in his voice, +which touched the two hearers to a new appreciation +of this man's great loneliness. +Then Jim Maxwell shrugged his shoulders, as +if he would cast off the mood of emotion. He +spoke rapidly now, with incisive directness.</p> + +<p>"You must get across the Border as fast as +you can. I'll tell you some short cuts." He +had driven his dogs often to Malamute, and +knew the ways by which the fugitives might +gain advantage over their pursuers. "You've +had an hour here, and it would be risky to wait +any longer before starting out. They may be +after you any minute."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[257]</span></p> + +<br /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> + <a href="images/p279f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p279t.jpg" width="357" height="236" alt="p279t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">HE HAD OFTEN DRIVEN HIS DOGS TO MALAMUTE.</p> + +<p>"They may think I've been burned up in +the fire," Jack suggested.</p> + +<p>Jim shook his head in dissent.</p> + +<p>"No. Those logs would take a good bit of +burning. Somebody would give the alarm, +and they'd tumble out to see the fire, and +they'd see that window you'd smashed +through."</p> + +<p>"And I had to wade through some loose +snow," Jack added. "They'd find my tracks +fast enough."</p> + +<p>"Tracks leading this way! I tell you, +there's no time to be lost. You know the +trails to Malamute. Make it as quick as +you can. From there, strike across the Border."</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by Nell, who exclaimed +impulsively:</p> + +<p>"But, Father, what about you? I can't +bear the thought of leaving you now, when +I've just found you after all these years."</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell smiled down on his daughter +with deep fondness.</p> + +<p>"When you're in Canada, write to me here—to<span class="pagenum">[258]</span> +Kalmak, telling me where you will be, +and I'll join you very soon."</p> + +<p>He turned to Jack and gave explicit directions +as to how the route to Malamute might +be shortened profitably. When he was sure +that the young man had understood, he turned +again to Nell.</p> + +<p>"I'm not quite so poor as I look, little girl," +he said, smiling. "When I join you I'll have +a wedding-present ready for you—for you, +and for the boy here." His glance went affectionately +to Jack, who returned it with like +affection.</p> + +<p>Preparations for the departure of the two +were speedily made. The farewells were uttered; +father and daughter kissed tenderly; +the men shook hands heartily. Then the +dogs, in fine fettle after ample food and rest, +leaped forward with joyous energy. The +night was clear enough to see the way distinctly; +there was no danger of mistaking the +trail. On and on they flew over the frozen +surface of the snow, following the valleys that +trended to the east. Warmly clad and habituated<span class="pagenum">[259]</span> +to icy airs, the two did not suffer any +discomfort from the bitter cold of the wind +created by their rapid motion through the +night. On the contrary, it set their blood +tingling with the joy of life. Both were gloriously +happy. The starlight was as noon-day +since they had come out of the valley of the +shadow.</p> + +<p>Thus they went forward swiftly, Nell +stretched at ease, Jack riding and running by +turns. In the twilight of dawn, they came on +a native family comfortably encamped, and +here they halted for an hour, that the dogs +might be fed and rested, and that they, too, +might eat and rest. They basked contentedly +in the cheery heat from the flames, and at last +took leave of their stolid hosts almost reluctantly. +Then, once again, they went skimming +over the waste, as the pale-yellow sun +crept languidly above the horizon. The +slanting beams set all the scene a-shimmer +with prismatic radiance from the snow crystals. +Hitherto, the two had been content with +silence, happy in the knowledge that they<span class="pagenum">[260]</span> +were together and that the speeding miles put +peril far behind. Now, however, with the +quickening life of day, the placid mood came +to an end. They became lively, garrulous, +demonstrative. Nell insisted that Jack +should rehearse for her anew every detail of +his escape from the jail. The husband, in +turn, demanded a full account of how father +and daughter had become known to each +other. Both were curious to know the story +of Jim Maxwell's life. They could not forbear +many speculations as to the nature of the +events that had driven this man, whom Jack +liked and esteemed, and whom Nell had already +grown to love, to isolate himself thus in +the desolate North. But they could only +guess, since the father had told nothing of +himself, except the single fact of his relationship +to Nell.</p> + +<p>They made Malamute in mid-afternoon. +Jack halted the dogs in front of the chief +structure in the place, which, though nominally +only a saloon, was in fact the hotel and +trading post.<span class="pagenum">[261]</span></p> + +<p>"Don't get out, Nell," Jack directed. "I'll +have to get directions here for the next stage +in the journey. Maybe we'll have to stay for +the night, and maybe we won't. I'll be back +in a minute." With that he hurried off and +entered the saloon.</p> + +<p>As the door swung open to admit the newcomer, +the few men straggling along the bar, +or lounging at the tables, looked up in mild +curiosity to see who this might be. Only one +showed any especial interest in the stranger. +This single exception was a man who sat by +a table placed against the wall at right angles +to the bar. He had been lazily busy over a +game of solitaire, while the woman seated +across the table from him looked on listlessly. +At Jack's entrance, he had looked up with +languid attention. On the instant, he was +transformed. All the indifference of his expression +vanished. His face showed first an +unbounded amazement, then rage. Finally, +another emotion—hardly fear, but a furtive +anxiety closely akin to fear. He watched +covertly as the escaped prisoner went up to the<span class="pagenum">[262]</span> +bar, where, after ordering a drink, he began +questioning the bartender concerning the +most direct route to the Border.</p> + +<p>Having secured the information he required, +Jack went back to Nell, who sat waiting +on the sled, snug within her furs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:350px"> + <a href="images/p296f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p296t.jpg" width="350" height="228" alt="p296t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">JACK WENT BACK TO NELL, WHO SAT ON THE SLED, SNUG WITHIN HER FURS.</p> + +<p>"We'd better stay here for the night," he +explained, "and make an early start in the +morning."</p> + +<p>Nell got down from the sled obediently and +accompanied her husband into the saloon, +where arrangements for their entertainment +were speedily concluded. It was only after +the two had gone upstairs to the room assigned +them that the man, who had held his head bent +low over the spread-out cards of the solitaire +game during their presence, looked up and +beckoned to a tall, rough-featured individual +standing alone at one end of the bar. This +was the sheriff of Malamute. As he came +near, Dan McGrew spoke, and his voice +rasped.</p> + +<p>"Did you recognize that chap with the +girl?"<span class="pagenum">[263]</span></p> + +<p>"Never laid eyes on him before," the official +averred. "What about it?"</p> + +<p>"When I was down at Kalmak the other +day," Dangerous Dan answered impressively, +"they arrested that fellow for murder. He's +broken jail."</p> + +<p>The sheriff grinned contentedly.</p> + +<p>"Then right here's where he breaks in +again. I'll see to that. You're sure there's +no mistake?"</p> + +<p>"No mistake!" was the terse assurance. +"I'll swear to his identity if necessary. But +probably there'll be somebody after him +pretty soon, as they'd figure he'd take this way +for the Border."</p> + +<p>"I thought you were going in the morning," +the sheriff objected. "I'll have to +have you for a witness, if nobody else turns +up."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll stay, all right!" Dan laughed.</p> + +<p>And the Fates must have laughed with him, +and at him, in mockery; for, in this last malignant +act, Dangerous Dan McGrew worked +evil against himself and none other.... Lou,<span class="pagenum">[264]</span> +looking on apathetically, wondered why Dan +should be so eager to deliver over a fugitive +from justice. He was not usually so intolerant +of crime!<span class="pagenum">[265]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<p>Jim Maxwell, left alone in his cabin, +had company a-plenty in thronging +thoughts. His mood, on the whole, was +nearer to one of happiness than any he had +known before in the years since the wrecking +of his home. The discovery of his daughter +had filled him with pure delight. Had she +been other than she was, this recovery of her +would still have filled him with gladness. To +find her so lovely and so winsome in her personality +moved him to proud exaltation. He +looked forward to companionship with her in +the years to come, and thanked Providence +for this assuagement of past loneliness and +sorrow. He was grateful, too, for the fact +that she had entrusted her life's happiness to +one who seemed worthy, so far as any man +might be, of such a treasure. Since he had<span class="pagenum">[266]</span> +no son of his own, Jim Maxwell rejoiced over +this gift of his daughter's bringing to him.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, it was in this connection that +the otherwise happy father found ground for +anxiety, and that anxiety pressed upon him +heavily. His understanding of the circumstances, +which was wider than that of the +young persons involved, made him appreciate +the evil consequence that must ensue from the +present situation. Either Jack would escape +across the Border, or he would not. In the +latter contingency, there would be immediate +peril of his life on being brought back to Kalmak; +for Jim had been told, what Nell had +not, of the probable lynching by men impatient +of the law's delay. But, with the fugitive's +escape safely accomplished, there would +remain always a stigma on the young man's +reputation. Throughout his life, he would +go in constant danger of being pointed out as +a jail-breaker and murderer. Jim Maxwell +would not tolerate such a fate for one near +and dear to him, and dearest to his daughter. +He made a last round of his traps, bringing<span class="pagenum">[267]</span> +them in and storing them in the cabin preparatory +to his departure. And in his progress +over the miles, his thoughts were grappling +always with the problems by which he +was confronted. It was not until nightfall, +as he sat smoking cozily in the warm comfort +of the cabin, which had been blest by his +daughter's presence, that he at last reached a +decision. He had little fear of a lynching in +case of Jack's recapture; for he meant to take +a hand himself in coming events, and he believed +that the sheriff at Kalmak, though he +knew the official to be of a spineless sort, +would make a stand against the mob with his +backing. So he dismissed any immediate +concern over the retaking of the escaped prisoner. +There remained, however, the matter +of the stigma. He would not let his son-in-law, +Nell's husband, whom she loved, be thus +branded by the world. There was only one +means of prevention. The young man's innocence +must be proved. With the evidence +against him such as it was, that innocence +could be established in a single way, and in<span class="pagenum">[268]</span> +none other—by proving the identity of Sam +Ward's actual slayer. Since this was so, Jim +Maxwell decided that he himself must bend +every energy to tracing out the truth concerning +the crime of which Jack Reeves stood +accused. Before he slept that night, he resolved +that with the dawn he would start for +Kalmak, there to begin his work.</p> + +<p>In the morning, then, Jim Maxwell set +forth on his quest. On arrival at Kalmak, he +halted his dogs before the Grand Hotel, +where he judged, from a slight acquaintance +with the sheriff, that he would find the official +in the bar-room. In this he was proven +right; for, on entering the saloon, the first +person his gaze encountered was the sheriff +himself, who stood at the end of the bar facing +the door, with an expression of profound +melancholy upon his horse-like face. Jim, +with only a nod to the others, went straight to +the sheriff, whom he greeted with an assumption +of deference, since he was well aware of +the fellow's pet vanity.</p> + +<p>"And what's new?" he asked innocently,<span class="pagenum">[269]</span> +after he had given an order to the bar-tender.</p> + +<p>The sheriff could hardly pause to drain his +glass, so eager was he to pour out his woes +to one who had not yet heard them. There +was nothing in the narrative that increased the +stock of information already possessed by the +questioner. It was not until Jim Maxwell +had pursued a cross-examination for some time +that there came a revelation of importance. +This, when it did come, crashed on him like +a thunderbolt.</p> + +<p>"Have there been any other strangers in +the place lately?" he demanded, desirous of +any clew to the possible murderer.</p> + +<p>"Nary one," the sheriff responded dismally. +"It's been dull as ditch-water all winter hereabouts. +Hain't anybody come in for a month—leastways, +only Dan McGrew, and he ain't +a stranger exactly—not by a long shot!"</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew! The name screamed in Jim +Maxwell's brain. Dan McGrew, here—within +reach of his two hands!</p> + +<p>He stood motionless, unhearing, unseeing. +Beneath the concealing beard, his cheeks were<span class="pagenum">[270]</span> +bloodless. His thoughts were chaos. The +despair of the years seemed crystallized in this +new anguish over the fact that the enemy had +been here, almost within his grasp, and he +had not known. He seemed to realize as +never before the monstrousness of the crime +committed against him. Hate more savage +than he had known hitherto filled his heart +with its black flood. It seemed the final +crushing blow of fate, that the wrecker of his +home should have come so nearly within his +power and then have escaped unscathed. +For, somehow, he sensed details given by the +sheriff concerning Dan McGrew's going from +Kalmak, though he heard not a word of the +babbling voice.</p> + +<p>Presently, Jim Maxwell aroused from this +trance of rage. He found himself weak and +shaken, and his tone was husky as he ordered +more drinks for himself and for the gratified +sheriff. He gulped the raw liquor hurriedly, +and welcomed the sting of it. He regained +his usual stern composure soon, and, immediately +then, his thoughts took a new turn. He<span class="pagenum">[271]</span> +resumed the prosecution of his inquiries with +increased eagerness. It may have been that +the association of ideas drove him on. Dan +McGrew was to him the epitome of crime. +The presence of Dan McGrew in the neighborhood +struck him as of possible significance. +He was without a shred of evidence, in the +matter of Sam Ward's death, against the man +he hated. Yet, he felt a strange conviction +that here was the clew for which he had +been searching.... The sheriff was highly +pleased by the manifest interest of this trapper, +who, in their previous meetings, had +shown no trace of geniality.</p> + +<p>"You say this Dan McGrew—" Jim stumbled +a little over the name—"was here when +this Reeves chap came in?"</p> + +<p>"Blew in that very self-same day, jest a little +while before the murderer got here."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he hadn't heard of the murder +until he got here?" Jim suggested.</p> + +<p>The sheriff shook his head.</p> + +<p>"We didn't any of us know a thing about +Sam Ward having been killed, until the young<span class="pagenum">[272]</span> +feller drove up and told that cussed yarn about +seein' the murder through his glasses. The +nerve of him! And he'd got away with it, +too, if it hadn't been for Dan McGrew puttin' +it into my head to search his pack."</p> + +<p>The listener started perceptibly at this information.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it was Dan McGrew who first directed +suspicion against this young man, was it?"</p> + +<p>The sheriff was deeply chagrined by his inadvertent +revelation of the truth. He attempted +to hedge.</p> + +<p>"Why, not exactly. Maybe he was the first +to speak right out plain, but I'd been thinkin' +jest that same thing."</p> + +<p>Jim did not care to press the point. He +had no wish to wound the sheriff's sensibilities, +at least while further information might +be extracted from the man. But he regarded +this news concerning the part Dan McGrew +had played in the affair as of vital importance. +While the sheriff maundered on, he rapidly +reviewed the details of the case, so far as he +knew them. +<span class="pagenum">[273]</span></p> + + +<p>The murderer, according to Jack's account, +must have seen the approach of the bridal +pair. The fact was, indeed, proven by his +hasty flight from the scene of the crime. +Thereafter, he might have watched, and probably +had watched, the arrival of the sled, and +he doubtless had been aware that the newcomers +camped on the creek for the night. +Already, in previous study of the questions involved, +Jim had arrived at these conclusions, +which established a plausible explanation for +the presence of the knife-handle in Jack's +pack. Certainly, it could have been no difficult +feat for the assassin to secrete this evidence +during the night encampment. As certainly, +there could have been no other opportunity. +Nor could there be any doubt as to +the motive for the action. It had been for the +purpose of fixing guilt upon the innocent, that +the guilty might go free.</p> + +<p>Now, in addition to these conclusions already +established, there appeared another and +salient fact.</p> + +<p>The person who first suggested the searching<span class="pagenum">[274]</span> +of the pack wherein the knife-handle +lay concealed had been Dan McGrew. The +inference was undeniable. It was made +stronger still by the correlated fact that Dan +McGrew had arrived at Kalmak only shortly +before the coming of the alleged murderer. +By further questioning, Jim drew from the +loquacious sheriff additional data. Dangerous +Dan had arrived on foot. He had talked +of having been in the stampede; but he had +given no precise account of his movements, +nor had he explained the reason for his coming +to Kalmak, over which the sheriff had +puzzled. The day following his arrival, he +had set out for Malamute with a hired outfit.</p> + +<p>A rapid survey of all these circumstances +brought Jim Maxwell to the conviction that +Dangerous Dan McGrew had added murder +to his other crimes. The evidence was by no +means conclusive, but it was sufficient to any +one reasoning from the facts. Jim, sure of +Jack's innocence, regarded the guilt of Dan +McGrew as actually established. There remained +the necessity of final proof, which<span class="pagenum">[275]</span> +would brand the murderer as such before the +world and clear the innocent from unjust suspicion.</p> + +<p>It was reasonable to suppose that the slayer +of Sam Ward had taken to himself, in payment +for his crime, anything of value on the +dead man's body. Thus there was a possibility, +even a probability, that Dangerous Dan +McGrew now carried with him some tangible +evidence that would serve to convict him. +This evidence must be secured. In no other +way could the innocence of Jack Reeves be +proclaimed to the world. And Dangerous +Dan had gone to Malamute. Jim smiled +slowly, staring fixedly, as if his gaze reached +out across the miles. The sheriff, though +hardly a coward, shrank a little from some +strange quality in that look.</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell, in truth, was wondering as +to his exact purpose in going to Malamute. +Was it to save Jack Reeves, or was it to kill +Dangerous Dan McGrew? Both, perhaps.</p> + +<p>He put a last question to the sheriff, who +was puzzled by it—not the less so by reason<span class="pagenum">[276]</span> +of a certain hesitation in the questioner's voice +as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"There wasn't any—any woman with this—Dan +McGrew?"</p> + +<p>"Nope! He's been here three or four times +for a game with the boys. He's square, Dan +is. An' I hain't never seen him look at nary +one of the gals."</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell turned away abruptly from +the sheriff, without a word in parting. The +careless words screeched in his brain, mocking +devils of derision:</p> + +<p>"He's square, Dan is."</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell set his face homeward, and +urged the dogs to their best speed, for he had +much to do and time pressed. He reached +the cabin with the first shadows of dusk, and, +after attending to the dogs, busied himself in +collecting important papers, which must be +carried with him, since he could hazard no +guess as to when he might return to the cabin, +if ever. His skins were to be left behind, +though their total value was a considerable +sum. He had put out his line of traps for<span class="pagenum">[277]</span> +the solace afforded by occupation, rather than +for profit from the pelts. He would leave +them with no regret over the loss involved. +He cared little for money at any time—now, +not at all. The only consideration was that +he must travel fast and light.</p> + +<p>With the dawn Jim Maxwell was off. At +the last, he experienced a pang of regret over +leaving this humble dwelling, where, though +he had companioned so long with misery, he +had, nevertheless, found soothing from the +serenity and the silence, and where, in the end, +he had found a daughter and a daughter's +love. But this regret at parting from the +familiar place was, after all, a trivial thing +compared with the desire to hasten from it to +the accomplishment of the work that awaited. +He was obsessed by the purpose to avenge his +own wrongs and those of his children, as he +had already come to term Nell and Jack in his +thoughts. The object of that vengeance was +Dan McGrew. In these hours of pursuit +after the man who had injured him and his +so foully, his mood was all of fierce hatred.<span class="pagenum">[278]</span> +The tenderness that had stirred and wakened +in his heart with the recognition of his daughter +now slept again. A fury of rage filled +him. This nearness to his enemy inflamed +every passionate memory of wrong. Usually +considerate of every creature, he was now +merciless, and sent the dogs forward at top +speed, cursing them when they lagged.</p> + +<p>As the day advanced, heavy gray clouds +covered the whole face of the heavens. The +light wind which had been blowing from the +east, veered to the north soon after mid-day, +and quickened. It quickened more and more. +Presently it was blowing a gale. And it came +icy cold from the floes within the Circle. +Jim, under the numbing touch, was compelled +to go afoot oftener, in order to make the sluggish +blood bestir itself. Yet his action was +almost automatic, the result of habit formed +in like experiences. He was hardly conscious +of the changed conditions. Though his flesh +felt the ice-lash of the air and fought against +it, the brain inhibited sensation. His thought +was all of the task that awaited. The chill<span class="pagenum">[279]</span> +of the body was nothing to him. He knew +only the hot wrath that throbbed in his blood. +He gave no heed, even when the powdery +snow came in almost level flight. It was +solely the slackening pace of the dogs that had +power to arouse him. Sorely reluctant, he +gave them a breathing spell, and fed them. +He desired no food for himself. He was sustained +by the spirit of vengeance which was +flaming within him. He was not afraid of +the cold, which grew momently more deadly; +nor of the snow, though it fell so thickly that, +when the journey was resumed, the dogs attained +hardly half their former speed. The +flakes flew in masses so dense that it was difficult +to tell whether the darkness were of its +own making or the night were come. He +could still distinguish the peaks by which he +set his course, and, since he went to his destination, +nothing else mattered at all—except +that the dogs dawdled. He cursed them +again. His voice went out to them by turns +raucously savage and imploring.</p> + +<p>The dogs ran floundering through the snow,<span class="pagenum">[280]</span> +which deepened dangerously fast. Ever afterward, +Jim Maxwell believed that, somehow, +the power of righteousness had gone with +him, triumphing in his behalf over the elements +that would have barred his way. It +seemed, indeed, that only a miracle could have +carried him safely through the cold and storm. +He had expected, by unsparing driving of the +dogs, to reach Malamute well before dark. +He himself now had no sense of time, only as +it meant delay in coming face to face with +Dan McGrew. As a matter of fact, it was +ten o'clock at night when his eyes picked out +faint yellow gleams twinkling through the +snow-wrack, which he knew to be the lighted +windows of the Malamute saloon. The dogs +understood that they were come to the journey's +end. They strained at the breast-straps +in a last desperate burst of speed, and then, +unbidden, halted before the door of the saloon +and dropped on their bellies, panting +and slavering. Jim Maxwell with difficulty +stirred his cold-stiffened muscles and clambered +down from the sled. He stood dazed<span class="pagenum">[281]</span> +for a full minute, as if not yet fully conscious +that he had reached the end of the way, that +the hour of vengeance had at last struck.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, Jim Maxwell straightened +himself and squared his shoulders. He +walked to the door of the saloon and opened +it with a steady hand and stepped within, +shaking the snow from his parka as he went. +He halted just inside and stood quietly. At +his entrance, silence had fallen on the noisy +room and the eyes of all were turned on him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> + <a href="images/p297f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p297t.jpg" width="357" height="228" alt="p297t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">HE HALTED JUST INSIDE AND STOOD QUIETLY.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum">[282]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<p>For a time Jim Maxwell stood there +without movement, blinking confusedly, +while his body drank in the steaming warmth. +The men in the room regarded the newcomer +with frank stares of curiosity. He was unknown +to any of them. They guessed him to +be a miner just in from the creeks, dog-tired +from his fight with the storm. Without being +told, one of the hangers-on of the saloon hurried +out to care for the dogs, since their owner +seemed almost helpless. Very soon, in fact, +a suspicion grew in the minds of the observers +that something more than the cold had affected +this stranger.</p> + +<p>"Full of hooch!" was the verdict.</p> + +<p>Presently, Jim's vision cleared. He cast +one piercing glance about the room. He saw +Dangerous Dan McGrew sitting at a table +along the wall, a little way to his left. He<span class="pagenum">[283]</span> +had schooled himself for the sight. There +was no betrayal of the emotion that shook his +soul at first sight of the man who had robbed +him of wife and child and happiness. He +even noted with a savage satisfaction something +constrained in the pose of his enemy, +who sat half-turned toward him, a card suspended +in mid-air. Dan McGrew had seen +him—that was certain. And it was certain, +too, that Dan McGrew would not make the +opening move. Jim Maxwell was content. +His foe hesitated—and hesitation is weakness. +He had no doubt as to his own strength. He +believed it adequate for every demand upon +it.</p> + +<p>He vaunted himself too soon. His eyes +passed beyond the man he hated to the one +who sat on the opposite side of the table. A +darkness fell upon his spirit. He gazed +steadily enough, for he had no power even to +shift the direction of his eyes. There was no +outward sign of the convulsion in his soul. +He remained looking steadfastly at the woman +who had been his wife, at the woman whom he<span class="pagenum">[284]</span> +had loved and lost. None of the onlookers +dreamed that the sight of her meant anything +to this stranger. It was natural that he should +consider her attentively—she was a handsome +woman, in a place where women were rare.</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell's heart died within him. He +had tried so often throughout the years to believe +that the wife, who had been tricked into +deserting him, had at least never been beguiled +into aught unfitting her womanhood. +Now, he saw before him the damning proof +that she had given herself to vileness, to Dangerous +Dan McGrew, whom presently he +would kill....</p> + +<p>But the sight of her dear face! Notwithstanding +all the horror, to see her once again +in the flesh before his eyes was a rapture exquisite, +yet torturing. Her face was the +loved symbol of all his happiness. It was, as +well, the symbol of all hideousness, which had +swallowed up happiness. As he beheld her +thus, ravening emotion devoured his strength. +Suddenly he felt his knees sag. His eyelids +fell of their own weight, so that sight of her<span class="pagenum">[285]</span> +was shut out. The shock of darkness, after +the glory of her face, startled him to realization +of his surroundings and steadied him. +He asserted his will once again. He straightened +and shuffled toward the bar. But he did +not open his eyes until he had fairly turned +his back on the pair at the table by the wall. +Those observing him sniggered and mumbled +again of hooch, when he lurched against the +bar, and clung to it for support as a drunken +man might.... Jim Maxwell was drunken—drunken +with grief and hate and love.</p> + +<p>After a little he recovered some measure of +composure. He drew from his pocket a +buckskin bag, and poured some gold-pieces on +the bar.</p> + +<p>"Drinks for the house!" he commanded.</p> + +<p>The bartender busied himself in dispensing +this hospitality to the crowd, which surged +forward thirstily at the welcome summons. +The Rag-time Kid, a wan-faced youth with +a cigarette dangling from his lower lip, who +performed noisily on the piano which stood +against one wall, left his instrument and came<span class="pagenum">[286]</span> +forward hastily. Jim saw that drinks were +served to Dangerous Dan McGrew and the +woman opposite him, as well as the few others +that were seated at the tables. He nodded +curtly when the company raised their glasses +toward him before drinking. His manner, +however, was so singular and so remote that +none ventured to address him directly. They +eyed him askance. They speculated among +themselves concerning who the man might be; +for now, in some mysterious fashion, they had +come to perceive that this was not one of the +ordinary miners from the creeks, with the +mud of the bottoms still matted in his beard. +But they could make no definite surmise to +account for him. In some vague way, they +felt the portentousness of his presence among +them. It was as if he stood enveloped in an +atmosphere of tragedy. They looked at him +furtively, confused, wondering, half-fearful, +at his aspect. They no longer deemed him +merely a drunken man. But what he was, +they could by no means understand. They +drank again, for his money still lay on the bar.<span class="pagenum">[287]</span> +They raised their glasses toward him. But +the mystery of his coming remained unsolved, +and it grew more burdensome as minutes +passed, pressing heavily upon their spirits. +Jim Maxwell drank with the others the first +time and the second. He might, perhaps, +have drained a third glass, but, while he delayed, +his eyes chanced to fall on the piano, +for the wan-faced youth with the cigarette +dangling from his lower lip, was still enjoying +his respite and was making merry at the bar. +It had been a long time since Jim had touched +the keys, but now, in the travail of his soul, it +seemed to him that in music he might find +surcease for the warring emotions within his +breast. He went toward the piano, striding +firmly. When he was come to it, he threw off +parka and cap and seated himself and laid his +hands noiselessly on the keys in a touch gentle +and fond as a caress.</p> + +<p>As the first soft chord sounded, the pallid +youth at the bar started as if struck. He +wheeled, and thereafter gazed unfalteringly +toward the man at the piano.<span class="pagenum">[288]</span></p> + +<p>It had been long since Jim Maxwell had +played. At the outset, his hands moved +slowly, almost hesitatingly, for the muscles +were still a little numb from the cold of outdoors. +But they grew elastic quickly, and a +great series of clanging harmonies echoed +through the squalid room. The others looked +now with the wan-faced youth, whose cigarette +had fallen unheeded. There came the +dainty scamper of cadenzas, a crashing chord, +and silence. The youth, who played himself, +though not like this, understood that the +stranger had made ready. He waited, tremulous +with eagerness; for he loved his art, +although he debased it. He muttered to himself:</p> + +<p>"God! how that man can play!"</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell's fingers sought the keys +again, weaving strange harmonies. And +through them ran a thread of melody. The +listeners could not understand, though the +spell of it held them. Only, they knew somehow +that the one who played was a man, full +of a man's passions—the primitive passions of +love and hate. There was a harshness in the +dissonances that told of bitter sorrows; there +was a charm in the thread of melody that was +all truth and tenderness. +<span class="pagenum">[289]</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> + <a href="images/p314f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p314t.jpg" width="358" height="231" alt="p314t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">JIM MAXWELL'S FINGERS SOUGHT THE KEYS AGAIN, WEAVING STRANGE HARMONIES.</p> + +<p>Those who heard saw visions, each according +to his kind. In this improvisation, Jim +interpreted his thronging emotions. The +coldness and the desolation of the North were +made audible. Through sound itself, he +made these dwellers in the lonely places realize +again the silence of solitary wastes. The +music cried out in sudden anguished longing, +then broke in discords, like shrieks for vengeance. +Some of the listeners stirred uneasily, +uncomprehendingly, yet thrilled—for the soul +is more intelligent than the brain. The Rag-time +Kid shivered.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew, the cards of his solo-game +unheeded on the table before him, watched the +man at the piano with steady gaze. His face +was expressionless. He had recognized Jim +Maxwell at first sight, and he knew that the +time of reckoning was at hand. He was dismayed, +for he had come in the course of<span class="pagenum">[290]</span> +years to believe that they two would never +meet. Now that they were met, he was ready +for whatever might befall. But he dared do +nothing to precipitate the crisis. He must +wait to be accused or attacked. If he could +have followed his desire, he would have shot +down the man he had wronged—would have +shot him in the back, remorselessly, in cold +blood. That he could not do. The code of +the frontier forbids such murder. At such +an act, these men about him would show no +mercy beyond the short shrift of a rope. He +could only await the issue with what patience +he might, cursing inaudibly, so poised that he +could draw at a second's warning.</p> + +<p>Lou had not recognized Jim Maxwell on +his entrance. She had given only a glance at +this bearded stranger. She was infinitely +weary of life. She hated this vulgar place, +reeking with rank tobacco-smoke and the +fumes of liquors. She felt, even through an +apathy that had become habitual with her, +shame from the leering glances of these men, +who took her for the gambler's light-o'-love.<span class="pagenum">[291]</span> +She felt herself degraded more and more at +her manner of life and by the associations +thrust upon her. She knew the evil spirit of +the man she had married, which daily and +hourly she was compelled to tolerate. The +life was become almost unendurable. Yet, +she continued the sordid existence, partly because +she lacked the courage to break away +from him, partly because she could condone +the wickedness of Dan McGrew to some extent +in appreciation of his loyalty to her. She +could not doubt the reality of his love for her. +That his love was utterly selfish, she knew. +But he gave her all that he could. The +woman's instinct toward martyrdom made her +feel it a duty not to desert him. Now, after +the coming of the stranger, she felt, rather than +saw, the change in Dan McGrew, and she +wondered over it dully. Not for a moment +did she suspect that her husband's emotion was +connected with the advent of the bearded man, +toward whom she glanced so idly.... Love, +often, is not so shrewd as hate.</p> + +<p>Her eyes followed Jim Maxwell as he went<span class="pagenum">[292]</span> +to the piano. She was still listless, wholly unsuspecting +that aught impended. Even the +first softly sounded notes did not arouse her. +It was not until her ears caught the delicate +thread of melody that her heart heard it, and +answered, and she knew that this was the man +she loved. Her hands clutched at her bosom +in a spasmodic gesture. She swayed in her +chair for a moment, then relaxed limply, and +sat huddled in the corner between the table +and the wall, her face ghastly beneath the +rouge. But, lifeless as she seemed, she was +listening through every atom of her being. +In the varying phases of the music, she lived +again the blisses and the torments. And, too, +it was borne in upon her that, as she had suffered +in the years since their parting, even so +had he, who thus wove in sound the fabric of +their lives. Yet, she could not believe that +this man still loved her, though the music that +grew under his fingers was like the talking together +of their souls. A great wonder dawned +in her, a greater fear, still greater hope. +Could it be that the scales had fallen from his<span class="pagenum">[293]</span> +eyes, that he had freed himself from a degrading +passion, that he had returned to his allegiance, +that he loved her—her! Her body +shook as with a palsy from the riot in her +heart.</p> + +<p>Abruptly, the music ceased. Then, in another +instant, there came a series of noble +chords, sonorous and serene. Followed the +tripping dance of arpeggios, which deftly +hinted of a melody to come. The Rag-time +Kid quivered in ecstatic anticipation of something +splendid, nor was he disappointed.</p> + +<p>There sounded a lilting melody, a-throb +with the joy of life. The notes rang with the +calls of passion; they trembled into the sighings +of exquisite tenderness. There was rapture +in the magnificent harmonies that +marched with this melody. It was like a +song of two hearts glorious in the fulfillment +of their love, with all the universe chanting +praise of their happiness. It was the lyric of +love triumphant.</p> + +<p>The man at the piano raised his arms high, +and brought his hands down on the keys in a<span class="pagenum">[294]</span> +great swoop. The flames in the smoking-oil +lamps leaped and quivered at the devil's din +of the discord. The nerves of those that +heard leaped and quivered. The player got +up from the stool. His eyes swept the staring +faces, and he smiled—a smile like a curse.</p> + +<p>"You don't know who I am, boys," he said. +His voice, resonant, yet softly modulated, was +very gentle—dangerously gentle the listeners +might have thought, had they known him well.</p> + +<p>Dan McGrew knew him well. He understood +that the crisis was upon him. He +shifted very slightly in his chair, that he might +have greater freedom of movement when the +need came. He darted a single glance at his +wife, and saw her sitting erect again, gazing +at the player with dilated eyes in which +showed the hunger of a soul. Dan McGrew +cursed beneath his breath, and did not look +again. Instead, he held his whole attention +on the man who had spoken, and who now +spoke once more:</p> + +<p>"I haven't anything to say to you, except +that"—the voice deepened and roughened<span class="pagenum">[295]</span> +savagely—"one of you is a hound of hell! +His name is—Dan McGrew!"</p> + +<p>Two shots rang out, which almost blent as +one—almost, not quite. The crowd scattered +and dropped to the floor. The lights went +out.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:354px"> + <a href="images/p315f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p315t.jpg" width="354" height="229" alt="p315t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">TWO SHOTS RANG OUT, WHICH ALMOST BLENT AS ONE.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum">[296]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<p>Word had been sent to the sheriff of +Kalmak of Jack Reeves' capture at +Malamute, and he at once set forth to bring his +prisoner back. He arrived hardly an hour in +advance of Jim Maxwell. He took formal +possession of the accused, and forthwith made +it clear that he was not minded to run any risk +of a second escape.</p> + +<p>"That young feller ain't in no way safe in a +jail," he explained to his brother official. +"There's no tellin' what didoes he'd be up to—he's +that ornery. I'll jest take him along +with me to the saloon over night, an' I'll set +up with him, an' nuss him like he was a +baby."</p> + +<p>Despite all arguments to the contrary, the +sheriff had his way, and started to the saloon-hotel, +where the distracted bride had already +established herself. The officer and his captive<span class="pagenum">[297]</span> +were hardly a rod from the door, when +the shots rang out, and, almost in the same +second, the lights were extinguished. The +sheriff uttered an excited exclamation, and +hurried forward with his prisoner. They +were just within the door, when the bartender, +who had so discreetly shot out the +lights, produced new chimneys and leisurely +set the oil lamps going again.</p> + +<p>As his eyes fell on the form stretched out +upon the floor near the piano, Jack Reeves uttered +a cry of alarm, and sprang forward. +Kneeling, he caught Jim Maxwell's hand in +his. He could not speak in the first shock of +emotion, for he believed that the man was +dead, who lay there so still and white, with +closed eyes, and the blood trickling from a +wound in his head.</p> + +<p>Nell, in an adjoining room, had been +shaken with fear at the noise of firing. But, +in the stillness that followed, she heard a cry +of distress in her husband's voice. She forgot +fear then, and rushed into the saloon and +to his side. The sight of her father there<span class="pagenum">[298]</span> +struck her dumb and motionless with horror. +Thus it came about that she and her husband +were passive spectators of the great heart-drama +that now developed.</p> + +<p>There was another in the group. It was +Lou. Before the shots were fired, she had +sprung to her feet, and forward, as if to forbid +the deadly work. She had been too late. But +she had plunged on, heedless of the weapons, +reckless of her own life. The instinct of love +had guided her through the sudden blackness. +So, when the lights burned again, she was there +on her knees, crooning heart-broken words to +the ears that did not hear. She had no +thought whatsoever of that other form which +lay stark, crumpled on the floor by the table +she had left. She supported Jim in her arms, +with a passion of tenderness and mourning; +for she, too, believed him dead, and it seemed +to her that all the misery that had gone before +were as nothing to this anguish over finding +him, only to lose him forever. Then, of a +sudden, Lou gave a gasp of pure rapture—for +Jim Maxwell had opened his eyes, and lay<span class="pagenum">[299]</span> +staring placidly at the smoke-begrimed ceiling. +She bent and kissed the bearded face, +then raised a countenance that was transfigured. +It was years younger in that illumination +of joy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:348px"> + <a href="images/p340f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p340t.jpg" width="348" height="224" alt="p340t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">JIM MAXWELL HAD OPENED HIS EYES AND LAY STARING PLACIDLY.</p> + +<p>Nell, watching in startled wonder, recognized +the face in the locket. She knew this +woman to be her mother. She could understand +nothing else. But there on the floor at +her father's side was the mother whom she had +never known. The mystery appalled her. +Yet, a tremulous happiness stirred in her heart +over this meeting, so unexpected, so inexplicable, +so fraught with amazing possibilities.</p> + +<p>Jim Maxwell spoke, very low, so that Lou +held her ear close to listen.</p> + +<p>"Get it from the pocket inside my shirt," +he commanded.</p> + +<p>"But your wound, Jim dearest," Lou +pleaded. "Don't bother about anything else, +whatever it is."</p> + +<p>"Get it!" Jim repeated.</p> + +<p>Lou yielded to the authority in his voice, +and searched as he had bidden. She drew<span class="pagenum">[300]</span> +forth a bit of oil-skin, which she opened. In it +was a sheet of notepaper, folded twice, and +worn through along the creases.</p> + +<p>"Read it," Jim directed her; and Lou read +obediently, though slowly through scalding +tears:</p> + +<p>"I, Anne Weston, confess to tricking Jim +Maxwell and deceiving his wife at the instigation +of Dan McGrew."</p> + +<p>That first sentence gave her understanding +of the lie that had wrecked her life. She read +on to the end of Anne Weston's confession, and +knew for the first time the entire infamy of +the man whose treachery had robbed her of +home and husband and child. Hate flared in +her. She turned to look behind her, and saw +the ungainly heap on the floor, which was all +that was left of Dangerous Dan McGrew. +And she was glad!... She turned again to +the man she loved.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, Jim—oh, forgive me, dearest!" +she murmured.</p> + +<p>"I've nothing to forgive," was the answer. +"A scoundrel fooled you—that's all. You<span class="pagenum">[301]</span> +couldn't help but believe your own eyes. But +he's paid at last, I guess. Hasn't he?"</p> + +<p>"He's dead!" Lou replied; and there was no +sorrow in her voice.</p> + +<p>"And I'm alive!" Jim declared contentedly. +"He only creased me." He sat up suddenly +by his own strength. For the first time, he +appeared to notice his daughter and Jack +Reeves. He spoke briskly now, and his voice +had its accustomed firmness.</p> + +<p>"Help me up, Jack," he bade his son-in-law. +And then, a minute later, when he stood +firmly on his feet again, he turned to Lou, and +spoke softly.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to make you very happy, to +make up for what you have suffered. And +I'll start by giving you back the daughter you +lost twelve years ago." He nodded toward +the girl, who approached.</p> + +<p>"Nell," he ordered, "I want you to take this +lady to your room, and tell her who you are. +Go now, both of you, and have a talk. Jack +and I will come soon. We have something to +attend to first."<span class="pagenum">[302]</span></p> + +<p>The women yielded to the masterful air of +the man they both loved, and went away together +to that talk in which there would be +many kisses and the mingling of happy tears.</p> + +<p>No sooner were the women gone than Jim +Maxwell faced the sheriff of Kalmak, who, +throughout the excitement, had kept his attention +unswervingly fixed on the prisoner, +with an eye to possible didoes. But before +Jim Maxwell could speak, he was interrupted +by the local official, who detached himself +from the group about the body of Dan +McGrew, and now approached.</p> + +<p>"You got him, stranger," he remarked to +Jim, in a congratulatory tone. "And he +mighty near got you. Pretty shootin' by +cripes! And I suppose, Mister, you understand +you're my prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," was the indifferent answer. +"But I sha'n't try to get away, and there's something +I want to have attended to right now. +It has to do with my son-in-law, Jack Reeves +here, who is accused of a crime he didn't commit. +I want to prove his innocence, and<span class="pagenum">[303]</span> +there's a chance I may be able to do it. Dan +McGrew killed Sam Ward. I know it. I +want everybody else to know it. I'm hoping +that somewhere among his things, or on +him, there'll be the proof to connect him with +the crime."</p> + +<p>The sheriff of Kalmak protested against the +possibility, and spoke concerning Jack's possession +of the knife-handle. In answer, Jim +made clear the reasoning by which he had +come to suspect his enemy of Sam Ward's +murder.</p> + +<p>"And, anyhow," he concluded, "you'd +search this dead man's effects. I'm only asking +that you do it now, and in my presence. +He had the opportunity to do the killing, and +the circumstances must appear suspicious +against him to you, though you didn't know +him for the dog he was. It's an idiotic idea +that this boy of mine, who was on his honeymoon, +would stop off to kill a man he didn't +know, for a pinch of dust he didn't need."</p> + +<p>The Malamute official nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"You're talkin' sense, Mister," he agreed.<span class="pagenum">[304]</span> +"I reckon Hal Owens thinks the same as I do." +He regarded the sheriff of Kalmak inquiringly, +who found himself exceedingly confused +over this new turn to an affair already +finally determined in his own mind. He +vouchsafed a nod of acquiescence, but ventured +nothing further. "And that being so," the +other went on, "why, we'll just naturally take +a squint at the corpse and his goods and chattels, +and get a line, if so be, on what's what." +Having thus spoken, he led the way to where +the body of Dan McGrew was lying by the +table; and with him went Jim Maxwell; and +Jack Reeves and his guard followed them.</p> + +<p>The Malamute sheriff, as became his authority, +made the examination of the dead +man's clothing. He went through the pockets +painstakingly, sorting the articles, and laying +each in turn on the table, while Jim Maxwell +looked on with a close scrutiny that nothing +escaped. But the collection of miscellany +grew little by little without showing anything +in the least significant. No one of the various +objects disclosed could by any ingenuity be<span class="pagenum">[305]</span> +claimed as evidence that Dan McGrew had +perpetrated the crime of which Jack Reeves +stood accused. The hope that had sprung up +in the young man's breast at Jim Maxwell's +utterance quickly died. But Jim himself did +not despair. Sure of his enemy's guilt, he was +sure, too, that somehow it would be brought +to light.</p> + +<p>The searcher came at last to a pocket inside +the waistcoat. In it was a tiny book, bound in +paste-board covers. On the outside of the +front cover were printed words and written. +The sheriff gave a glance at these, and shouted +exultantly:</p> + +<p>"We've got him—cuss him!" And then he +added, in a tone of disgust: "And to think +of him carryin' the goods on him like that!" +He handed the book to Jim Maxwell, who +read in a glance, with Jack looking over his +shoulder:</p> + +<p>"The Tacoma Savings Bank, in account +with Sam Ward."</p> + +<p>Jack's captor, also, who throughout had +kept his hold on the prisoner's arm, read, and<span class="pagenum">[306]</span> +abruptly took his hand away. His voice revealed +how great was the injury done to his +dignity:</p> + +<p>"The damn' skunk! An' him a-leadin' me +on! I wish he'd come to life for five minutes, +an' I'd show him that Hal Owens ain't +to be made a fool of." And the sheriff's flashing +eyes and scowling brows showed that he +meant it.</p> + +<p>Without a word, Jim Maxwell turned to his +son-in-law, and put out his hand, and the two +men shook hands joyously, yet with a certain +gravity.</p> + +<p>"This will be glorious news for Nell," Jack +said, happily. Then the gladness went out of +his face. "Now, we must think about you." +He grinned ruefully. "I'll have to be trying +to do for you what you've done for me."</p> + +<p>The sheriff of Malamute regarded the +young man jovially.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't you worry a mite—not a mite, +my lad," he said genially, clapping Jack +Reeves on the back. "We'll have a court<span class="pagenum">[307]</span> +a-sittin' in this blessed saloon in about five minutes, +with a judge and a jury all regular. +From what the boys have been a tellin' me, it +seems perfectly clear that the prisoner just +naturally shot Dan McGrew in self-defense." +He beamed good-naturedly on Jim. "I calculate, +the sooner you're tried, the better you'd +like it, and have the thing off your mind like."</p> + +<p>His prisoner smiled in return.</p> + +<p>"It can't be too quickly to suit me," he declared. +As a matter of fact, the amiable manner +of the officer, as well as the suggestion itself, +afforded Jim Maxwell immense relief. +Until within the hour, he had had no concern +as to his fate. He had determined to take the +law in his own hands in order to rid the world +of a scoundrel. He had not troubled to think +that his act might involve himself in destruction. +But a change had been wrought in his +attitude. That change had had its origin in +the discovery of Lou. Her presence had +turned his thoughts at the very outset to new +hopes of happiness. He himself had scarcely<span class="pagenum">[308]</span> +realized this, until, with the approach of the +sheriff, he awoke to appreciation of the fact +that he stood in peril of his life. He had not +been able to guess what the mood of these men +might be toward him, a stranger to them, who +had come among them to kill one whom they +did know. Though he concealed it, he had +experienced a considerable trepidation concerning +the outcome. He was gratified accordingly +now over the sheriff's announcement, +which manifested the kindly disposition +of the crowd toward him.... He turned to +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Go to Nell and her mother," he directed, +"and keep them away from here. Tell Nell +that your innocence has been proved." As +the young man turned away, half in reluctance +half in eagerness, Jim addressed the sheriff +gravely:</p> + +<p>"And now, sir, I am at your service."</p> + +<p>The trial was of record shortness, but, in its +way, it was formal, and it had the sanction +of the law. There were no pleas, only the +taking of evidence and the rendering of the<span class="pagenum">[309]</span> +verdict, on which the jury decided without +leaving their places.</p> + +<p>The verdict was justifiable homicide in self-defense.<span class="pagenum">[310]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<p>Jim thanked the court and the jury for +their treatment of him, and shook hands +heartily with each man of them. As he +turned away, the barkeeper called to him:</p> + +<p>"Hey, Mr. Maxwell! There's money +comin' to you!"</p> + +<p>Jim went toward the bar, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Use it, and if you need more, I'll pay."</p> + +<p>He turned toward the crowd in the saloon. +"You're my guests to-night, boys, and I want +you to whoop it up. You're all friends of +mine. Perhaps, I'll look in again by-and-by. +But I must go now. I was alone when I +came here, but, thank God!"—his voice grew +suddenly husky—"I'm not alone now."</p> + +<p>In the adjoining room, the others were waiting +for him anxiously. As he entered, Jack +sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p>"They've acquitted you!" he cried.<span class="pagenum">[311]</span></p> + +<p>Jim nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"I've been acquitted according to the law." +His voice was grave, yet with an undernote +of jubilation. "My conscience never accused +me, I guess. Somehow, it seemed to me that +I had to do what I did. And what about you? +What's your verdict?"</p> + +<p>Nell threw herself into her father's arms, +and clung to him. He held her close, inexpressibly +comforted by this contact with his +own flesh and blood.</p> + +<p>"As if any one could doubt that you did +right!" she exclaimed, scornfully.</p> + +<p>"I've heard the story," Jack interrupted. +His voice was quivering with sympathetic anger. +"Shooting was too good a death for this +Dan McGrew."</p> + +<p>"And you?" Jim spoke more softly now, +with his eyes fixed on the woman, who had not +risen. His voice was very wistful. His eyes +were even more wistful, as they searched that +dear face, which, though weary and worn, +was still so beautiful.</p> + +<p>The great, dark eyes, brilliant as a girl's in<span class="pagenum">[312]</span> +this hour of excitement, met his in frank adoration.</p> + +<p>"Jim," she said, and the music of her voice +seemed sweeter than he had ever heard it before, +"you were right to kill him, of course. +But whatever you do, always, will be right +to me—just because you do it. I doubted you +once, Jim. Never again!" She rose now, +and came to him. And, at her coming, a feminine +instinct caused Nell to slip from her +father's embrace. Her mother stepped close, +and raised her lips.</p> + +<p>"Kiss me, Jim." Her voice was no more +than a whisper, but it went echoing through +all the chambers of the man's heart. He +folded his arms about her with a reverent +gentleness, yet strongly, as if he would never +let her go. Then, he bent his head, and kissed +her on the lips.... It was the sacrament of +a new life in the old love.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, the four talked of many things. +Nell was compelled to tell again the story of +her escape from the river. The mother was +deeply stirred by gratitude to the kindly pair +who had rescued and ministered unto her +daughter through so many years. She turned +to Jim, all eagerness, her eyes aglow, her lips +curving in the gracious smile he knew so +well. +<span class="pagenum">[313]</span></p> + + +<p>"Oh, can't we go to visit them, and thank +them? We must!"</p> + +<p>Jim nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered, "we must, indeed. +We owe them more than we can ever repay. +We're proud of our daughter, and we bless +them for it. Yes, we must tell them so. +We'll help them in a material way, but we +can never pay them our debt."</p> + +<p>"Nell and I," Jack remarked, after a little +interval of silence, "have about decided that +we've had enough excitement for one honeymoon. +We're ready to hike back. What +about you folks going with us?"</p> + +<p>Jim looked at Lou, who returned his glance +in kind. The desire of the two was one. +They nodded in silent acceptance of the suggestion. +Then, for the first time in those +many years, Jim Maxwell laughed gayly.<span class="pagenum">[314]</span></p> + +<p>"Your daughter can chaperon you, Lou," +he said.</p> + +<p>She blushed like a girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she exclaimed, in embarrassment. +"I had forgotten!"</p> + +<p>All four, for the first time, were thinking +of the complications that had arisen in this +most curious situation; but a certain shyness +held them silent. It was not until the younger +pair had said good-night, and had gone to their +room, that Lou at last spoke openly of the +thing that was most in her thoughts. It was +now that Jim learned of the divorce granted +to his wife, of her marriage to Dangerous Dan +McGrew. The news stunned him with its +unexpectedness. But, too, it afforded him a +mighty relief. There remained, however, +the astounding fact that Lou was not his wife.</p> + +<p>"Why," he ejaculated, "we'll have to be +married over again."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Lou assented, in some confusion. +"It's not proper, of course, but—" She broke +off, regarding Jim with puzzled eyes.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing conventional about this affair,"<span class="pagenum">[315]</span> +was the man's brisk comment. "For +that matter, this is not a land of conventions, +of the sort they set such store by down below. +They go here by the right and wrong of things +in themselves. That way is a good deal simpler, +and, in most cases, it's a good deal better, +I guess. By right, Lou, you're my wife. I'll +make you so legally the first minute possible. +It's right I should. Conventions don't +go."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad, Jim," Lou answered happily.</p> + +<p>"There's the minister that married Nell and +Jack. He'll be there where we're going to +visit Papa and Mamma Ross. Nell says he's +a fine old chap. It would be nice to be +married by the minister that married Nell. +What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, splendid!" Lou agreed, with enthusiasm. +She smiled and dimpled. "Why, +Jim, I saw him. He has such a good face! +Jim, you don't know! I saw Nell married—my +own daughter, and I never knew it!" She +told the story.</p> + +<p>"In the morning, we'll hit a good pace on<span class="pagenum">[316]</span> +the trail," Jim said, decisively, "and get to that +parson as fast as ever we can."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Lou said again.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The morrow broke fair and warmer after +the storm. The four were off early, with the +whole town turned out to do them honor at +their parting. Afterward, the cheering populace +would attend the obsequies of Dan +McGrew.</p> + +<p>The going was slow; whereat Jim Maxwell +fretted hugely. But there was no other flaw +in his perfect happiness, or in that of the +woman who sat with her face turned so that +she might look up often into the bearded one +of the man as he ran behind the sled. Both +were content. Already, yesterday was remote, +with all its loneliness and grief. This +was a new day, in a new life, the beginning of +a happiness that would abide. The sorrows +they had known had cleansed and strengthened +them, and made them ready for a finer joy in +their love. They spoke little together, for +there was small need of words between them.<span class="pagenum">[317]</span> +Neither needed to tell the other of the torment +endured during the years of separation. +Neither wished to remember the evil that was +gone. Why should they mourn when the cup +of gladness was brimming at their lips? The +past was dead. The scars from the old +wounds would remain always. But they +were hidden, and the wounds were healed by +love's magic, and would ache no more. They +set their faces to the future, where life shone +radiant.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:360px"> + <a href="images/p341f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p341t.jpg" width="360" height="232" alt="p341t" title="" /> + </a> +</div> + +<p class="h5">HE POINTED OUT—OVER THE BROAD-SWEEPING WHITENESS OF THE VALLEY—TOWARD THE +SOUTHERN HORIZON.</p> + + +<p>On the crest of the hill, Jim halted the dogs +for a brief rest. He pointed out over the +broad-sweeping whiteness of the valley toward +the southern horizon.</p> + +<p>"Down there, Lou," he said, and his voice +rang with a tender joyousness, "down there our +home is waiting for us."</p> + +<p>And the woman echoed very softly:</p> + +<p>"Our home."</p> + + + +<p class="h4">THE END</p> + + + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="h4">GROSSET & DUNLAP'S</p> + +<p class="h3">DRAMATIZED NOVELS</p> + +<p class="h5">THE KIND THAT ARE MAKING THEATRICAL HISTORY</p> + +<p class="h5">May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list</p> + +<p class="noin"> + <span class="u">WITHIN THE LAW</span> + , By Bayard Veiller & Marvin Dana. +<br /> +Illustrated by Wm. Charles Cooke. +</p> + +<p>This is a novelization of the immensely successful play which ran +for two years in New York and Chicago.</p> + +<p>The plot of this powerful novel is of a young woman's revenge +directed against her employer who allowed her to be sent to prison +for three years on a charge of theft, of which she was innocent.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">WHAT HAPPENED TO MARY,</span> By Robert Carlton Brown. +<br /> +Illustrated with scenes from the play.</p> + +<p>This is a narrative of a young and innocent country girl who is +suddenly thrown into the very heart of New York, "the land of her +dreams," where she is exposed to all sorts of temptations and dangers.</p> + +<p>The story of Mary is being told in moving pictures and played in +theatres all over the world.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">THE RETURN OF PETER GRIMM,</span> By David Belasco. +<br /> +Illustrated by John Rae.</p> + +<p>This is a novelization of the popular play in which David Warfield, +as Old Peter Grimm, scored such a remarkable success.</p> + +<p>The story is spectacular and extremely pathetic but withal, +powerful, both as a book and as a play.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">THE GARDEN OF ALLAH,</span> By Robert Hichens.</p> + +<p>This novel is an intense, glowing epic of the great desert, sunlit +barbaric, with its marvelous atmosphere of vastness and loneliness.</p> + +<p>It is a book of rapturous beauty, vivid in word painting. The play +has been staged with magnificent cast and gorgeous properties.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">BEN HUR,</span> A Tale of the Christ. By General Lew Wallace.</p> + +<p>The whole world has placed this famous Religious-Historical Romance +on a height of pre-eminence which no other novel of its time +has reached. The clashing of rivalry and the deepest human passions, +the perfect reproduction of brilliant Roman life, and the tense, fierce +atmosphere of the arena have kept their deep fascination. A tremendous +dramatic success.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">BOUGHT AND PAID FOR,</span> By George Broadhurst and Arthur +Hornblow. +<br /> +Illustrated with scenes from the play.</p> + +<p>A stupendous arraignment of modern marriage which has created +an interest on the stage that is almost unparalleled. The scenes are laid +in New York, and deal with conditions among both the rich and poor.</p> + +<p>The interest of the story turns on the day-by-day developments +which show the young wife the price she has paid.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="h3">STORIES OF WESTERN LIFE</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE,</span> By Zane Grey. +<br /> +Illustrated by Douglas Duer.</p> + +<p>In this picturesque romance of Utah of some forty years ago, we +are permitted to see the unscrupulous methods employed by the invisible +hand of the Mormon Church to break the will of those refusing +to conform to its rule.</p> + +<p class="noin"> + <span class="u">FRIAR TUCK,</span> +By Robert Alexander Wason. +<br /> +Illustrated by Stanley L. Wood.</p> + +<p>Happy Hawkins tells us, in his humorous way, how Friar Tuck +lived among the Cowboys, how he adjusted their quarrels and love +affairs and how he fought with them and for them when occasion +required.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">THE SKY PILOT,</span> By Ralph Connor. +<br /> +Illustrated by Louis Rhead.</p> + +<p>There is no novel, dealing with the rough existence of cowboys, +so charming in the telling, abounding as it does with the freshest and +the truest pathos.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">THE EMIGRANT TRAIL,</span> By Geraldine Bonner. +<br /> +Colored frontispiece by John Rae.</p> + +<p>The book relates the adventures of a party on its overland pilgrimage, +and the birth and growth of the absorbing love of two strong +men for a charming heroine.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">THE BOSS OF WIND RIVER,</span>x By A. M. Chisholm. +<br /> +Illustrated by Frank Tenney Johnson.</p> + +<p>This is a strong, virile novel with the lumber industry for its central +theme and a love story full of interest as a sort of subplot.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP,</span> By Harold Bindloss.</p> + +<p>A story of Canadian prairies in which the hero is stirred, through +the influence of his love for a woman, to settle down to the heroic +business of pioneer farming.</p> + +<p class="noin"> <span class="u">JOYCE OF THE NORTH WOODS,</span> By Harriet T. Comstock. +<br /> +Illustrated by John Cassel.</p> + +<p>A story of the deep woods that shows the power of love at work +among its primitive dwellers. It is a tensely moving study of the +human heart and its aspirations that unfolds itself through thrilling +situations and dramatic developments.</p> + +<p class="h4"><i>Ask for a complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction</i> +</p> + +<p class="h3"> + <span class="sc">Grosset & Dunlap, 526 West</span> + 26th + <span class="sc">St., New York</span> +</p> + +<br /> + +<br /> + +<br /> + +<div class="trnote"> +<p class="cen"> + <a name="TN" id="TN"></a> + <span class="sc">Typographical errors corrected in text:</span> +</p> + +<p class="noin">Inconsistent punctuation corrected, e.g. "," vs "."</p> + +<p class="noin">Inconsistencies retained such as: +<br /> + (1) bartender used five times, bar-tender used three times.<br /> + (2) barkeeper used two times, bar-keeper used two times.</p> + +<p class="noin">On Page 296 "babby" changed to "baby".</p> + +<p class="noin">On Page 304 "acquiesence" replaced with "acquiescence".</p> + +<p class="noin">End of book advertisements:<br /> + "War field" changed to "Warfield"<br /> + "copyrighed" changed to "copyrighted"</p> +</div> + +<br /> + +<hr /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Shooting of Dan McGrew, A Novel, by Marvin Dana + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHOOTING OF DAN MCGREW *** + +***** This file should be named 36232-h.htm or 36232-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/2/3/36232/ + +Produced by D Alexander, Matthew Wheaton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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