Morris tribune., 1895-12-11


The sergeant heaved a sigh of relief
81 would not fire again if l were you,
sir" said the latter, il vain trying to
conceal his indignation at the summary
and discriminating measures which his
superior officer was adopting. THAT
sort of thing might have been legal
! enough a few years ago, but the country
has decreed that mounted policeman
has no more right to murder a man in
cold blood than any other body. What
if you had killed the man III the
wagon"
Jamie, who had just been going to
dilate upon the splendid direction Of
the shot he had just fired, tried to pass
the matter off with a miserable and
uneasy laugh. To tell the truth, the
shot surprised no one SO much as Jamie
himself; for it happened to be standing
| joke with the men that Jamie could not
hit haystack at 20 yards
| But the wagon did not stop, it only
/ quickened its pace, and the horses were
seen to BID stretching out over the level
prairie. In another mile Or so the
ranch would be reached. Where itwould
/ be easy to throw off number of small
kegs of liquor where the police could not
find them. The sergeant pressed his
| heels into his horses sides and started
off at canter Just then the officers
horse stumbled into badger hole; in
another second Jamie had dismounted
abruptly and in an unregimental fash
ion. The private and the scout pulled
up to assist him.
The sergeant was close upon the
wagon. He could see some one i'll it
reclining on what seemed to be bale
of robes, but which he reckoned were
kegs of whisky. The person, whoever
1t was, did hot onco turn round to look
at him Another 100 yards and the
ranch would be reached It was
hardly worth while calling out tc the
party in the wagon to stop, for it was
already slowing. In another minute it
had turned the corner Of q long straw
shed and pulled up. And now the ser
geant, tired, and not a little annoyed,
jumped OFF his horse and went forward
to the wagon box. Was it Gabriel, or
Francois, the formers partner? The
figure, like all figures in the northwest
in winter time when travelling on the
prairie, was heavily muffied up.
"Now, them cried the sergeant
testify, ''you have given us nice chase,
haven't you? Don't you think it would
have been just as we'll for you if you
had stopped when you saw we must in
evitably overtake you?'
The figure turned round and looked
full upon him, and there was something
that was almost conscience stricken in
that look.
Harry Yorke started back as if he had
been confronted with a ghost. It was
neither Gabriel nor Francois, his part
ner 1t was MariesSt. Denis herself!
The sergeant stared for minute in
speechless establishment upon her, for
he could not understand how it was she
came to be there. Besides, where did
she get the wagon and where was her
father? Upon the fair face of the girl,
the color ofwhich was somewhat height
ened, there was neither that irritating
look of satisfaction which comes from
the knowledge Of having outwitted
some one, nor yet was there any appre-
hension. She looked for moment into
his face, then dropped her eyes again
and said:
IT am afraid you must think very
badly of me. 1t would be untrue if
confessed myself sorry for what have
done, for am not, although regret the
necessity that forced me TO it. But
feel that have treated you very badly |
and made you a very poor return for
your goodness I did not mean to de-
ceive you personally
Don't look at it in that light, F" he
said simply. "But where is your ia
ther?" 1t was his curiosity and not his !
professional zeal that spoke now.
''Safe,'' she cried as a glad light |
sprang into her eyes, "and done with
the cursed trade forever. I shall tell
you all about it another time But, oh,
am so cold and stiff. -
She tried to rise to her feet, but her
cramped limbs refused to act, and she
sank down again helplessly.
same condition as the poor horses, (" she
said with rather q pitiable smile.
"What you might call played out
Will you relent SO far as to help me
down." And her face grew rather white
and weary looking, though she tried to
appear as if tired nature were not press
ing her hard just then,
To spring up into the wagon and
gently catch hold of her was the work
of minute. "Stop that cruel talk
about relenting," he said 'You have
overtasked your strength and are numb
ed with the long drive But, thank
goodness, you are safe. ] thought you
had been left behind upon the prairie.
Even now | can hardly make out how
you come to be here. It is very mys-
terious business indeed. But anyhow
you are more or less a mystery to me-
wish you were not. F"
If he had happened to watch her face
closely just then, he would have seen
that a startled, conscious expression
came into,it for amoment and that she
looked quickly away as if she were fear
full of him seeing it,