The Winds of Chance

y the sky. It was threatening. Recalling extravagant stories of the violence attained by storms in this mountain-lake country

me the sound of its anger. As Pierce groped his way up to the nearest skiff h

that?" s

he saw that she was sitting on a pile of freight, her heels drawn up beneath her and her arms clas

a smile. "I came for the same purpose. Now I'm waiting for the storm

You'll catch co

She stared out into the night, th

shoulder. It was a warm, impulsive gesture and it betrayed a grateful appreciation of his solicitude; it was the fir

Pierce. I don't know wh

that was almost studied; now, without apparent reason, she had turned almost affectionate. Perhaps it was the night, or the solitude, that drew them togeth

, finally. "I wish

ueried, when

of hinting at the truth, he had blurted forth a full confession. She had caught him off guard, and, like a perfect ass, he had betrayed himself. What

hat pressure upon his shoulder Phillips would have believed t

was a stormy-weather man. At a time like this everything in me quickens, I'm aware of impulses I never feel at other times-desires I daren't yield to. It was on a stormy night that the Count proposed to me." She laughed shortly,

ok his

man felt for an answer she ran on: "I'd like to know. What sort of woman do you consider me? How have I im

but with more than a hint of resentment in h

lesome and honorable and- Well, only b

ld quite like you. Why, at this minute you're

der me harsh,

h

, but I'm smart and I know how to get ahead. I've never stood still. I've learned how to fight, too, for I've had to make my own way. Why, Pierce, you're t

ogether unselfish,"

o it. Her chin was upon her knees, her face was turned again to the darkness whence came t

ired inside, you understand. One gets tired fighting alone-always alo

me of them?"

her hand to Phillips, but instead of taking it he reached forth and lifted her bodily down out of the wind. She gasped as she felt his strong hands under her arms; for a moment her face brus

Her eyes were wide and wondering; they remained fixed upon his, and that very fixity suggested a meaning so surprising, so significant, that he felt the world spin dizzily under him. She was astonished, yet expectant; she was stunned but ready. He experienced

bowed her head upon his shoulder. Her cheek against his was very c

d, in a voice that he could scarcely

of ardor as leaves are whirled away before a tempest. All he knew was that in his arms lay a woman he had knelt to, a

e those tears stole down her cheeks. In reality she was neither passive nor passionless, for her body quivered and Phillips knew that his touch ha

roked it softly, then she drew herself away fr

as made a f

ly. "You asked me what I thi

head slowly, then she told

lk to you. I have

ch and into the fringe of the forest where glowed the dull illumination from lamplit canvas walls. When they paused before the Countess' tent Pierce once more enfolded her

ever told m

il

call yo

e are alone. Hilda Halb

riously. The Countess drew back abruptly, with a s

ink I'm

her closer, but she he

t's not think at all. Hilda-bride of the storm. There's a te

e from his hungry arms, she stepped inside her shelter. The last he saw of her was h

bs threshed as the gusty night wind beat upon them. But he heard none of it, felt none of it, for in his ears rang the

and the raindrops beat upon it with the force of buckshot. Through the entrance slit, through the open stovepipe hole, the gale poured, bringing dampness with

first violence of the squall had passed he fancied he could hear his former partner stirring, so he arose and peered out into the night. At first he could see nothing, but in time he dimly made out Jerry s

e it for raindrops. That remark had been utterly uncalled for and it had betrayed a wanton malice, a malevolent desire to wound; well, here was a chance to even the score. When Jerry came dripping to the tent door, Tom decided he would poke his head out into the deluge and then cry in evident astonis

endeavoring vainly to shelter himself from the driving rain. Linton watched him with mingled impatience and resent

ttering drops there came the faint sound of a cough. Mr. Linton sat up in bed. "Pneumonia!" he exclaimed. Well, Jerry was getting exactly what he deserved. He had called him, Tom, an "old fool," a "dam' old fool," to be precise. The epithet in itself meant nothing-it was in fact a fatuous and feeble term of abuse as compared to the opprobrious titles which he and Jerry were in the habit of exchanging-it was that abominable adjective which hurt. Jerry and he had called each other many names at times, they had exchanged numerous gibes and i

would expect that much of him. He'd do it. He'd speak kindly of the departed; he'd even erect a cross and write an

d been sent out to round up some cattle-rustlers. Being the youngest deputies in the sheriff's office, the toughest jobs invariably fell to them. Those were the good, glad days, Tom reflected. Jerry had made a reputation on that trip and he had saved his companion's life-Linton flopped nervously in his bed at

o run backward, he could not head them off. He wished Jerry wouldn't cough; it was a distressing sound, and it disturbed his rest. Neverth

lter of the canvas sheet; over it the owner c

gruffly. His voice was cold, his m

up from under his glis

oin'

off his coat; his lantern flared smokily in the win

et

aw

, then the visitor inq

h-h

til Tom broke out, irritably: "We

nd I'm plenty warm." This cheerful assertion was be

gasped and swallowed hard. The invitation was o

triumph whatever. Rather plaintively he declared: "I got ROOM

fully. "The idea of you setting around hatching out a l

Let's take my stove over to your ten

iment to this mendacious denial. "Of course I'm not sweating any, but-

. Rotten country,

. Linton chattered. He n

r was finally effected, the stove was set up and a new fir

"take a snifter.

re he exclaimed: "Why, I didn't know you was a dri

rinking man. I broug

of yours used

ugh easy. Yo

arrassment-"and I'll have one with you. I was

id Quirk, as he

es. Here's some dry underclothes-thick, too. We'll double up those henskin blankets-for to-night-an

d his sodden garments and hung them up. "You'll crawl right i

ose you get sick on me now? But you won't. I won't let you." In a panic of apprehension he dug out his half of the contents of

artner's shoulder; his voice, too, was shaky

unaccountably blurred and there was a painful lump in his throat. It seemed to him that Old Jerry

ought sure-" Tom choked and shook his gray head, then with the heel of his harsh palm he w

e, struggled w

d fool!" he crie

ight. "Give it to me,"

ve it. Gosh! I

and the stove was glowing comfortably. They had ceased shivering. Old J

h tender yearning. "That

corker, a

you a half interest in my ten

r-sort of go pardners for a while? I got a long outfit and a short boat. I'll put 'em

amily. "It's a go. I

pan out of my money. Mi

You darned old

o snore. He snored in a low and confidential tone at first, b

lf that he had never heard music of such soul-satisfying